Jesus retired into the hills, "spending the whole night in prayer with God" - a statement pregnant with meaning. The morning after proved to be a turning point for Jesus, Teacher, Master, Healer - when He chooses the twelve who would continue His work - share His words with the people, care for the sick, the lost and the excluded. We know their names and not much more than that, as is fitting, because we are to disappear into the Lord (Col. 2:6).

The Son cannot/will not do anything by Himself - He can only do what He sees the Father doing. Thus He is always looking at the Father. What Jesus does is to translate His vision of the Father into His daily life and teaching and ultimately this will lead to His passion and death on the Cross. "Deepening our discipleship" is being rooted in Christ and built on Him and held firm by the Faith we have been taught (Col. 2:7).

Unless we are available for daily encounter with God in contemplative prayer, this dynamic dialogue between the creative vision and its practical incarnation will be missing in our lives. God reserves the right to intrude into our lives at a moment's notice, sometimes turning them upside down. It is essential, in all true discipleship, to be flexible, adjustable, ready to tear up our plans and put them in the waste basket at God's request.

In our ministry to/with God's people how much are we willing to "disappear" and allow God full control in our lives and in the persons we serve?