There’s something to be said for silence. In the
absence of vocalizations or other sounds, one can
focus more intently in his or her surroundings.
At first, it may seem uncomfortable. At the same
time, one might have difficulty focusing his or her
thoughts in silence, suddenly having to contend
with an onslaught of mental distractions.
Especially in today’s society, one is constantly
bombarded with external messages, symbols, and
other stimuli in a magnitude never encountered
previously. In one way or another, we have
become numb. We now find ourselves in Advent, a period of reflection, meditation, and waiting in anticipation of the nativity of our Lord. While the rest of culture may be focused on shopping for gifts and decorating for the holidays, the faithful are called to contemplate the gift of Love made incarnate in a most humble setting over two thousand years ago. Throughout the liturgical year, but especially during this time of Advent, I find that removing myself from the demands of the world and replacing them with the stillness of Bethlehem is not only refreshing, but also an effective catalyst for drawing more deeply into the mystery of the Incarnation: “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” (John 1:14)
How can silence help us dwell in this mystery? Sacred Scripture contains numerous accounts of how effective silence is for drawing one nearer to God and neighbor. One of my favorite biblical passages illustrates the friends of Job sharing in his miseries through their silent presence: “They sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great” (Job 2:11-13). God is not just with us in moments of suffering or in moments of majestic power and glory. God’s love continuously invites us to draw near to Him in our daily lives. Remember that the prophet Elijah experienced God in the sound of a gentle breeze, not in the bursts of wind, earthquake, or fire (1 Kings 19:11-13).
While silence can be beneficial to one’s spiritual life, it is not the end of contemplation or meditation. Rather, the focus remains communication with God. Silence, then, is a medium for encountering God, just as music or the spoken word is employed in liturgy. There are times when words are insufficient or music fails to strike the right chords. In these cases, a silent presence can be the most appropriate expression of closeness, such as in hospice, a cemetery, nursery, hospital, or any other place where the ministry of presence is desired. Similarly, as I prepare myself for a Holy Hour of silent adoration before the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, I remind myself of the importance of placing myself before God’s presence. Sometimes, a tender gaze of love can be a beautiful prayer in itself.
As we continue to wait for Christmas, let us pray to be able to free our minds from the things of this world that may distract us from seeking the Word Incarnate, Emmanuel. For it was indeed a silent night, as the carol goes, during which our Savior came into this world and the shepherds and magi adored him. In silence, our joy is not diminished, nor is our love any less potent, but through it we can continue to focus our attention and energy towards adoring the King of Kings and Lord of Lords: Jesus Christ, true God and true man.
All Is Calm
By Tom Wong