I think it is good for us to see Jesus in this moment. Jesus, fully God, is also fully human. We see Jesus experience the full range of human emotions in the Gospels. Jesus weeping for Lazarus, Jesus lashing out at the money changers in the temple, Jesus participating at the Wedding at Cana – the Gospel writers were not afraid to show Jesus’ depth of feeling. Today’s Gospel highlights a more private emotion, one that we don’t always acknowledge or speak about – the need to escape.
There isn’t a parent out there who hasn’t felt like Jesus at the start of today’s Gospel reading. Jesus, weary and in need of a break, enters a house and “wanted no one to know about it” (v 24). Every parent has had a moment where they have hidden in the bathroom, a bedroom, the garage, the car, even a closet, because they just needed a minute. A minute of quiet, of not talking, of not listening. Just a few minutes by themselves. That’s what Jesus was seeking.
In light of the changes the world has undergone the past two years, this feeling has come to the forefront of many people’s consciousness. Even those of us who aren’t parents have most likely felt this urge, especially during the spring of 2020 when so many were isolated from their usual daily routines and familiar interactions. Somewhere deep within all of us, even within the most social person, is a need for quiet.
Our need for quiet and stillness is a gift from the Lord, even if it seems hard to come by. Psalm 46:11 says, “Be still and know that I am God.” Quiet is often elusive. Our minds are full of necessary and unnecessary information. We are flooded with stimuli between our phones, our TVs, even some billboards feature flashing and changing graphics. Those with children have spent many more hours with them than perhaps planned. The time together ought to be cherished, but it also has caused an immense amount of strain on families who struggled and continue to struggle with the changing conditions and schedules that are outside of their control.
The desire to want a break while under these kinds of stress is normal. It is time we recognized more positively that people need quality breaks. They need moments of quiet, of stillness and of aloneness. Jesus sought it. We each need to seek it. God speaks to us in the quiet of our heart. We have to take the time to be still so we can listen.
Kate Taliaferro is an Air Force wife and mother. She is blessed to be able to homeschool, bake bread and fold endless piles of laundry. When not planning a school day, writing a blog post or cooking pasta, Kate can be found curled up with a book or working with some kind of fiber craft. Kate blogs at DailyGraces.net.
Feature Image Credit: Daria Shevtsova, https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-in-white-lace-cap-sleeved-top-and-green-skirt-hiding-behind-brown-wall-1030982/
Dakota currently lives in Denver, CO and teaches English Language Development and Spanish to high schoolers. She is married to the love of her life, Ralph. In her spare time, she reads, goes to breweries, and watches baseball. Dakota’s favorite saints are St. John Paul II (how could it not be?) and St. José Luis Sánchez del Río. She is passionate about her faith and considers herself blessed at any opportunity to share that faith with others. Check out more of her writing at 
Dr. Alexis Dallara-Marsh is a board-certified neurologist who practices in Bergen County, NJ. She is a wife to her best friend, Akeem, and a mother of two little ones on Earth and two others in heaven above.
Christine Hanus is a thwarted idealist who, nevertheless, lives quite happily in Upstate NY. She is a wife and mother of five grown children.
Mike Karpus is a regular guy. He grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, graduated from Michigan State University and works as an editor. He is married to a Catholic school principal, raised two daughters who became Catholic school teachers at points in their careers, and now relishes his two grandchildren, including the 3-year-old who teaches him what the colors of Father’s chasubles mean. He has served on a Catholic School board, a pastoral council and a parish stewardship committee. He currently is a lector at Mass, a Knight of Columbus, Adult Faith Formation Committee member and a board member of the local Habitat for Humanity organization. But mostly he’s a regular guy.
Elizabeth Tomlin is the author of Joyful Momentum: Building and Sustaining Vibrant Women’s Groups and contributing author to the Ave Prayer Book for Catholic Mothers. She is General Counsel for the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA. Elizabeth is an Army wife and mother of three and currently lives in the DC area. She blogs at 
Arthur Richardson is married to his wonderful wife, Gabby Richardson. They will be married for two years this January! Most of his work experience is in ministry. He was a retreat missionary in Wisconsin for two years and a youth minister for three years. He is now the Web Project Manager here at Diocesan, and loves it!
Kay Kunz is the Accounts Manager at Diocesan. She is a mother of two and grandmother of five. Living on her family’s centennial farm surrounded by nature, creatures great and small, wild and tame, Kay and her husband are in perpetual restoration mode. When she is not crunching numbers or helping churches with bookkeeping issues, you’ll more than likely find her curled up with a book and a cup of coffee. Inspired by St. Brigid of Kildare, not just because she is the patron saint of chicken farmers and turning water into beer, but her simple pastoral life of finding peace in nature.
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