February 8, 2015 — Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Jb 7: 1-4, 6-7; Ps 147: 1-6; 1 Cor 9: 16-19, 22-23; Mk 1: 29-39
“Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed.”
There are scores of instances in the Four Gospels which indicate Jesus praying. He often would go off alone to pray, but He also prayed with others publicly; He prayed before He made a choice, before He healed someone, and He was just as likely to pray after as well.
St. Paul exhorts us to “pray constantly, never ceasing.” Jesus perhaps more than any other fulfilled this admonition. He provides to us the perfect example of both how we should pray and in what ways. Prayer is at the foundation of our faith; it is at the core of a stewardship way of life. Developing an ongoing, consistent, and active prayer life is paramount for each of us.
Prayer not only indicates our constant awareness of God, but it enhances our lives, and is an indication of our total trust in God. Trust in God is also an important facet of stewardship. Knowing that we are in God’s hands and in His care is what strengthens us and allows us to make the commitment Jesus has asked us to make. One of Jesus’ final prayers is one which offers us the suggestion of how we need to approach life: “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.”
