DISCERNMENT

Wednesday in the 1st Week in the Ordinary Time
Mk 1:29-39

Jesus gives us today an example to follow. Discernment is never optional to us, disciples of Jesus. For how can we follow Jesus without discerning His ways? Or how can we accomplish the work of God unless we know His will?

After a busy day of teaching and healing, the following morning, “long before dawn”, as the Gospel says, finds Jesus alone and absorbed in prayer. Thus, even before the disciples suggest that Jesus stays where they are, for “everyone is looking for You” as the disciples say, Jesus already has an answer. The answer is “Let us go elsewhere…so that I can preach there too, because that is why I came.” That answer is the fruit of discernment.

How does Jesus discern the will of the Father?

First, Jesus withdraws from the crowd. He goes alone. He is not afraid of being alone. But in fact, He is not alone when He leaves the crowd because the Father is always with Him. Withdrawing from the crowd gives Jesus the opportunity to be alone with the Father.

Second, Jesus goes to a lonely place. “Lonely” here does not mean “sad” but “quite”. He is not afraid of silence. He loves silence. It is in silence that Jesus is able to hear the Father clearly and know His will better.

Third, Jesus prays. Prayer is having a dialogue with God. Jesus communicates with the Father. Because prayer is essentially dialogue with God, Jesus listens and talks to the Father. Listening and talking to the Father is breath for Jesus just as His food is to do the Father’s will (cf. Jn 4:34).

Jesus discerns the Father’s will by withdrawing from the crowd, going to a lonely place, and praying. This is how we should likewise discern God’s will. Then we shall know that the first suggestion we hear even from well-meaning friends, as in the case of Jesus in today’s Gospel, is not always necessarily the best.

Discernment is not optional or occasional. It is required and regular for all Christians.