19th Sunday in Ordinary Time -- August 10, 2014

             ²² Right away, Jesus made his disciples get into a boat and start back across the lake. But he stayed until 
                he had sent the crowds away. ²³ Then he went up on a mountain where he could be alone and pray.  
                  Later that evening, he was still there.


I like to look for the overlooked aspects of famous, well-known passages when I am preparing to teach or preach. I like to examine and wonder about the seemingly inconsequential parts that usually get skipped over for the BIG STORY, the MIRACLE, the LARGER THAN LIFE experience. Because that is where most of  us live. 

Jesus had set off to be alone after he heard the news about John the Baptist's beheading. Many believe that John was Jesus' cousin. But  the crowds found  him and the day ended with the feeding of the 5,000. Now Jesus goes off to be alone once more,  and we don't know who or what ended his time of solitude, but when it did end, he went to them far out on the sea and another great miracle occurs. 

          + Jesus withdraws often in scriptures for solitary prayer time with God. If he is God, why does he need this?
          +  Does the fact that Jesus does do this often, if not daily, inform us as to our true and deepest needs?
          + How would you respond to Martin Luther, who, when he had a particularly full day ahead of him was 
                known to say: I have so much to do today, I must pray twice as long!  


     
 

View of the northwestern portion of the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) from the location of the miracle of the Feeding of the 5,000.

A small cave on the Eremos Heights, east of Capernaum, and below the location of the Feeding of the 5,000 and overlooking Peter's designated fishing area on the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee). Tradition has it that this is a place where Jesus went to be by himself and pray.