This reflection comes from the monthly newsletter The Word. For the entirety of the October newsletter, click here!
Silence speaks volumes. That’s an old quote that’s been around for so long; no one really knows who first said it. In our busy worlds we have podcasts and audio-books to keep us company on our daily commute. My doctor’s waiting room had a large TV that constantly blared some unrealistic reality show from the Home and Gardens channel. Life is busy enough, and chaotic enough, so I wonder, do we really need to introduce yet more noise?
When I think about the idea of silence, I’m reminded of Proverbs 17:28: “Even fools who keep silent are considered wise; when they close their lips, they are deemed intelligent.” Those are wise words, and I know I should heed them every now and then, but the silence I have in mind is not so much about keeping one’s mouth shut, but enjoying the absence of noise, chaos and busyness.
Silence is food for the soul: on several occasions Jesus needed to get away for silence and for prayer and he encouraged his disciples go to a quiet place and get some rest. At a recent clergy gathering I attended, the conversation turned to the topic of silence in worship. I immediately acknowledged that I don’t do a very good job of keeping silent during Sunday worship. A member of the group reminded me that silence during prayer and during worship is not dead space but is instead living space – time that is alive with God’s Spirit.
I did a word count the other day (many thanks to the Adobe Acrobat Reader “find” function) and was surprised to see that the Book o
f Common Prayer uses the word ‘silence’ over 90 times. Some of the moments of silence in our liturgy are absolutely beautiful and striking: there is silence during the ordination service just before the bishop prays the prayer of consecration over a new deacon or priest. The silent entrance at the beginning of the Good Friday liturgy followed by a period of silent prayer is very stirring. But not all silence needs to be so significant or powerful.
There are moments of silence prescribed and implied throughout our liturgies. We hold a moment of silence after the sermon, before the Nicene Creed, as a brief time of reflection – on both the scriptures read and the homily just preached. Silence between prayer petitions in the Sunday morning Prayers of the People allows us to add our own heartfelt prayers to the communal prayers being offered up. Silence before the public prayer of confession is meant to be a time to briefly assess those troubled areas in your life that need to be offered up to God. During the celebration of the Eucharist, when the priest consecrates the bread and wine, there are unscripted moments when it is appropriate for the priest to pause for a moment of personal, silent prayer (remember, while you’re worshiping the clergy are working….).
Before Sunday worship begins with the processional hymn, hopefully there is silence, and time for you to kneel (or not) and pray that your heart is open to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit; that your eyes are open to the beauty and wonder of God’s creation; that your ears are open to the cries of the needy and the downtrodden; that your mind is focused on the worship of God and that you may be energized, refreshed and prepared to go into the world, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit. (We even provide a couple of prayers for you in the back of the bulletin.)
Mother Teresa once said, “We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence.” I invite you to try to put a little bit of silence in your day, if you can – even a few minutes in a day will make a difference. Your soul will thank you, and you might just find that it becomes a routine part of your day. “Go away to a quiet place and rest awhile.” (Mark 6:31)