Pray first. Pray hard. Pray long.

Today’s Gospel (Luke 6:12-16) includes the call of the Twelve Apostles, which is why it was selected for today’s Feast of the Apostles Simon and Jude.

But we should consider well what our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ does just before choosing the Apostles.

He went up to the mountain to pray,
and He spent the night in prayer to God.

He prayed first.

He prayed hard, isolating Himself from everything.

He prayed long.

We should do the same when we face momentous decisions in our own lives (or even at times when we feel adrift).

Pray first. Pray hard. Pray long.