Reflection On Mark 1: 29-39

The evangelist, Mark, frequently pictures Jesus as being extremely busy. Some of his accounts of Our Lord’s labors exhaust us, just to read them. In the passage, Jesus spent the day curing fevers, driving out demons, preaching, making comments and attending to many other activities, which were swirling about Him. Following a night’s sleep, numerous tasks were awaiting His attention the next day. Jesus rose early but avoided all contact with people and problems. Instead, He retreated to the desert and there was “absorbed in prayer.” The word, absorb means literally to suck up or take in, as a sponge collects water.  it were necessary for Jesus to give prime time to intense prayer, how much more compulsory for us? Have we ever been absorbed in prayer? Imagine being caught up in God’s presence so completely that no noise would disturb our ears and gnawing tensions would not invade our hearts.
The Gospel takes us into deep relationship: first, one’s readiness to reach out to the maximum of people and second, one’s self-discipline concerning one’s charitable acts. Jesus heals not only the Mother-in-law of Peter on account of his close association with him. He also available to people from all walks of life even after the sunset. Jesus, the Son of righteousness does not set even when the earthly sun has already set. In whatever situation he may be, he does not lose his focus on the source of His power, namely God His Father. He immediately goes to a quiet place in the wilderness and prays for the whole night. The phrase “everybody is looking for you” meant to say, “we are feeling a kind of void in your absence, please fill it with your presence.” We see Jesus readily sets out with them. We see man searching for God and God answering the search. This search for God is an innate instinct with man. He feels the void till he finds Him. That is why Paul says, “I’m bound to preach the Gospel, owe to me if I don’t”. Man’s soul is restless till it reaches God. An atheist officer took the interview of an applicant. Do you believe in God? No. what is your opinion about those who believe? They are fools. God is only a fairy tale. What is religion, then? It is the opium of the people. What does religion do? It exploits the poor. The officer was pleased and handed over his appointment letter. The applicant said, “Thanks to be to God”. 
Question Yourself:
How do you preserve your identity as Christian to others in society?
Are you absorbed in prayer?
Is there a busy day ahead for us?

Spend some quality time absorbed in prayer and discover a rich source of strength.

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