The beauty of silence is that it lets us hear that “still small voice” (cf. 1 Kings 19:12) of God directing us, inspiring us, pulling us up out of the tumult of transitory, worldly things. Silence opens up the ear of your heart (cf. RB, Prologue:1) to the Sanctifier, the Holy Spirit, for His guidance, encouragement, and support. The more chaotic life around you becomes, the more you need silence and recollection in the presence of the Lord.
We All Need Silence
Recently a friend recommended a precious little book comprising twenty brief conferences given by a Camaldolese hermit to his eremitical community. In Silence: A Series of Conferences by A Camaldolese Hermit, the author walks the reader through the process of gaining silence in all aspects of our life. Now, of course, we might imagine that hermits would be extremely interested in silence. Yet the beauty of silence extends to every Christian life. Do you let it become part of yours?
Silence at Home
Do you actually let the beauty of silence overtake your mind and heart, which can be so prone to over-stimulation by worldly cacophony? How much effort do you make to carve out silence in your daily life? Each one of us can experience the beauty of silence, starting right in our homes. For example, many to most television programs offer, at best, dissipating noise and distraction.
At worst, they stimulate agitation, can become near occasions of sin, or worse. Why squander the precious little time you have here in this life on such offerings? In many homes I know of, television viewing has ceased, but for an occasional EWTN program or some other educational offering.
Technology and Silence
Silence of the eyes and ears won’t occur simply by avoiding the television. Do you view online videos? Admittedly, some fine offerings exist to draw one closer to God, but even then, when is enough too much? I don’t suspect I’m the only one who’s clicked on a link to a homily and ended up watching that one, as well as several other related, or unrelated, videos as well. Do these videos bring you closer to God? Perhaps, but might they also stand in the way of the beauty of silence you need to converse with Him? Do they draw you away from direct, one-on-one time with Him?
Silence in Our Reading
This concept of silencing our eyes goes beyond custody of the eyes as we often think of it. When considering the capital sins, we may think about maintaining custody of the eyes to avoid lust and its death-dealing daughters. But silence of the eyes covers other practices as well. Besides being prudent in your consumption of video offerings, how careful are you about what you read? Do the daily news feeds you receive in your e-mail inbox draw you closer to God?
Or do they arouse agitation and provocation that push you away from him? Even if the online reading you choose may be commendable, is it something you really need to read? Does it further your plan of life, support your vocation, or enhance your interior life? Or is it just something interesting, but not necessary, to know?
Other Activities and Silence
Various activities in which we engage can crowd out that silence we need so badly in order to hear the Lord’s voice in our hearts. Are you a joiner? How many clubs, confraternities, sodalities, prayer groups, committees, etc., do you belong to? How much time do you spend at them? Do you volunteer to help with umpteen requests for assistance? The demons can even prompt you to perform good works, to take you off course. Can you say “no” with charity and clarity to preserve your quiet time with the Lord?
Less Talk–More Silence
In addition to quieting your mind and heart through the silence of the eyes and ears, how much time do you spend in conversation that has little, if any, redeeming value? In fact, how narrowly do you avoid letting your conversation trend off into sinful directions–into gossip, calumny, and the like?
St. Benedict devotes Chapter 6 of his Rule to silence, citing the Psalms and Proverbs on the need to restrain one’s speech. For example, Prov 10:19 – “Where words are many, sin is not wanting…” If you believe that keeping silence is something just meant for monks and nuns rather than the laity, consider the advice of St. Josemaría Escrivá, founder of Opus Dei: “Silence is the doorkeeper of the interior life.” (The Way, 281) The doorkeeper indeed! The beauty of silence–interior and exterior–is a prerequisite for quality time with God, and for growing in your interior life.
Running from Silence
Perhaps a bigger issue to consider is, “Why do we leave so little time for the beauty of silence?” Do you stay so busy with activities that keep you from heeding the advice given to the psalmist–“Be still, and know that I am God…” (Ps 46:10)? If so, why? At least a couple of factors might come into play here. For one thing, we’re in a spontaneous, sound-byte-driven, frenetic world.
This is a world flooded with communication via texts, social media, various blogs, online offerings and other media. Some people just aren’t used to quieting themselves and settling into the Presence of God. How about you?
Perhaps of greater consequence, many people aren’t comfortable with silence because they’re afraid of what they’ll find when the noise subsides. Do you find that you constantly have a radio, television, talk show or music blaring? Some people do because they fear the truth they may encounter if the Lord breaks into their world through the beauty of silence.
How about you? Perhaps there are wounds that you don’t want to bring to Christ’s gentle healing. Yet, Jesus–the Divine Physician–wants to heal your wounds, to bring you closer to Him, to ultimate union with Him.
Some folks have a past they’d just as soon forget. Do you have such a past? Many of us do. But, regardless of our past, we are all loved sinners. When you go to Jesus with sorrow, repentance and intent to amend your ways, He always takes you back, joyfully, with open arms.
No matter what you’ve done, no matter how long you’ve been away! If you or someone you know are not quite convinced, consider His words to St. Faustina:
Let the greatest sinners place their trust in My mercy. They have the right before others to trust in the abyss of My mercy…Souls that make an appeal to My mercy delight Me. To such souls I grant even more graces than they ask. – (St. Faustina’s Diary 1146)
God is always speaking to each of us. He’s speaking to you right now. Will you change your habits, create some silence, and listen to him? Will you let Him into the silence of your heart?
Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. (Rev 3:20)
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