The following reflection is by Jane Mellett

It was still dark, deserted and prayerful. The Gospel today is a busy one. Jesus goes from teaching in the synagogue, to healing Peter's mother-in law, to curing everyone in the city who was sick or possessed. But there is one line in the midst of this text which stands out: 'In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed.' We don't have to think too hard about the busyness of our own lives to realise the importance of stopping at some point in the middle of the mayhem to breathe, to give some space, prayer, reflection, whatever we can to focus our minds on the purpose of all the madness... God's Kingdom.

The Difference I got up early one morning and rushed right into the day. I had so much to accomplish that I didn't take time to pray. Problems just tumbled around me, and heavier came each task. 'Why doesn't God help me?' I wondered. He answered, 'You didn't ask.' I wanted to see joy and beauty, but the day toiled on, grey and bleak. I wondered why God didn't show me, He said, 'But you didn't seek.' I tried to come into God's presence, I used all my keys at the lock. God gently and lovingly chided: 'My child, you didn't knock.' I woke up early this morning and paused before entering the day; I had so much to accomplish that I had to take time to pray. Author Unknown