Seek a Quiet Place

As we go through these weeks known as *Ordinary Time, we will be covering a large portion of the Gospel of Mark.  In these chapters we will continue reading about the miraculous healings of Jesus, the mission he sent the twelve apostles on, and the rather lengthy, but incredible, Parable of the Sower.  There is much to learn over these weeks leading up to the season of Lent, which kicks off with Ash Wednesday on February 26, 2020.

The Gospel of Mark was written around 53-63 A.D. and is the earliest of the four gospels.  It was primarily written for a Gentile (non-Jewish) Christian audience in Rome.

Mark’s Gospel zeroes in on the proclamation of the kingdom and is fast-paced compared to the others.  The parables Jesus told were really a device to give insights that are helpful for us even today.

Being the shortest gospel, Mark’s gospel is still packed with revelations about who Jesus is, as can be seen in his transfiguration and his divine personality as his relationships with Peter and his disciples unfold.

Today’s reading continues from yesterday’s call of the first disciples.  Today we learn of Jesus healing Simon’s mother-in-law and his rising “stardom” as people start pursuing him.

Here’s the biblical text from the gospel:

“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.”

Notice what follows:

“Rising very early before dawn,
he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed.”

After this, Jesus moved on to “nearby villages” so he could preach. 

As disciples, followers of Jesus, let us imitate the pattern he used. 

However you can arrange it in your life, seek out a quiet place where you can pray, and then let the fruits of your prayer get you moving.

Janet Cassidy
janetcassidy.blogspot.com
janetcassidy.blubrry.net

*Ordinary Time – “Christmas Time and Easter Time highlight the central mysteries of the Paschal Mystery, namely, the incarnation, death on the cross, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ, and the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. The Sundays and weeks of Ordinary Time, on the other hand, take us through the life of Christ. This is the time of conversion. This is living the life of Christ.” usccb.org