Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed

 

 Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.  But Simon's wife's mother lay sick with  fever, and they told Him about her at once.  So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her.  And she served them.

At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed.  And the whole city was gathered together at the door.  Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him.

Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.  And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him.  When they found Him, they said to Him, "Everyone is looking for You."  But He said to them, "Le us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth."  And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons.

Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, "If You are willing, You can make me clean."  Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, "I am willing; be cleansed."  As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed.  And He strictly warned him and sent him away at once, and said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."  However, he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the matter, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; and they came to Him from every direction.

 

- Mark 1:29–45 

 

Yesterday we read that after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand.  Repent, and believe in the gospel."  And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.  Then Jesus said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men."  They immediately left their nets and followed Him.  When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his  brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets.  And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him.  Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught.  And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.  Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit.  And he cried out, saying, "Let us alone!  What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth?  Did You come to destroy us?  I know who You are -- the Holy One of God!"  But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be quiet, and come out of him!"  And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him.  Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What is this?  What new doctrine is this?  For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him."  And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee.

 

  Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.  But Simon's wife's mother lay sick with  fever, and they told Him about her at once.  So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her.  And she served them.  My study bible quotes Cyril of Alexandria:  "That which was rebuked was some living thing unable to withstand the influence of Him who rebuked it, for it is not reasonable to rebuke a thing without life and unconscious of the rebuke.  Nor is it astonishing for there to exist certain powers that inflict harm on the human body."  We understand from this passage also, that the family home of brothers Simon and Andrew became a sort of headquarters for Jesus' Galilean ministry.  Here, Simon Peter's mother-in-law is a part of that ministry, taking her place as she was lifted up, and served them.

Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.  And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him.  When they found Him, they said to Him, "Everyone is looking for You."  But He said to them, "Le us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth."  And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons.  My study bible comments that here Jesus sets forth for us an example of spiritual life.  Although He is God incarnate, He prayed continually, and often we're told that He found a solitary place to be free from distraction.  Let us note in these times of emphasis on activism or good works, this is despite the multitude's need of Him.  Clearly, everything is rooted in Christ communion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, and from there flows to the people and their needs.   It serves to emphasize this that Christ prayed in the morning; it shows that we make our commitment to God a first priority, and only then can we be equipped to serve others.  Moreover, our discernment in sensing their need comes from this communion.  Let us note also Christ's activity in this new ministry in Galilee:  He is preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.

Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, "If You are willing, You can make me clean."  Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, "I am willing; be cleansed."  As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed.  And He strictly warned him and sent him away at once, and said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."  However, he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the matter, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; and they came to Him from every direction.  The biblical law which concerns leprosy is in Leviticus 13; 14.  Deuteronomy 24:8 describes the process of purification of lepers and leprous houses, which was entrusted to the priests.  Leprosy, my study bible tells us, was considered a direct punishment for sins, and as lepers were unclean, they weren't permitted to live in community or to worship in synagogues or the temple.  To touch the unclean was forbidden (Leviticus 7:21).  But here, Jesus touched him.  Christ shows His compassion, and also that He is not subject to the Law, but over it.  My study bible comments that to the clean, nothing is unclean (see Romans 14:14). 

In today's reading, Jesus illustrates His own pronouncement on the two greatest commandments in the Jewish Law.  When asked what was the greatest commandment, He replied as follows:  "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 22:37-40).  As my study bible emphasizes, Jesus begins by praying in the early morning -- having risen a long while before daylight -- and so establishes the need to place this first and greatest commandment in its rightful place in our lives.  It is through prayer and communion with God that we seek not only to understand discernment and guidance in how to conduct our lives, but especially to grow in the practice of love and understanding what love means.  To place God in this place of all our heart, soul, and mind is to seek God's expansion of our own understanding so that we might act accordingly.  This is basically the entire process of ongoing repentance, growing in likeness to God.  Moreover, we are not born knowing how to love our neighbor fully and appropriately.  This is a process that must grow and be better apprehended throughout our lifetimes.  We cannot do it well with a false understanding, a limited comprehension of what love means and is, and a brokenness that keeps us from grasping it more fully.  It is something we can continue to grow into throughout our lifetimes, and we are meant and created to do so.  Jesus has also told us, "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33).  To start by praying early in the morning, or "first thing" before all that we do, is to find a way to enforce what Jesus calls the greatest commandment, indeed "the first and great commandment."  Let us cultivate a prayer life and commitment to that life and that practice as a way to fulfill both commandments of loving God and loving neighbor, and remember that God asks us to grow in this practice.  In a complex and confusing world, this is necessary more than ever for all of us.  Let us remember to do as He did, to try to clear away all the distractions, and make time to pray in a solitary place to our Father who is in a secret place and sees in secret (Matthew 6:6).