A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mark (1:29-39)
On leaving the synagogue
Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John.
Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever.
They immediately told him about her.
He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up.
Then the fever left her and she waited on them.
When it was evening, after sunset,
they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons.
The whole town was gathered at the door.
He cured many who were sick with various diseases,
and he drove out many demons,
not permitting them to speak because they knew him.
Rising very early before dawn,
he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed.
Simon and those who were with him pursued him
and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.”
He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages
that I may preach there also.
For this purpose have I come.”
So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee.
REFLECTION: We heard from today’s Gospel, that Jesus is obviously swamped with healing and driving out demons. Basically, he had a long and busy day. The word had been spread so fast, of Jesus’ healing miracles, that the whole town was gathered at the door, of the house of Simon and Andrew, where Jesus was and had just healed Simon’s mother-in-law, who laid sick with a fever. Jesus had done a lot that day, curing many who were sick with various diseases, and driving out many demons, and all that, amounted to a very long day. Then, Mark’s Gospel tells us that the next morning, Jesus woke up pretty early and went off and found a deserted place to pray. Jesus went off, and away from the crowd, for a Quite Time, to speak with His Father, about all the things that were going on. He got a close, and personal time with His Father. Jesus prayed! Jesus was aligning His human side, with His Father’s plans. Jesus needed some Quiet Time, alone, to pray.
How often, through the course of our daily chores and activities, do we stop, to have some Quite Time, one-on one, with our heavenly Father? Or as one of my brothers, in my men’s weekly grouping says, “wasting time with God”.
What is a daily Quiet Time? It is about spending quality time with God. It’s about developing and growing our relationship with our Heavenly Father. He communicates to us through His Word, and we communicate with Him, through prayer. If we make this our practice, we will see, that often, God gives us guidance and direction, through our communication with Him.
Why have a daily Quiet Time? Jesus modeled it. We heard it in today’s Gospel, that Jesus went out early in the morning, by Himself, and prayed. So, He spent some quality time with His Father in a quiet place. And by what the Gospel tells us, He got direction from His Father, because after his Quiet Time, He did something pretty different, from what His disciples expected. Jesus decided to go to different towns to preach there also, because that is why He came. God the Father communicated His purpose to Jesus, and Jesus obeyed.
Just like Jesus modeled for us, Quiet Time with our heavenly Father, Jesus says we need it. In the Gospel of Matthew, 4:4 says: “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
Another reason to have a daily Quiet Time is, because God promised success if we do it. God promised it to Joshua (Joshua 1:8). Joshua was commanded to meditate on God’s Word, day and night, and as a result, he would become successful. So, if we want to be successful in our ways, we too, should meditate on God’s Words every day. This is not about being successful in the ways of the world, which is the broad and easy road that leads to destruction. But in the ways of God, the narrow and difficult way, that leads to eternal and abundant life.
If you’re currently not in the habit, of having a daily Quiet Time with God, then I would encourage you to start doing it. It may seem overwhelming at first, so I would recommend starting small. It’s probably better, to spend 5 minutes with God every day of the week, than to have an hour-long Quiet Time with God on Monday and then nothing with Him, for the rest of the week. Start building that habit and you will receive the benefits over time.
Expect some spiritual resistance. Satan and his army of demons do not want you to spend time with God daily, so they will try to discourage you. Just remember, that He is inside of you, and that is stronger than the evil one.
ACTION OF THE DAY: Don’t let this time you spent today with the Deacon5, just stay here. The power of what you experience here, can go and stay with you, in your heart. It can meet you again later tonight, or early tomorrow morning, and every day this week, this month and the rest of your life.
AUDIO REFLECTION:
Link to the DEACON5 website: https://deacon5.com/