- Mark 1:35-39
Today’s gospel is a continuation from yesterday. This passage begins the morning after Jesus’ has spent the day working miracles throughout Capernum, including healing Peter’s mother-in-law. Notice the first thing Jesus does. Before dawn, He goes off to a deserted place and prays. In this action, Jesus is giving us a model for how we should begin each day. By beginning His day in prayer, Jesus is able to focus on what is truly important and what his mission truly is. It is only after He has gone off and prayed that He then says it is time to “go on to the nearby villages” and “preach there also.” The order is important: pray and then act.
In our lives, how often do we act before considering what we should do. By taking time to focus ourselves through prayer and conversation with God, we are better able to discern what it is God wants us to do, what God’s plan is for us. Through prayer, we connect with God on a personal level and develop our relationship with Him so that we can better serve Him. It is only after we have talked to God (and listened for a response) that we are able to go out and make disciples of all nations. Just as Jesus first prays and then preaches, we too must pray first and act second.