DAY TWELVE | FEBRUARY 24, 2023
Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed. When they heard about all he was doing, many people came to him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon. Because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him. For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him. Whenever the impure spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” But he gave them strict orders not to tell others about him.
REFLECTION
In our reading today we read that Jesus withdrew with his disciples to a solitary place near the Sea of Galilee. When the people heard where Jesus was, they came from far and wide to see him, and the crowd became so large that Jesus had to retreat onto a boat to avoid being crushed. Even in this solitary place, Jesus could not find solitude.
In our modern, fast-paced world, solitude can be hard to come by. We are constantly bombarded with noise, distractions, and demands on our time and attention. The idea of being alone with our thoughts and with God can be scary or even seem impossible. But we need to make time for solitude if we want to grow in our relationship with God.
The story of Jesus in the solitary place shows us that even when we seek solitude, it may not come easily. The demands of the world may follow us, and we may still find ourselves struggling to quiet our minds and be still. However, just as Jesus continued to minister to the people despite the chaos, we too can find God in the midst of the noise and distractions of our lives.
One way to cultivate solitude is to intentionally set aside time each day for prayer, meditation, or quiet reflection. We can turn off our phones, step away from our screens, and intentionally create space for silence and stillness. It may be hard at first, but with practice, we can learn to quiet our minds and be present with God.
This story of Jesus in the solitary place challenges us all to seek out solitude in our own lives, even when it seems difficult or impossible. God can even meet us in the midst of the chaos of our lives if we intentionally create space for silence and stillness. Let us make time for solitude and allow God to speak to us in the quiet places of our hearts.
Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed. When they heard about all he was doing, many people came to him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon. Because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him. For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him. Whenever the impure spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” But he gave them strict orders not to tell others about him.
REFLECTION
In our reading today we read that Jesus withdrew with his disciples to a solitary place near the Sea of Galilee. When the people heard where Jesus was, they came from far and wide to see him, and the crowd became so large that Jesus had to retreat onto a boat to avoid being crushed. Even in this solitary place, Jesus could not find solitude.
In our modern, fast-paced world, solitude can be hard to come by. We are constantly bombarded with noise, distractions, and demands on our time and attention. The idea of being alone with our thoughts and with God can be scary or even seem impossible. But we need to make time for solitude if we want to grow in our relationship with God.
The story of Jesus in the solitary place shows us that even when we seek solitude, it may not come easily. The demands of the world may follow us, and we may still find ourselves struggling to quiet our minds and be still. However, just as Jesus continued to minister to the people despite the chaos, we too can find God in the midst of the noise and distractions of our lives.
One way to cultivate solitude is to intentionally set aside time each day for prayer, meditation, or quiet reflection. We can turn off our phones, step away from our screens, and intentionally create space for silence and stillness. It may be hard at first, but with practice, we can learn to quiet our minds and be present with God.
This story of Jesus in the solitary place challenges us all to seek out solitude in our own lives, even when it seems difficult or impossible. God can even meet us in the midst of the chaos of our lives if we intentionally create space for silence and stillness. Let us make time for solitude and allow God to speak to us in the quiet places of our hearts.