"As soon as Jesus heard the news, he left in a boat to a remote area to be alone. But the crowds heard where he was headed and followed on foot from many towns. Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. … Immediately after this [the feeding of the 5000], Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone."
Jesus sometimes needed to get away by himself to pray. It was not easy! People and their needs interposed themselves all too often. In this case, it was the crowd who clamored for healing. Jesus miraculously fed them, then arranged again to be alone to pray. This can encourage us when we, too, cannot always have the prayer time we need. Embrace the interruptions, but persist in finding time to be alone.
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