Today is Jan. 15, Wednesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time.
In the Gospel at today’s Mass, we read, “Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed” (Mk 1:35).
This simple verse in Mark’s Gospel offers us a profound glimpse into the prayerful heart of Jesus. Amid the demands of his ministry — healing the sick, teaching the crowds and proclaiming the Kingdom of God — Jesus made time for prayer. It was his first priority. He sought solitude, rising before dawn, to commune with the Father in the quiet of the morning.
Jesus’ prayer reveals his priorities. It was not rushed or squeezed into a busy schedule; it was central to his life. Among the reasons St. Thomas Aquinas argues that it’s fitting that Jesus should pray (ST III, q. 21), he says that Jesus prays to give us an example. So … we should follow in the footsteps of Jesus and do what he does!
Prayer require intentionality
By withdrawing to a deserted place, Jesus teaches us that prayer requires intentionality — stepping away from distractions to be fully present to God. Maybe you have a favorite armchair in your home where you read Scripture or a cozy adoration chapel nearby where you love to take refuge. All of us need to put our phones away and remove every distraction we can to turn to God in prayer!
Finally, this moment in the Gospel also shows us that prayer is not merely an obligation but a lifeline, a source of strength and clarity for living out our call to be disciples. The character of Jesus’ prayer is marked by intimacy and trust. In prayer, Jesus aligns himself with the Father’s will, preparing for the work he is called to do. This pattern is consistent throughout his ministry: in moments of decision, challenge, or exhaustion, Jesus retreats to pray.
He turns to the Father not as distant but as the source of his strength and the foundation of his identity. Because we have been conformed to Jesus, bound to him by virtue of our Baptism, we too can call upon the Father with confidence. Today (and every day) let us step apart and seek the Lord in prayer.
Let us pray,
Attend to the pleas of your people with heavenly care, O Lord, we pray, that they may see what must be done and gain strength to do what they have seen. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
