Luke 5:15-16 (NRSV)
15 But now more than ever the word about Jesus spread abroad; many crowds would gather to hear him and to be cured of their diseases. 16 But he would withdraw to deserted places and pray.
There is an almost frenetic pace when one travels with a group to the Holy Land. There is so much to see and experience, and for many, it is a once in a lifetime experience...so you don’t want to waste a single minute. One can only imagine the urgency our Lord felt as some kind of internal time clock led him to understand that the days were few and the task was large. Pastor Ontonio reminded us last week of the compassion Jesus felt for the crowds of people who followed him, how driven he was to react and respond to their needs. Yet, all four gospels recount times when Jesus felt it necessary to withdraw from the crowds and spend time in solitude with God.
A favorite Holy Land experience for me was not in a church or at a monument or exploring an archaeological find, but rather on a deserted hillside near the Mount of Beatitudes overlooking the Sea of Galilee. It is believed that this very place is where Jesus would have retreated to spend time in solitude and prayer. Those who visit this “eremos topos” (lonely place) are invited to spend some time in silence and prayerful reflection. Pilgrims find themselves on holy ground here on this Galilean hillside and each time I have prayed there, it has been a reminder to me of how much my life needs the balance of intentional and consistent time spent quietly in the presence of our Lord.
The compassionate discipleship called for by scripture is hard work! It requires us to move beyond our own instincts, wants and needs to consider the perspective of others and develop holy empathy. I submit that one of the things scripture calls us to time and time again is indeed an “emptying” of self. However, we are so mired in the comfort of being at the center of our own world that the effort required to develop this holy empathy and serve from a lowly perspective eventually leaves us feeling spent. So, to fulfill the requirements of discipleship in this way means we have to find places to be replenished and re-filled.
I read an article this week written by one of my seminary professors, Dr. Steve Harper, who has always had a heart for those feeling weary and burdened and overwhelmed with the task of ministry and discipleship. Here is some of what he said:
We must cultivate the pattern of stepping away, even from good things. It is possible to drown in clean water as much as it is in dirty water. It is not the quality of the water, but it's being over our heads that does us in. The disciplines that enable us to survive what someone has called, “the feverish round of unceasing activity” are sabbath keeping, solitude, silence, meditation and simplicity. (Dr. Steve Harper, Ministry Matters, June 9, 2020)
I hope you are finding an “eremos topos” these days. Your quiet place may be in a chair at your kitchen table, a rocking chair by a window, or like me, a quiet corner of your screen porch. You may need to take a walk to find your quiet place and may well find there is some special spot down by the bay where you can commune with God in a meaningful way.
Whatever we do, we must not mistake simple solitude for time spent WITH God. To find spiritual balance and replenishment requires us to invite Christ to be a part of a conversation and truly LISTEN. Although the Holy Spirit is always hovering near, we must position ourselves in God’s presence with humility so that the internal dialogue does not become a simple reinforcement of our comfortable place at the center of our own world. Being present with Christ is what changes the perspective and recharges our battery to find the compassionate center that directs Spirit-led service to God. And ultimately, we want God to put us back in the game.
There is work to be done for the kingdom, my friends. But our centered discipleship begins with the most important relationship we will ever cultivate. Find your “eremos topos” and go there often. The work is urgent and the time is short!
Oh God, help me to recognize that the feeling I sometimes have of being overwhelmed is a call to spend time in solitude with you. Help us to truly listen and fill our emptiness with love and compassion for others that works itself out in humble service to the world. In Christ we pray, AMEN.
Blessings as we travel together,
Laura
Image Credits: Beside the Sea of Gaililee, March 31, 2016 by Rev. Laura Parker
