Feast of Sts. Simon and Jude, Apostles
The Gospel for this feast of the apostles Simon and Jude begins with the words: “Jesus went up to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God.” This brief introduction to the account of Jesus’ selection of his twelve disciples could easily be overlooked as merely setting the scene, when, in fact, it is one of the most important lines in this gospel passage. Jesus is about to make one of the most important decisions of his ministry— to choose the men to whom he will entrust the future of the Church. How did he prepare for that decision? He spent the night in prayer with his Father. Jesus wanted to be in complete conformity with his Father’s will, and it was through prayer that he remained obedient to that will.
What is the place of prayer in our lives? Do we turn to God in all of our decisions? Fr. Jacque Philippe says that “prayer consists of facing God in solitude and silence for a time in order to enter into intimate, loving communion with Him.” (Time for God, p. 1) The words “intimate” and “loving” imply a close relationship with the Father. We know that in human relationships intimacy can only come about when we spend time with someone on a regular basis. Is it any different in our relationship with God? We are inspired by Jesus’ example today to turn to our Father in prayer, not just in times of crisis, but frequently throughout each day in a relationship of loving communion. It only takes a moment—whether at work, in the kitchen, at school, or in other activities—to pause and enter into a brief dialogue with God. It can be a moment of gratitude for blessings in our lives, a petition for help with the project we are doing, or it can be an intercession for the aid of the Holy Spirit in making difficult or even commonplace decisions.
Let us turn to our Father today with complete confidence that the One who loves us as His beloved children will not refuse those who entrust the whole of their lives to His care.
Reflection by Br. Michael Marcotte, OSB
Posted in Articles for Ordinary Time, Daily Reflections