At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place.
The crowds went looking for him, and when they came to him,
they tried to prevent him from leaving them.
But he said to them,
To the other towns also
I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God,
because for this purpose I have been sent.
And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.
— Luke 4:38-44
The peace of the Lord be with you. Yesterday, I reflected on the power and authority of Jesus. Today, in this portion of the Gospel reading, we are reminded of how Jesus nurtured his authority and kept the focus of his ministry. Jesus would take time to be alone, to be quiet with God. Sometimes the Gospels say he went off to pray, others imply that he may have meditated and other passages give the impression he just sat quietly.
We need this time for quiet and reflection as well. Why do we need this time? At the heart of being a follower of Jesus is relationship. These times of quiet afford us and help us to build our relationship with God. Like Elijah in the cave, these quiet moments allow us to listen for and hear the whispering of God. In this whisper, he not only gives us instruction, but also affirms how much He loves us, how proud He is of us, and He encourages us not to fear the obstacles. As you take in the days readings, reflect on this commentary and others available and let yourself be made ready for this day’s journey. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.