of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
(Mark 3-20-21) Prayer – O Jesus, help me to stand firm. Imagination: – (Picture Jesus surrounded by the crowd and his family.) Context: This text contrasts the crowds, and the relatives. The crowds hardly know Jesus, and yet they acclaim him. His relatives, who think they know him, have the wrong opinion. “The house” refers …
Continue reading “JANUARY 23, 2016 – WEEK TWO – SATURDAY – A STARTLED FAMILY”
(Mark 3:13-19) Prayer – O Jesus, help me to respond to your call. Imagination: (Picture Jesus on the mountain calling his twelve apostles.) Context: The mountain top symbolizes Jesus’ closeness to the Father and the great importance of this decision. These twelve apostles represent the new twelve tribes of Israel. Both the names of the …
Continue reading “JANUARY 22, 2016 – WEEK TWO – FRIDAY – CALLING THE TWELVE APOSTLES”
(Mark 3:7-12) Prayer: Draw near, O Lord, so I can touch you in faith. Imagination: (Picture Jesus surrounded by the crowds who are healed as they touch him.) Context: In this section, Mark pauses. Jesus tries to get out of the limelight by spending time with his disciples. However, his fame has spread. He must …
Continue reading “JANUARY 21, 2016 – WEEK TWO – THURSDAY – TRYING TO TOUCH JESUS”
(Mark 3:1-6) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Give me faith in Jesus’ powers. Imagination: (Picture Jesus healing the man with the withered hand.) Context: For a while, Jesus continues his ministry within the synagogue. Unfortunately, this great healing of a withered hand is overshadowed by a controversy. This leads to the pronouncement that “doing good” and …
Continue reading “JANUARY 20, 2016 – WEEK TWO – WEDNESDAY – THE MAN WITH THE WITHERED HAND”
(Mark 2:23-28) Prayer: O Jesus, be the Lord of my life. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with his disciples in the grain fields.) Context: This controversy is not about picking off heads of grain, (which was an accepted practice), but about picking them on the Sabbath. This controversy allows Jesus to pronounce that persons are more important …
Continue reading “JANUARY 19, 2016 – WEEK TWO – TUESDAY – EATING GRAIN ON THE SABBATH”
(Mark 2:18-22) Prayer: O Holy Spirit, make me a new creation. Imagination: (Imagine Jesus with the disciples and the Pharisees.) Context: Jesus uses two images of cloth and wineskins to show that his Kingdom demands a totally new way of acting and thinking. Nobody sews new cloth on old garments or pours new wine into …
Continue reading “JANUARY 18, 2016 – WEEK TWO – MONDAY – SOME SURPRISE PRONOUNCEMENTS”
Prayer: O Mary, my mother, you help me in all my trials. Imagination: (Picture Mary with Jesus at the wedding feast.) Context: This is an extremely important story because it spells out John’s theme. The hour of the passion, when Jesus sheds his blood, is the world-saving moment. The new wine is a preview of …
Continue reading “JANUARY 17, 2016 – WEEK TWO – SUNDAY (C) – MAKING NEW WINE”