He Called His Disciples to Himself

October 28, 2008

Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles

So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone. Ephesians 2:19-20

In those days he departed to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God. When day came, he called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named apostles. Luke 6:12-13

Piety

Listen, O my son, to the precepts of the master, and incline the ear of your heart: willingly receive and faithfully fulfill the admonition of your loving father; that you may return by the labor of obedience to him from whom you had departed through the sloth of disobedience.

First of all, every time you begin a good work, you must pray to him most earnestly to bring it to perfection. In his goodness, he has already counted us as his sons and daughters, and therefore we should never grieve him by our evil actions. With his good gifts which are in us, we must obey him at all times that he may never become the angry father who disinherits his sons and daughters, nor the dread lord, enraged by our sins, who punishes us forever as worthless servants for refusing to follow him to glory.

Let us get up then, at long last, for the scriptures rouse us when they say: It is high time for us to arise from sleep (Rom 13:11). Let us open our eyes to the light that comes from God, and our ears to the voice from heaven that every day calls out this charge: If you hear his voice today, do not harden your hearts (Ps 94:8). And again: You that have ears to hear, listen what the Spirit says to the churches (Rev 2:7. And what does he say? Come and listen to me, sons; I will teach you the fear of the Lord (Ps 33:12). Run while you have the light of life, that the darkness of death may not overtake you (John 12:35).

(The Rule of St. Benedict, Prologue: 1-3)

Study

Before Jesus undertook any important task, Luke portrayed him in prayer. Jesus prayed at his Baptism. Jesus prayed at the installation of the apostles (today’s Gospel reading). Jesus prayed at the Transfiguration. Jesus prayed at the Last Supper. Jesus prayed at Gethsemane. Jesus prayed on the cross. Jesus prayed in the upper room. Jesus prayed at the “last breakfast.”

Luke was not unique in portraying Jesus in this respect. The other evangelists also do the same in other important incidents such as the resurrection of Lazarus.

Prayer was integral to Jesus’ life and also should be in ours. Before we face the big tasks of life – illness, milestones like marriage and graduation, when we seek that new job or when we face a major obstacle. But prayer is not reserved for the “big” extraordinary days alone. We also practice prayer so it becomes part of our daily routine…in our little, routine, ordinary days as well. Ever wonder why they call it ordinary time?

In today’s Gospel we read that Jesus spent the night in prayer – the whole night. He did not go up on the mountain to recite a quick “Our Father,” three “Hail Marys” or a “Glory Be.” Jesus prayed throughout the entire night before he names his Apostles.

Would you likely have as much trouble as I would to try to stay awake all night in prayer? When we have a vigil or 40-hours devotion, we ask people to stay awake for one-hour shifts. Are we not like the disciples who could not stay awake in Gethsemane with Jesus?

Pulling an “all-nighter” is not unheard of for other reasons. When did you pull an all-nighter?” Was there a major test in Modern European History? Or were you getting ready to face your comprehensive exams, nursing boards, LSAT, GRE or another exam? Were you travelling by car and had to arrive somewhere the next day and so drove through the night? Was your evening flight cancelled and you had to wait for the morning departure the next day? Maybe you had a sick child, relative or friend and you stayed awake with her or him all night. Or perhaps your test was more voluntary, like entering last weekend’s Marine Corps Marathon or other athletic endeavor.

When facing these kinds of endurance tests, how do we hold it together and not come unglued? Today, St. Paul tells us (and the Ephesians) that through Jesus, “the whole structure is held together and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord.” He goes on to say that in Jesus, we, also, “are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” So if Jesus is the glue that holds this Church and world up and holds this world together, prayer is our way of helping build the building in a proverbial heavenly habitat for humanity.

Action

The example Jesus asks us to imitate is His example…an example in which prayer was integral to life. Prayer was life. Jesus does not call us to follow him for a few minutes each day. He calls us to him every minute of every day.

Imitate Jesus by praying more often today. Pray at a time and place that is different for you. Don’t skip your regular quiet time with the Lord. Add to it another prayer at another time. If you usually pray before leaving home, then also pray when you get in the car or hop onto Metro (and when you get off the train or bus).

During college and in later visits back to Belmont Abbey, the monks often extend “holy hospitality” after evening mass and invite guests into the refectory to join them for dinner. Guests encounter the monks standing in silence at the dinner table before the meal and then bowing in thanks at the end of the meal when they stood to leave. Meals were eaten in relative silence as a brother reads from a selected text.

If you usually pray before meals, pray during the meal and again at the end of the meal. Make additional time throughout your day to open your life to the Lord even if it means that you have to turn off the television at night for a while.