Saturday, March 15(2), 2025
Heb. 3:12-16, Mk. 1:35-44

“He [Jesus] went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed”  [Mk. 1:35].  The Lord is praying as a Man, or better say, as One incarnate as a human being.  He is praying for us humans, but He is also shaping His own human nature which at that time had to come, by limited means, in communion with His divine nature.

It that latter sense this prayer is an example for us to follow. St. Paul says that in those who have received the Holy Spirit, the Spirit prays, certainly not by Himself, but by inspiring prayer in the human spirit  [1Cor. 14].  So, the genuine prayer in its highest stage is a prayer of the spirit.  Those who seek purity and holiness have to labor really hard to attain to it. 

This labor is countless prostrations and moans of the heart; better do it alone, at night.  Keep praying, keep laboring, keep sloth away.  The Lord will have mercy upon you, He will give you the spirit of prayer which is like breathing in your lungs.  Get started now.  “Behold, now is the favorable time” [2Cor. 6:2].

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