Mountain to Pray – Luke 6:12-16 Reflection
We all have to make decisions based on various possibilities, so we often try to arrange a time to create silence in our unique “mountain to pray.” My favorite place to pray is a long walk into the forest stopping to sit at a rock or fallen tree. I use the period away from the din because Jesus’s example of being alone resonates with me. We hear of Him doing so multiple times in Scripture. One of the most important decisions was when He had to choose who of the twelve would be the first spiritual leaders. Jesus had a range of worthy disciples to choose from. It is obvious that He did not leave the others behind because not much later, he sent seventy out in the same way. Decisions like this are not simply yes or no, so it makes sense to pause to reflect with God. This is especially true during critical periods of narrowing choices without leaving the other good options behind. At a minimum, quiet time with divinity can bring peace and declutter the worldly cacophony for these decisions.
Christ Retreats to the Mountain by James Tissot (full-resolution painting)
More details are available on the Brooklyn Museum website.
Additional Ordinary Time Reflections
Luke 6:12-16 – Scripture*
Jesus Chooses the Twelve Apostles
12 Now during those days he went out to the mountain to pray; and he spent the night in prayer to God. 13 And when day came, he called his disciples and chose twelve of them, whom he also named apostles: 14 Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew, and James, and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew, 15 and Matthew, and Thomas, and James son of Alphaeus, and Simon, who was called the Zealot, 16 and Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
Additional Thoughts
Thank you for meditating on this Gospel and reading this Lectio Divina on Luke 6:12-16 Reflection – Mountain to Pray.
Would you like to contribute related thoughts to these Lectio reflections on the Gospel readings? Since Lectio is not the only contemplative payer style, others might appreciate these types of expressions in this ministry. Do you see God’s grandeur everywhere and unconditionally enjoy sharing the love of Christ that you have inside? Are you willing to be anonymous in what you would share? If so, email me.
Prayer for young families:
Lord, let the young families of our communities get to know your joy, peace, comfort, and love despite worldly distractions.
Attributions
*This site has permission to use the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) Bible Luke 6 Bible passage.
The Immersive Prayer website follows the guidelines for image web use at the Brooklyn Museum and the Jewish Museum websites.
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