Gospel Reflection for the 5th. Sunday of Ordinary Time

February 4th. – Jesus takes time to rest…

We know from reading and hearing the gospels that Jesus was much in demand and generally very busy! Once he began his public ministry, he went from place to place preaching and teaching. He spoke to and taught the people who came to hear him in the Temple, the local synagogue, by the lake shore and even in the streets. Anywhere that the people gathered, Jesus found the time to speak to them. As well as teaching people, Jesus also went out of his way to heal and cure them. He often sought out the sick; those who needed healing came to him. On one occasion a man who could not walk was lowered down through a roof so that Jesus could touch and heal him! Other times, he stopped and cured people he met as he walked along the road.

We read in this Sunday’s gospel that on leaving the synagogue with James and John he went to the house of Simon and Andrew. He went there because the mother of Simon and Andrew was sick. We read that he took her by the hand and cured her. There is no doubt that Jesus was an extraordinary and remarkable man! In the gospel last Sunday we read that he taught the people with authority and that when the people heard him they said, ‘here is a teaching that is new’. How was Jesus able to give and offer so much of himself to people? He took time off to be alone so that he could rest and pray. He made sure he set time and space aside so he could pray and regain his energy and strength as he proclaimed the Kingdom of God. He took time be alone when he could be still and silent. When he prayed he did two things; he talked to God and he listened to God. This helped him to remember and realise where his mission and ministry came from. He never relied on his own strength; he drew strength from God.

Today in our own modern society we all lead very busy and active lives. There are a lot of demands and pressures on all of us, especially for parents and families. The media and society tell us that now is better than later, more is better than less and fast is better than slow. Is this really true? Or is this fake news? It seems that we are living a world that places very little value or meaning on silence or moments of personal prayer. We can’t simply ignore or deny the fact that we are living in a fast moving and changing world. It is all around us. We all have smart phones which are rarely turned off. This means we are always connected to the ever expanding social media world. On our televisions, we have so many channels offering us twenty four hour news and constant entertainment. Sadly, we are surrounded by constant noise, distractions and interruptions. This can’t be good for our physical, spiritual or mental health.

Can we look to the example of Jesus and learn from him? He insisted on taking time to be by himself and sit in silence. Early in the morning, long before dawn, he got up, left the house and went to a lonely place where he prayed. He spent time on his own with God, so he could spend time with others as he spoke to them and healed them.

This coming week can I turn off my phone and my television even for a few minutes so I can spend some time in prayer on my own in silence as I speak and listen to God?

• Michael Moore OMI