What’s your purpose?

When reading the Gospel of Mark, I come away from the experience with the impression that Jesus is constantly on the move, always meeting people who are looking for something from him. Even just the ten lines that are given to us as the reading for the fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time are enough to convey an image of Jesus on the go. Equally, those few verses reveal the compassionate, healing presence that Jesus brings to his encounters with us. Without being asked, Jesus, on hearing of Simon’s mother-in-law’s illness, reaches out, grasps her hand, helps her up, and heals her. He saw her need and took care of it. Similarly, come evening, the whole town arrives at the door, including the ill and possessed that they have brought with them. He heals them all, even though there were many in need. Critical to us in this passage is what Jesus does next.

Early in the morning, he leaves, goes to a deserted place, and prays. Did Jesus go and pray to discern what his Father was asking of him? Did he go to think about what his next step in his mission was to be? Did Jesus simply need to talk over the day with the one who sent him, to share his feelings about all those who came to him seeking an encounter or healing? Maybe all of these were part of his prayer. What is important to note is that it was after he had drawn aside in the solitude of a deserted place that Jesus emerged with an awareness of his purpose: to preach throughout all of Galilee. Jesus’s purpose was to preach the Good News. Jesus, the Son of God, needed to take time apart to become centered and to discover or rediscover what his mission was. If he needed to spend time alone in prayer and discernment, how much more are we dependent on solitude and prayerful conversation with God to find our center and to discern our direction, our purpose?

I imagine there is not one of us who cannot imagine how Jesus felt when he was told: “Everyone is looking for you.” Sometimes we just want to cry out: “Come back later, or tomorrow or next week.” It’s a very human reaction to the recurring demands made on our time, energy, and gifts. Jesus drew his strength from his personal, intimate relationship with the Father. The only truly fruitful and successful source of strength for us to draw from is our relationship with God. Uniting ourselves with the compassionate, healing God that Jesus revealed himself to be will give us the strength we need to pour ourselves out as we spread the Good News. Jesus needed to pull aside to a quiet place. How could we expect to deepen our relationship with God, to discern how Jesus wants us to share in his mission, without doing the same?

~Sr. Kathleen

Take your next step: Consider what in your life needs to be healed. Spend time in prayer asking God to provide that gift of healing for you so you might better share the Good News with others.

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