FEBRUARY 27, 2016 – WEEK TWO OF LENT – SATURDAY – PART TWO – THE RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL

(Luke 15:17-24) Prayer: O Father, embrace me when I return to you. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with His disciples.) Context: The father’s response is not a model for earthly fathers to follow. It is, rather, how the heavenly father responds to our repentance. The son is reduced to the lowest degree of degradation. He is in …

FEBRUARY 27, 2016 – WEEK TWO OF LENT – SATURDAY – PART ONE – THE PRODIGAL SON

(Luke 15:11-32) Prayer: O Heavenly Father, let me never leave your house. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with His disciples.) Context: This is a “Parable of the Father’s Love” and is drawn from real life. Many young unmarried sons (under twenty) asked for their inheritance to leave Palestine and better themselves. This son, however, loses his money …

FEBRUARY 26, 2016 – WEEK TWO OF LENT – FRIDAY – TAKING AWAY THEIR VINEYARD

(Matthew 21:33-43) Prayer – O Lord, you have given me everything. Make me a faithful tenant. Imagination – (Picture Jesus with his disciples and his opponents.) Context: Jesus spoke this parable in Jerusalem when the chief priests and elders questioned his authority. The parable fitted their situation. The tenants are the Jewish religious leaders. The …

FEBRUARY 25, 2016 – WEEK TWO OF LENT – THURSDAY – THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS

(Luke 16:19-31) Prayer – O Lord, awaken me by this warning. Do not let me be like the foolish brothers. Imagination – (Picture Jesus teaching the crowds.) Context: Judaism believed that riches proved God’s favor and that poverty proved sinfulness. Jesus reveals the true picture, which shocks his audience. The rich man goes to hell, …

FEBRUARY 24, 2016 – WEEK TWO OF LENT – WEDNESDAY – AMBITIOUS JAMES AND JOHN

(Matthew 20:17-28) Prayer: Come Holy Spirit. Reveal the glory you have prepared. Imagination: (Picture James and John seeking favors from Jesus.) Context: Jesus has just told the apostles that he would come in glory. With great ambition, James and John want that glory. Before granting any glory, Jesus must enter into his Messianic glory by …

FEBRUARY 23, 2016 – WEEK TWO OF LENT – TUESDAY – THE HYPOCRISY OF THE PHARISEES

(Matthew 23:1-12) Prayer: O Jesus, give me the heart of a servant. Imagination: (Picture Jesus instructing His disciples in humility.) Context: Jesus does not criticize the teaching of the scribes and Pharisees (although he alludes to moral rigorism) but he condemns their practices of seeking honor and gaining titles. Jesus wants his disciples to serve …

FEBRUARY 22, 2016 – WEEK TWO OF LENT – MONDAY – COMPASSIONATE AS THE FATHER

(Luke 6:36-38) Prayer: Father, fill me with your compassion. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching his disciples.) Context: After teaching about loving enemies, Jesus concludes with “Be compassionate as the heavenly Father.” He then stresses the need not to judge others. This will determine what will be measured out to the disciples. Gospel text: (Read slowly, possibly …

FEBRUARY 21, 2016 – WEEK TWO OF LENT – SUNDAY – C – THE TRANSFIGURATION

(Luke 9:27-36) Prayer: O Jesus, take me up the mountain with you. Imagination: (Picture Jesus transfigured in glory with his 3 apostles.) Context: Peter has just proclaimed (by faith) that Jesus is the Messiah. Now, these three apostles experience Jesus as the Messiah. Also, the Father says that Jesus is his “Beloved Son”, the same …