10 January, Friday after Epiphany: 1 Jn 5:5-13; Lk 5:12-16
A couple of days ago, in Mark’s Gospel, we heard that Jesus had withdrawn to pray; today, in Luke’s Gospel we’re told that he’d withdraw to deserted places to pray.
As we digest the richness of this Christmas season, let’s not reduce that withdrawing and praying to pragmatic functions, preparation for some significant action or needed help, for example. I believe it’s a valid description of prayer to recognize it as our relationship with God. And it’s a relationship, a communion of love. Isn’t that what, after all these decades, draws us to pray?
Isn’t that intimacy and love what the Incarnation reveals?
Love isn’t an escape from the crimes and tragedies of our times, nor an evasion of our responsibilities. But we can’t afford to lose sight of God’s love and our joy in that love, to truly live our lives.
Dennis says
I often think that most of the New Testament takes place in the silence of communing with God.