Solitude 

   “In those days he departed to the mountain to pray, and spent the night in prayer to God.” (Luke 6: 12) 

   Over and over in scripture we see reference to Jesus going to the mountain to pray.  He did so before selecting His twelve apostles and at many other times during His ministry.  He sought solitude so that He could better commune with the Father.

   In Jesus’ world there was no mass media, no internet, no television, no radio.  There was little in the way of distractions in daily life, not the chaos we know today.  Still, our Lord went to be alone with God.  This is a lesson for each of us, we too need to be alone with God at times.

   Today there is rarely a time when we are not bombarded by distractions.  24/7 news, mass media everywhere we look, the internet, and so much more intrude into our lives every day.  We desperately need to get away and just be with the Lord from time to time; in quiet, meditative prayer with God.

   St. Alphonsus Liguori, in his book “Attaining Salvation; Devout Reflections and Meditations”, wrote “God does not speak to us in the midst of the tumult and business of the world, knowing that if He speaks, He will not be heard.”  We must take time to “depart to the mountain”, find solitude, and spend time in prayer with God.