But he would withdraw to deserted places to pray

SATURDAY 11 JANUARY (Lk 5,12-16)

Why did Jesus retreat to deserted places to pray? To know, in the Holy Spirit, the whole will of the Father. To draw from the Father, in the Holy Spirit, all strength to accomplish every command and desire revealed to him. Jesus is the true man. As the true man, he too grows in grace and wisdom, in the knowledge and science of the divine will. What the Book of Wisdom says also applies to Lord Jesus: “For what man knows God’s counsel, or who can conceive what our Lord intends? For the deliberations of mortals are timid, and unsure are our plans. For the corruptible body burdens the soul and the earthen shelter weighs down the mind that has many concerns. And scarce do we guess the things on earth, and what is within our grasp we find with difficulty; but when things are in heaven, who can search them out? Or who ever knew your counsel, except you had given Wisdom and sent your holy spirit from on high? And thus were the paths of those on earth made straight, and men learned what was your pleasure, and were saved by Wisdom” (Wis 9,12-18).

There is neither wisdom nor prudence, nor intelligence, nor knowledge, except by prayer. Everything must be asked of the Father. Everything descends from him: “Therefore I prayed, and prudence was given me; I pleaded and the spirit of Wisdom came to me. I preferred her to scepter and throne, And deemed riches nothing in comparison with her, nor did I liken any priceless gem to her; Because all gold, in view of her, is a little sand, and before her, silver is to be accounted mire. Beyond health and comeliness I loved her, And I chose to have her rather than the light, because the splendor of her never yields to sleep. Yet all good things together came to me in her company, and countless riches at her hands; And I rejoiced in them all, because Wisdom is their leader, though I had not known that she is the mother of these. Simply I learned about her, and ungrudgingly do I share – her riches I do not hide away; For to men she is an unfailing treasure; those who gain this treasure win the friendship of God, to whom the gifts they have from discipline commend them. Now God grant I speak suitably and value these endowments at their worth: For he is the guide of Wisdom and the director of the wise” (Wis 7,7-15). Jesus is Light from the Light of the Father, Truth from the truth of the Father and Wisdom from the wisdom of the Father. But being He also the true man, as the true man, moment by moment,  he must draw light, truth, grace, strength and intelligence from his Father. Prayer is the way so that all of God gives himself to Christ the Lord.

Now there was a man full of leprosy in one of the towns where he was; and when he saw Jesus, he fell prostrate, pleaded with him, and said, “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.” Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, “I do will it. Be made clean.” And the leprosy left him immediately. Then he ordered him not to tell anyone, but “Go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.” The report about him spread all the more, and great crowds assembled to listen to him and to be cured of their ailments, but he would withdraw to deserted places to pray.

A leper asks Jesus to be purified by him. He asks it with great delicacy and respect. Jesus heals him, but orders him not to report this healing to anyone. The silence of the one who has been healed is not enough for nothing to be known. One knows it, a whole region knows it. What should Jesus do? Must he devote himself to healing or preach the Word of the kingdom of God? Must he turn for to charity in favour of the soul and spirit, or to mercy in favour of the body? He cannot decide by himself. It is the Father who must decide and it is to the Father that everything must always be asked. Since each history is personal, one must go to the Father for every history. This is the purpose of prayer: always knowing all the will of the Father, so as to make his whole life a perennial obedience. Without prayer, it is easy to fall into temptation. One would serve the body. Soul and spirit would be left out. Jesus’ mission is for the eternal salvation of every man. It is useless to give life to a body while leaving the soul in eternal death. Everything must be done from the will of the Father.

Mother of God, Angels and Saints, indicate every Christian the holy way of prayer.