REDISCOVER THE SPIRIT OF SILENCE (HOMILY FOR FRIDAY OF THE 10WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME 10TH JUNE 2022

REDISCOVER THE SPIRIT OF SILENCE

Elijah's success story that proceeded from Mount Carmel seems to be a very temporary one. Jezebel, the wife of Ahab sort to kill him. So he fled through the wilderness to the Mountain of God, Mount Horeb (1kings19:18). There we are told he encountered God in the sound of a gentle breeze. “There was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake, and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire and after the fire a sound of sheer silence” (1kings 19:11-12). God was in the sound of sheer silence. Hence, Elijah listened to the words of instruction from the Lord.

Dearest brothers and Sisters in Christ, we are reminded today of the significance of Silence and solitude in our Christian life. Alone with none but thee my God. It is in apt silence that we can hear the word of God. Silence helps us to be reflective, meditative, and contemplative. It guides a soul-searching venture.  It aids us in self-introspection. It is only in solitude and silence can we have a profound examination of the conscience. It is in total silence that communion with God is possible. Silence can not be disregarded in the real worship of God, for in the sacred liturgy, silence enables us to be immersed in the divine life.

Beloved in Christ, in the noisy world we live in today, the voice of the Lord seems stifled. Noise barricades us from listening to the words of God; and distracts us from paying attention to the instructions of God. Thereby, truncating the communion that should exist at our moments of worship. This noisy attitude had strolled into our liturgy of today e.g prayer patterns, praise and worship songs, etc. The liturgy is gradually losing its solemn atmosphere simply because we want to get louder and louder as if God does not listen anymore or is so far away from us. Friends in Christ, let us rediscover the spirit of silence and solitude even in our noisy world today. Let's offer a reasonable amount of time from our daily exercise to commune with God in the silence of our hearts; there God not only reveals something of himself to us but transforms us too.

The gospel reminds us that the intentions of the heart also matter in moral judgment. Moral judgments are not only determined by the external exhibitions but also by the internal dispositions of the heart. For it is from the internal dispositions of the heart that the external actions flow. Jesus says, “you have heard that it was said, you shall not commit adultery, but I say that whoever looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Mt 5:27-28). Dearest friends in Christ, God is interested in the dispositions of our hearts. He judges our intentions whereas Man only looks at the outward appearance. For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Luke 6:45). Beloved in Christ, let us not wait for an evil tree to bear evil fruits before we start struggling to get rid of it, rather let us prevent the evil seed from being sown from the onset.

We pray this day that we may rediscover even in the silence of our hearts the plans and purposes of God for us and may his graces enable us to purify our intentions as we make our worship to him.

God be with you!

Fr Remi osj