Mk 1: 29-39
As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.
That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered around the door. And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.
In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him, “Everyone is searching for you.”
He answered, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.” And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
Taking Time to Connect With God
Rising very early before dawn,
he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed.
We were so busy over the Christmas holidays. We had so many things to do in such a short time period. We felt exhausted. Our energy was spent. It was overwhelming.
I think that is what Jesus was feeling in today’s Gospel. He was healing the sick, he was teaching, he was spreading the Good News of salvation. Everyone wanted to be with him. It all must have simply been too much. So what did Jesus do? He went away to a quiet place and prayed.
How often do we feel the need to go off to a quiet place? We long to find something that will help bring balance to our lives. We may just need to take time to be quiet and simply be with our God in prayer.
If we take some quiet time to connect with the source of all that is good, perhaps we will be more successful as his disciples.
—Kathy England is a Pastoral Associate at St. Francis Xavier Church in Cincinnati, OH.
Prayer
Be still, and know that I am God.
—Psalm 46:10