In today's gospel passage (Mk 9:30-37), we hear about a moment when the disciples were on retreat: meaning that they were travelling with Jesus and he did not want anyone to know about it (Mk 9:30), as though they were to spend time only with him. This is what it's like when we come away with the Lord to spend time on retreat: we take time away from the normal demands of daily life in order to spend time with him.
The first time we experience a retreat of this kind can be an un-nerving experience for some, especially if we are not used to spending that much time focused on listening for His voice, or spending that much time allowing Him to be present to us, yet such moments can be extremely rewarding because it is often in such experiences - away from the hustle and bustle of daily routines that we can allow ourselves to come face to face with ourselves, with the questions that the Lord wants to ask of us and with the preoccupations that sometimes hold us back from truly listening to his voice.
In the case of the disciples, when they took time to simply be in his presence, they came face to face with their own question: Who among us is the greatest? (Mk 9:34) Interestingly, when they finally admitted this truth to him, he sat down, called them to him and taught them the true meaning of leadership through service (Mk 9:35-37). What about us? Are we still hesitant to admit the questions that preoccupy us? Can we dare to place these questions before the Lord in prayer? Are we ready to hear his answers? They will never harm us, and they may even teach us something about his understanding of love and service.
Have a great day.
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