That evening, at sundown, people brought to Jesus all the sick and those who had evil spirits:
the whole town was pressing around the door. Jesus healed many who had various diseases, and drove out many demons;
but he did not let them speak, for they knew who he was.
Very early in the morning, before daylight, Jesus went off to a lonely place where he prayed.
Simon and the others went out also, searching for him; and when they found him, they said, “Everyone is looking for you.”
Then Jesus answered, “Let us go to the nearby villages so that I may preach there too; for that is why I came.”
So Jesus set out to preach in all the synagogues throughout Galilee; he also cast out demons.

REFLECTION:
"Ora et labora, Pray and Work” is a Benedictine motto handed down to all gene­rations of Benedictines.
But this is not original to Saint Benedict. This motto goes back to Jesus, as he exemplifies it in today’s gospel.
After a very busy day, Jesus finds time to go to a lonely place to pray. Prayer is not only talking to God,
it is first and foremost listening to God. Just as mobile phones need rechar­ging, so we too need re-char­ging, to be re-energized by God.
Prayer enables us to perform the mission entrusted to us by virtue of our baptism.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2020