Silence is Golden! Silence is indispensable to live a healthy existence. Silence heals, calms and strengthens. The Bible teaches us: “Be still (silent) and know that I am the Lord.” (Ps 46: 10) Silence is stronger than loud noise and commotion. In the silence of the desert the saints have found refuge, a time to battle against the enemy—the devil, but also to experience a profound encounter with God.
NOISE POLLUTION. We live in a world immersed deeply, and in many places, with noise; we might even call it NOISE POLLUTION. Pope Saint Paul VI expressed it well in one of his teachings: “A world characterized by cacophony and strident protests.” Pope Benedict VI, when visiting the seminarians at Dunwoody in New York, commented that it is difficult for young people to hear the voice of God in their minds and hearts because they are bombarded with so many voices and so many noises in their lives.
A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. In the early eighties, I was studying theology in Rome in preparation for Ordination to the Diaconate, and eventually the priesthood. Those were good years in which God bestowed upon me many blessings. However, in the seminary, the theologate, there were many of us and we had to share a room. This was no problem for me given that I was brought up in a big family where we had to share rooms. Looking back, in retrospect, I remember the various noises that I was exposed to in those 3 to 4 years. I will give the list.
1) AIRPLANES—Flying over us towards the Fiumicino Airport of Rome.
2) VIA CASILINA—The noise of cars, motorcycles and trucks outside the window of my bedroom.
3) TRAIN TRACKS—Trains rushing past just beyond the road traffic.
4) THE SIDEWALK—Mopeds speeding a mile a minute with motors blasting.
5) WALKMAN RADIOS (Remember them?) Teens walking by playing them loudly. (This was before the cell-phone.)
6) LOUDSPEAKER—In the seminary building to call priests or seminarians.
7) WALL-PHONES—with their typical annoying ring.
8) COURTYARD—The Parish kids playing soccer and celebrating their goals with the typical hullabaloo.
9) THE BELLS—Inviting the people to Mass; it was a Seminary connected to a Parish, the Parish of Sant’Elena.
I am not complaining, but rather explaining the noise that we were exposed to in our formation years. I am eternally thankful that my hearing is still good so that I can hear confessions and carry out a fruitful ministry. However, it must be said, I sincerely appreciate silence. Indeed, I thrive on silence.
Let’s turn a corner and reflect together on the place and value of silence in the life of our Master, Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Many graces will flow from this reflection and consideration.
1. BETHLEHEM. In that cold, silent night in the stable of Bethlehem, Jesus, the Son of the Eternal Father, was born into time. In that SILENT NIGHT the shepherds heard the Angels triumphant song and hurried to visit the Child in the arms of Mary, wrapped in swaddling clothes. In fact, one of the most renowned Christmas hymns is that of SILENT NIGHT.
2. PRIVATE LIFE OF JESUS. Most of the thirty years of the Private Life of Jesus were enveloped in the aura of silence. Much of this time was dedicated to prayer, work, and family life, but also the silence so necessary to hear the voice of God.
3. START OF PUBLIC LIFE: DESERT EXPERIENCE. Upon departing from His home-life in Nazareth, Jesus made straight for the Jordan River to be baptized by His cousin, Saint John the Baptist. Immediately after the baptism when the Dove descended upon Jesus and the voice of the Father could be heard from Heaven, Jesus, compelled by the Holy Spirit, headed toward the desert. There in the desert praying, fasting, and being tempted by the devil, Jesus remained in silence. Indeed, we all should have recourse to short Desert-experiences to encounter God, to pray, fast and conquer the devils in our own lives.
4. TYPICAL DAY OF JESUS. Once Jesus started His Public Life, which lasted a short three years, He was very active. Yet Jesus would always find quality time for silence: “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went off to a solitary place where he prayed.” (Mk. 1: 35) We contemplate Jesus teaching and preaching, working miracles healing many people, and even casting out devils. Despite this whirlwind of activity, we find Jesus rising way before dawn, finding a quiet place, a place of silence, where He is absorbed in prayer.
5. THE ORIGIN OF THE OUR FATHER. The Apostles witnessed Jesus praying in silence and they asked Him to teach them how to pray. As a consequence of this petition, Jesus taught the Apostles and the world at large to pray the most famous of all prayers: THE OUR FATHER.
6. CHOOSING THE APOSTLES. Before choosing His close friends, the Apostles, Jesus spent the whole night in prayer, in silence, in communion with the Heavenly Father. (Lk. 6: 12-16) How important it is for us to have silence for reflection so as to make right decisions in our lives that will affect ourselves and our family members. Silence is indispensable so as to think, decide and act clearly.
7. BEFORE KING HEROD. In His Passion, Jesus was brought before King Herod who was curious to see Jesus. Mocking, deriding, insulting Jesus in word and action, it is interesting that before this wicked King, Jesus never opened up His mouth. Why? It would have been a waste of time. Jesus expressed it in these words: “Do not throw your pearls before the swine.” (Mt. 7: 6)
8. SILENCE IN THE BOAT. Ironically, the only time that we find Jesus asleep in all of Sacred Scripture is in a boat in the middle of a storm. While the storm rages, threatening to engulf the boat and drown the Apostles, Jesus is asleep. Upon being awakened, Jesus rebukes the storm and immediately there is silence and calm returns. How important it is to ask Jesus to silence the violent passions that can assault us day and night!!!
9. THE SILENCE OF DEATH ON THE CROSS. Jesus gives up His spirit and dies on the cross: “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” (Lk. 23: 46) Then Jesus hangs on the cross in the silence of death. A spear pierces His Sacred Heart and Blood and water flow forth, the work of our salvation.
10. THE TOMB. Jesus spent three days in silence in the tomb. Actually, in the Easter Triduum—Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday—we enter deeply into the love Jesus has for us. Holy Saturday has a characteristic mark of SILENCE. The whole world, anxiously awaiting the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead, waits in SILENCE. Actually the best way to live out Holy Saturday is to accompany Our Lady of Sorrows. With Mary, we relive the day before, Good Friday, seeing it through the eyes and Sorrowful Heart of Mary, in silence. Yes, in silence we relieve and contemplate the greatest act of love in the universe, the suffering and death of Jesus—His Passion in which He shed every drop of His Precious Blood for the salvation of whole world, and for each and every one of us individually. Seen in silence with Mary, we can plumb the profound depths of the love Jesus has for us. Our salvation was bought at a very dear price: the shedding of the Precious Blood of the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
In conclusion, if we sincerely desire to live healthy, wholesome, and holy lives we must esteem and appreciate, as well as cultivate moments, better yet blocks of time, where we have silence. Despite His extremely active Public ministry, we find Jesus, who is our Model—the Way, the Truth and the Life, seeking out times for silence. Indeed, in imitating the Silence of Mary, we will be able to hear the gentle but insistent voice of God and respond: “SPEAK O LORD, FOR YOUR SERVANT IS LISTENING!“
