First reading Colossians 1:1-8
The message of the truth has reached you and is spreading all over the world
From Paul, appointed by God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy to the saints in Colossae, our faithful brothers in Christ: Grace and peace to you from God our Father.
We have never failed to remember you in our prayers and to give thanks for you to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, ever since we heard about your faith in Christ Jesus and the love that you show towards all the saints because of the hope which is stored up for you in heaven. It is only recently that you heard of this, when it was announced in the message of the truth. The Good News which has reached you is spreading all over the world and producing the same results as it has among you ever since the day when you heard about God’s grace and understood what this really is. Epaphras, who taught you, is one of our closest fellow workers and a faithful deputy for us as Christ’s servant, and it was he who told us all about your love in the Spirit.
Responsorial Psalm 51(52):10-11
I trust in the goodness of God for ever and ever.
I am like a growing olive tree
in the house of God.
I trust in the goodness of God
for ever and ever.
I trust in the goodness of God for ever and ever.
I will thank you for evermore;
for this is your doing.
I will proclaim that your name is good,
in the presence of your friends.
I trust in the goodness of God for ever and ever.
Gospel Luke 4:38-44
When daylight came he left the house and made his way to a lonely place
Leaving the synagogue, Jesus went to Simon’s house. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever and they asked him to do something for her. Leaning over her he rebuked the fever and it left her. And she immediately got up and began to wait on them.
At sunset all those who had friends suffering from diseases of one kind or another brought them to him, and laying his hands on each he cured them. Devils too came out of many people, howling, ‘You are the Son of God.’ But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak because they knew that he was the Christ.
When daylight came he left the house and made his way to a lonely place. The crowds went to look for him, and when they had caught up with him they wanted to prevent him leaving them, but he answered, ‘I must proclaim the Good News of the kingdom of God to the other towns too, because that is what I was sent to do.’ And he continued his preaching in the synagogues of Judaea.
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Time given to God is never wasted
In the gospel today, we see Jesus attending to the sick people by healing them and reaching out to those in need. Yet, he took time to go off to a lonely place where He could be alone in prayer with God the Father.
From how Jesus spent His time, we have a good indicator of what He truly valued, i.e. being with God in prayer and being in service to those in need. Prayer was Jesus’ top priority. His prayerful union with God was the source of energy, joy, enthusiasm, and love for His mission.
On the other hand, we tend to view prayer as a waste of time, especially when there are so many things that need to be done. As we contemplate on Jesus going to a lonely place to pray, let us be drawn to the reality that time spent with God is never a waste of time. It is from our relationship with God that we get our daily strength and discern His will for us.
Question for reflection:
How can I make prayer a priority?
