Active Contemplatives

Quiet prayer in solitude was a part of Jesus' day.  The evangelists mention frequently that he spent the night in prayer, or got up early, "At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place". (Lk 4:42) to find peace, serenity and direction.  The crowds were always after him, it seemed, clamoring for him to stay, to heal, to teach.  Short-lived was his solitude, yet he kept his mission before him.  "To the other towns I must proclaim the good news of he Kingdom of God, because for this purpose I have been sent." (Lk 4:43)  He tried to balance as best he could the need to pray and be in tune with his Father, and yet be faithful to his mission to bring light to the people.
As Marists, our vocation is similar.  We are called to educate, to be prophetic, to be a light to our students and one another, but this mission soon runs dry if it is not nourished by moments of solitude, of reflection, of prayer, of simply being before God with open hearts and hands to receive what he wants to give us, what he sees as our real need.  In God's presence we learn patience as we wait for him to fulfill our longings in due time, in his time. He looks for our faith, our trust first, as he did with Abraham and then provides the answers to our requests.  Stop and allow God to BE with you, then proceed to today's mission.
Bro. Rene