Our Scripture meditation is based on Matthew 14:22-23 from the Gospel Reading for next week, the 11th Sunday after Pentecost. For a meditation on the Epistle Lesson, click HERE.
[22] Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. [23] And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone…
Jesus is at it again.
More accurately, in this passage Jesus is “away from it” again
In last week’s meditation we considered how Jesus’ withdrew to a desolate place to mourn. This week Jesus goes up a mountain alone to pray.
Just pray.
Jesus leaves behind his disciples. He walks away from the masses of people who gather to hear him, to witness healings, to be healed.
Jesus goes up a mountain to pray.
This is Jesus’ “modus operandi”. We’re told in Luke chapter 5 that Jesus regularly withdrew to lonely places to pray. Even when Jesus went without His disciples, Jesus was not alone. He petitions were given to the Heavenly Father.
What wonderful permission our Lord gives us by this repeated singular act.
We, too, can just pray. We don’t need a family crisis to turn to God. An imminent life-altering decision is not necessary to motivate prayer. We need not wait for a prompt from the prayer chain at church.
By his actions Jesus is blessing regular and routine prayer. He is inviting habitually approaching God the Father on our knees.
Until next week, the Lord bless and guide.
Kevin Wilson 360 