by Rev. Canon David B. Tabo-oy
35Very early the next morning, long before daylight, Jesus got up and left the house. He went out of town to a lonely place, where he prayed. v36But Simon and his companions went out searching for him, v37and when they found him, they said, “Everyone is looking for you.” (Read: Mark 1:29-39)
Background. At the very beginning of Mark’s gospel is already full of action relative to the ministry of Jesus unlike the other synoptic gospels of Matthew, Luke, and John. It started with the preaching of John the Baptist of the one coming ‘greater than him’. It followed by the manifestation of Jesus as the Son of God when John baptized him in the Jordan River with a dove descending upon Jesus with a voice from heaven, “You are my own dear Son. I am pleased with you.” Then Jesus withdrew to the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil. He prevailed. Afterwards Jesus started recruiting his disciples starting with four fishermen. Our gospel lesson last Sunday tells us about the exorcism of a man possessed. It reminds us of the reality of demons even this modern times as seen in our erratic, afflicted, wrongful way of life. With us alone even in our most sincere resolve cannot rid these demons. But bringing these demons of our lives to Jesus, He can obliterate them. This is the context of our gospel lesson this week.
***
And so the news about Jesus spread quickly everywhere in the province of Galilee. Our gospel lesson started with Jesus and his disciples going to the house of Simon. I can only deduce that they went there to have respite since people are already seeking after him as a result of the teachings and exorcism he performed. This can be affirmed at verses 32 and 33, ‘After the sun had set and evening had come, people brought to Jesus all the sick and those who had demons. All the people of the town gathered in front of the house’. Earlier verses tell us that instead of having the needed rest they were confronted with another serious concern: the mother-in-law of Simon is sick. As expected Jesus healed the sick woman who later served them. They are still in Capernaum.
***
Amidst these activities Jesus took a leave early in the morning without the knowledge of his host and disciples and went to a deserted place to pray. Jesus is teaching us a very important lesson to live our life today. The necessity of prayer. I am reminded of a Latin phrase that goes: Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi… ‘the rule of prayer is the rule of belief’. This phrase describes the pervasive pastoral reality that habits of prayer shape Christian belief. Simply put, the phrase suggests that it is not your faith that makes you pray but your prayer makes your belief stronger. But then. to whom are you praying?
***
The words “prayer” and “praying” are used at least 25 times in connection with Jesus, and there are many instances which the fact of His praying is mentioned where the word occur. His praying is mentioned by each of the four evangelists. The life of Christ had many marked characteristics, but nothing is more marked than his prayerfulness.
***
v35Very early the next morning, long before daylight, Jesus got up and left the house. He went out of town to a lonely place, where he prayed. With early morning prayers, the faith in God gets reinforced and you can start feeling his presence in every single bit. You start visualizing His grace in every chore and you don’t ever feel alone. Every morning you remind He and His grace and God certainly will remind you every time. Prayer is a communication to God. Prayer is done by those who trust the power of word and thought. Jesus taught the people to say the Lord’s Prayer can be spoken, silent (not talking), or in a song, it can be used to praise God or to ask something including help and forgiveness. (cf. Wikipedia. Whathebibletellsyou,)
Let us pray.
Set us free, O God, from the bondage of our sins, and give us the liberty of that abundant life which you have made known to us in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.**
