My father was a very hardworking and disciplined man. Every morning he would get up and go to Mass before going to work, and each night he would kneel down by his bed and say his prayers. Part of his discipline was what he did each evening about an hour before dinner. He would go into his bedroom and take a 20 minute nap. Afterwards, he would get us and socialize before eating dinner. He took that nap because he knew that he needed some down time to recharge his energy level. So, too, did Jesus. That’s why we find Him in today’s gospel (Mark 1:29-39) going off to a lonely place to pray. He went to rest in prayer with his heavenly Father. If we are smart, we will follow our Lord’s example of getting away to pray both in the morning and at night. Otherwise, we will be working harder but accomplishing less, because our lives need the energy that only comes as the result of prayer.
- Fr. Carl
“The Heart of Jesus is infinitely good
and loves each one of us, whoever we
are. But we must have confidence in
Him. There is a certain kind of fear
which displeases Him.”
- The Cure D’Ars
