It is not uncommon in our own day for people to seek out a Church where they are comfortable, where they like the priest, where they like listening to the homily of the deacon, where the Mass (the homily) is shorter .... OR where they are not known, where they can sit where they want, where they can be with their golfing buddies … It’s true: we are not confined any more by territory. We become parishioners because we live in the area of that parish or by registration. We have mobility, we have “freedom”.
Well, Paul in the first reading from 1st Corinthians, speaks to us about our motivation and our choices: “I belong to Paul” and “I belong to Apollos.” Paul reminds us that it is not who is presiding at the worship, nor how brilliant (or short) the homily, nor how beautiful the church, nor how many people there are and how many I know. Rather, it is our willingness to let God enter our hearts and minds … in all times and places. Paul plants, Apollos waters, “but only God gives the strength.” It is not in comparisons, in jealousy, in judgmental attitudes, in anything human, but in a sincere heart that God nourishes and grows our faith.
In the Gospel, after curing Peter’s mother-in -law and many others “who were sick with various kinds of diseases” and were brought to him, Jesus cured them. Then what did he do? “He departed and went into a deserted place.” He invites us into the silence of our hearts to pray. How do I deepen my prayer so I can find God in all things? As Paul says: ““For we are God’s servants; you are God’s field, God’s building.”
The main thing the saints wanted was to be more open to the love of God. With this greater love, they could let God, who causes the growth, become central in their lives. The benefit of contemplative prayer (especially reflecting on Scripture) is that our focus remains longer after we have set it aside. This continued presence is not just God growing in us but more importantly, is God speaking to us throughout the day, engaging our hearts and minds to become more Christ-like in our thoughts, words and actions.