Day 1 - Jesus Prayed

5 February 2012, Sunday

Gospel: Mk 1:29-39

Jesus’ ministry

On leaving the synagogue, Jesus went with James and John straight to the house of Simon and Andrew. Now Simon’s mother-in-law had gone to bed with fever, and they told him about her straightaway. He went to her, took her by the hand and helped her up. And the fever left her and she began to wait on them.

  

That evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were sick and those who were possessed by devils. The whole town came crowding round the door, and he cured many who were suffering from diseases of one kind or another; he also cast out many devils, but he would not allow them to speak, because they knew who he was.

source

In the morning, long before dawn, he got up and left the house, and went off to a lonely place and prayed there. Simon and his companions set out in search of him, and when they found him they said, ‘Everybody is looking for you.’ He answered, ‘Let us go elsewhere, to the neighbouring country towns, so that I can preach there too, because that is why I came.’ And he went all through Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out devils.

Reflection

In His salvific ministry, Jesus never complained, calculated the cost, or stopped because of exhaustion. He was always ready to lovingly receive anyone who was in need. How could Jesus work continuously and so selflessly? What was the source of His strength and stamina, being fully human Himself?

We are also busy people with many demands placed upon us. But are we at peace to lovingly fulfil all our duties like Jesus or have we become increasingly impatient and frustrated?

Today’s Gospel tells us that before daylight, Jesus got up to pray. “Real prayer”, as Thomas Green, S.J. wrote in Opening to God, “means bringing our real concerns and responsibilities before the Lord and learning to hear what He has to say about them.” In prayer, Jesus met His Father, who not only revealed to Him what He needed to do, but also loved, nourished and strengthened Him. We, too, need God, His divine assistance, so as to go beyond our human limitations and coping mechanisms. We need to meet God in real prayer.

Will you open your heart and mind to God in prayer today?