Today's gospel passage begins by describing the scene: Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea (Mt 13:1). We are not told at what time of the day this happened. It could have been early in the morning, just as the sun was rising, or it could have been in the evening hours. Regardless of the time of day, the important thing is that Jesus went to the seashore. The constant roar of the waves was - and is - a wonderful place for meditation. Like an undulating heartbeat, it soon lulls the listener into a trance of sorts, one that somehow helps us to rest in prayer.
We cannot be sure that this was Jesus' intent, but on other occasions, the scripture writer tells us that Jesus had a routine of pausing in prayer, therefore it would not have been unusual for him to seek out such a place for meditation that day. As was the case on many other occasions, he crowds came in search of him, seeking knowledge and teachings, and as he did on most occasions, Jesus responded to their request with no apparent concern for his own need (cf Mt 13:3-9).
The days of summer can provide us with an opportunity to ask ourselves how often we take time to sit in the presence of the Lord. Do we seek out such occasions on a regular basis, pausing in prayer so that we can remain connected to the One who loves us and wants to be with us? If we do, our God will most certainly fill us with the gifts we need in order to respond joyfully to the needs of his people.
Have a great day.
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