of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
(Matthew 17:10-13) Prayer: O Jesus, help me to see the Father’s saving plan. Imagination: (Picture Jesus coming down the mountain with Peter, James and John.). Context: These three apostles have just seen the transfigured Jesus speaking with Moses and Elijah on the mountaintop. This experience leads them to bring up a popular religious question about …
Continue reading “DECEMBER 10, 2016 – WEEK TWO OF ADVENT – SATURDAY – THE NEW ELIJAH”
(Matthew 11:16-19) Prayer: O Jesus, open my heart to all the messengers you send to me. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with His disciples). Context: This parable shows hostility toward Jesus. The children cannot agree, so their quarrels end their playtime. The cause is laziness. Some children expect others to do the strenuous part of dancing while …
(Matthew 11:11-15) Prayer: O Jesus, prepare me for the greatness of your Kingdom. Imagination: (Picture Jesus talking to his disciples about John.) Context: John is the greatest of the Old Testament prophets. Yet, because he did not live to see Jesus’ Kingdom, the least in Jesus’ Kingdom is greater than John. An extraordinary proclamation! Just …
Continue reading “DECEMBER 8, 2016 – WEEK TWO OF ADVENT – THURSDAY – THE GREATNESS OF JOHN”
(Matthew 11:28-30) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Help me to take up Jesus’ easy yoke and light burden. Imagination: (Picture Jesus inviting all his disciples to come to him.) Context: The burdened are those who cannot seem to get out from under. Jesus is one of them. He carries the whole world on his shoulders. Jesus’ …
Continue reading “DECEMBER 7, 2016 – WEEK TWO OF ADVENT – WEDNESDAY – THE EASY YOKE”
(Matthew 18:12-14) Prayer: O Jesus, come and find me. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with His disciples.) Context: This parable is closely connected to the prodigal Son parable. A hundred sheep was a medium sized flock. The shepherd must have been poor and unable to pay a helper. Matthew’s gospel stresses the shepherd’s unwearied search and his …
Continue reading “DECEMBER 6, 2016 – WEEK TWO OF ADVENT – TUESDAY – THE LOST SHEEP”
(Luke 5:17-26) Prayer – Come, Holy Spirit. Give me friends with great faith. Imagination- (Picture Jesus healing the paralyzed man.) Context: These stories in Mark’s gospel are controversy stories. Each dispute allows Jesus to make some pronouncement. In this story, Jesus says that he is the Son of Man with divine authority. Gospel Text: (Read …
Continue reading “DECEMBER 5, 2016 – WEEK TWO OF ADVENT – MONDAY – FORGIVING SINS”
(Matthew 3:1-12) Prayer: O Jesus, awaken me. Your Kingdom is at hand. Imagination: (Picture John preaching at the Jordan.) Context: John the Baptist is the Advent preacher. He shows up every year at this time and stays for two Sundays. He has one task – “to prepare the way of the Lord.” Then, he will …
Continue reading “DECEMBER 4, 2016 – WEEK TWO OF ADVENT – SUNDAY (A) – THE ADVENT PREACHER”
(Matthew 17:10-13) Prayer: O Jesus, help me to see the Father’s saving plan. Imagination: (Picture Jesus coming down the mountain with Peter, James and John.). Context: These three apostles have just seen the transfigured Jesus speaking with Moses and Elijah on the mountaintop. This experience leads them to bring up a popular religious question about …
Continue reading “DECEMBER 12, 2015 – WEEK TWO OF ADVENT – SATURDAY – THE NEW ELIJAH”
(Matthew 11:16-19) Prayer: O Jesus, open my heart to all the messengers you send to me. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with His disciples). Context: This parable shows hostility toward Jesus. The children cannot agree, so their quarrels end their playtime. The cause is laziness. Some children expect others to do the strenuous part of dancing while …
(Matthew 11:11-15) Prayer: O Jesus, prepare me for the greatness of your Kingdom. Imagination: (Picture Jesus talking to his disciples about John.) Context: John is the greatest of the Old Testament prophets. Yet, because he did not live to see Jesus’ Kingdom, the least in Jesus’ Kingdom is greater than John. An extraordinary proclamation! Just …
Continue reading “DECEMBER 10, 2015 – WEEK TWO OF ADVENT – THURSDAY – THE GREATNESS OF JOHN”
(Matthew 11:28-30) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Help me to take up Jesus’ easy yoke and light burden. Imagination: (Picture Jesus inviting all his disciples to come to him.) Context: The burdened are those who cannot seem to get out from under. Jesus is one of them. He carries the whole world on his shoulders. Jesus’ …
Continue reading “DECEMBER 9, 2015 – WEEK TWO OF ADVENT – WEDNESDAY – THE EASY YOKE”
(Matthew 18:12-14) Prayer: O Jesus, come and find me. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with His disciples.) Context: This parable is closely connected to the prodigal Son parable. A hundred sheep was a medium sized flock. The shepherd must have been poor and unable to pay a helper. Matthew’s gospel stresses the shepherd’s unwearied search and his …
Continue reading “DECEMBER 8, 2015 – WEEK TWO OF ADVENT – TUESDAY – THE LOST SHEEP”
(Luke 5:17-26) Prayer – Come, Holy Spirit. Give me friends with great faith. Imagination- (Picture Jesus healing the paralyzed man.) Context: These stories in Mark’s gospel are controversy stories. Each dispute allows Jesus to make some pronouncement. In this story, Jesus says that he is the Son of Man with divine authority. Gospel Text: (Read …
Continue reading “DECEMBER 7, 2015 – WEEK TWO OF ADVENT – MONDAY – FORGIVING SINS”
(Luke 3:1-6) Prayer: Come Holy Spirit. Help me to prepare for Christmas. Imagination: (Picture yourself at the Jordan with John.) Context: Luke has told the stories of Jesus infancy, ending with Jesus being lost in the temple. The next 18 years are Jesus’ hidden life. Now the drama opens and John the Baptist is the …