Matthew 26:36-46 'Solitude' page 1

Introduction
Three hermits lived on an island. Their prayer of intimacy and love was as simple as they were simple: 'We are three; you are three; have mercy on us. Amen.' Miracles sometimes happened when they prayed in this way.

The bishop, however, hearing about the hermits, decided that they needed guidance in proper prayer, and so he went to their small island. After instructing the monks, the bishop set sail for the mainland, pleased to have enlightened the souls of such simple men.

Suddenly, off the stern of the ship he saw a huge ball of light skimming across the ocean. It got closer and closer until he could see that it was the three hermits running on the top of the water. Once on board the ship they said to the bishop, 'We are so sorry, but we have forgotten some of your teaching. Would you please instruct us again?'

The bishop shook his head and replied meekly, 'Forget everything I have taught you and continue to pray in your old way.'
[Source: Graham Twelftree, 'Get The Point Across', Crowborough, Monarch, 1996, p145 #128]

When we come to this week's theme of solitude, we often think that has to mean the life of a hermit. And hermits have had a bad press, ever since in the early centuries of the Christian Church, people like Simon Stylites spent years living on the top of a pole. He was the David Blaine of his day, except he did it for religious reasons.

Especially in the Protestant tradition, we assume that such cutting ourselves off from the routine of daily life is futile escapism. We point out that we were never meant to live the Christian life without the fellowship of others. Yet when you cut out the extreme examples such as Simon Stylites, and get through some of the misunderstandings, we discover that the spiritual discipline of solitude is a powerful one.

We should take particular notice of it, because it is something Jesus practiced on a number of occasions. Our reading this morning is but one example among several in the Gospels where Jesus went away on his own to pray.

What does the discipline of solitude involve?

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Copyright © David D Faulkner, 2006 except where other sources are attributed or noted as inspiration.