Alone to Pray – Reflection on Luke 6:12-19
When I am in a situation that requires a weighty decision, I must disconnect from my daily routines for incremental prayer. This extended period typically means I go on a long hike in the forest to give myself in deep prayer to God. I partially do so because when Jesus needed to make big decisions, he did the same thing. One example is when Jesus went to the mountain to pray when he chose the twelve apostles from the multitude of followers. Being alone to pray lets me spiritually be more in touch with divinity and brings peace and quiet to my mind. My troubles dissipate, my Christian intuitions increase, and I have no doubt Jesus is present helping the decision be more manageable.
Ordaining of the Twelve Apostles by James Tissot (full resolution painting).
More details are available on the Brooklyn Museum website.
Additional Ordinary Time Reflections
Luke 6:12-19 – 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.
Jesus Teaches and Heals
17 He came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea, Jerusalem, and the coast of Tyre and Sidon. 18 They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. 19 And all in the crowd were trying to touch him, for power came out from him and healed all of them.
Additional Thoughts
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Prayer for young families:
Lord, let the young families of our communities get to know your joy, peace, comfort, and love despite the world’s distractions.
Attributions
This site has written permission to use the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) Bible Luke 6 Bible passage.
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This Lectio Divina on Luke 6:12-19 Reflection – Alone to Pray is in the Lectionary season of Ordinary Time.
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