Many times, I start to pray my rosary
in the morning and two minutes later I’m lost in thoughts about my plans for
the rest of the day, or checking out my Facebook, or simply daydreaming. This morning was one of those times, but I
caught myself sooner. I felt bad that I wasn’t
giving Jesus and Mary my complete attention in the ‘busyness’ of my mind. I decided to wait until my afternoon walk to
pray. I made my way to a quiet place on
the nearby university campus to start my rosary again. What a difference a change in scenery made! I was able to not only meditate on the
mysteries of the rosary more deeply, but I was also inspired to think about the
scriptures I knew I would be reflecting on tonight.
The word of the day is listening. Solomon went to Gibeon [1 Kings 3:4-13]; the
Apostles, with Jesus, went away to “a deserted place to rest
and to pray” [Mark 6:30-34]. I took a quiet walk to a quiet place. The goal of the journeying was reflection.
Solomon wished to know how he could
rule with wisdom, although he was young.
What a great thing to ask for, wisdom (aka understanding and knowing
right from wrong). I truly hope that I
would ask for wisdom if I was given that opportunity, but he asked for it when
he was “a mere youth”! For the sake of argument, let’s just say he
was in his early 20’s. I’m not sure I
would have asked for wisdom at that age.
(It’s what I needed the most in retrospect, but it wouldn’t have been
the first thing to come to my mind. At
that age I thought I knew all I needed to know!) Then, greater than Solomon’s request was God’s
response! Because Solomon asked for
practical wisdom by which to govern God’s chosen people, and not for something
selfish like long life, or riches, or victory in battle, He gave Solomon what
he asked for in abundance, as well as riches and glory too! That’s a promise! It’s the same promise that He makes to all of
us, “ask
and you shall receive” [Mark
11:24].
The Apostles were seeking an
opportunity to reflect upon what had happened recently in their ministry, when
they were sent out two by two to preach repentance [Mark 6:7-13]. Things don’t always work out. Jesus and the Apostles ran into complexity. Rather than finding an opportunity to rest,
they were confronted with a needy crowd, and they rightly responded. Jesus recognized the disruption as belonging
in His ministry, previous plans notwithstanding. It makes me think of the time when Jesus was
already leaving a place for the home of an official, who had asked Jesus to lay
His hand on his just deceased daughter. That
was Jesus’ plan. But suddenly a poor
woman, who had suffered from a blood discharge for twelve years, “disrupted” His
plan by stealthily touching Jesus’ cloak in the hope of an unnoticed healing. What did Jesus do? He acknowledged her presence, engaged her in
conversation and healed her. Only then did
He move on with His previous plan [Matthew 9:18-26]. The requirements of the Christian life often
interrupt our need for rest and renewal.
Time and distance are often needed if we’re going to be effective
servants. God wants to have an
opportunity to be present to us – “come away for a while” is a standing invitation.
Yet, I think, when the needs quiet and
the when the crowd grows silent, the invitation to go away and take some time
remains. Without this we’ll eventually
lose our way. We may even forget why we’re
doing what we’re doing. Without time for
prayer and renewal we won’t be able to live into the depths of the psalm
prayer, “Lord, teach me your statutes.” [Psalms 119:12]
No one is too busy. Take the time.
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