Isaiah 50:4-9a

“The Lord God has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens— wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught.” vs. 4

According to Luke after Jesus entered Jerusalem he went directly to the temple and raised a ruckus with the money-changers. He then spent his days in the temple precincts teaching the people and debating with the scribes and Pharisees. But in the evening he would go out of the city and follow the path to the top of the Mount of Olives and spend the night there, perhaps at the home of Mary and Martha in Bethany. Then following the pattern of his ministry he would rise before dawn, find a place for meditation, and open his heart to God. Perhaps he would focus on the words of the prophet–”morning by morning he wakens”–and in those cool moments, sitting just east of the city, watch the sun begin to shine its light on the temple. As he listened to the Divine Presence he found the words that would sustain the weary crowds who were so eager to hear him. And he also found courage. Like the prophet he knew that no matter what his adversaries did, no matter how vigorously they opposed him, he would not be put to shame. We should not imagine that any of this was easy for Jesus–it was likely exhausting! And it was his daily meditation that gave him the strength!

Thought for the Day: What part does meditation play in my days?