Enjoy the Silence

Today's readings: Ps 119:1-24; Job 7:1-21; Acts 10:1-16; John 7:1-13

Last week we considered the importance of simply listening to people in need. What about the times when we are the people in need? During those times, we still need to listen - for God. This might sound like a simple idea, but our brains are usually so busy that listening for God can sometimes be tougher than listening to people. Today’s readings from Job and Acts demonstrate the importance of learning to listen.

Even if you’ve never read Job before, by now you realize it is full of conversation – if you define conversation as one speech following another. The speeches not only serve the purpose of the book by commenting on different philosophies of suffering and justice, they also represent a common impediment to listening to God (or anyone else): thinking of what we want to say next when we should be listening. This is a poor enough habit when conversing with people, let alone with God. Sometimes we just need to close our mouths and open our ears and minds. If we never allow some physical and spiritual silence, how can we hear anything?

At other times, we can simply be thick-headed. When Peter meets Cornelius – the first Gentile convert – he is unsure of how to proceed. So far the biggest difference between Christians is that some of them are Hellenist Jews (Greek in speech and culture) while most are not. A Gentile who has never followed Jewish customs introduces a host of potential conflicts, including dietary practices. God sends Peter a vision to let him know all foods can now be considered clean. God sends this vision three times yet Peter remains puzzled by it. Still, Peter acts wisely by asking God to repeat the vision, rather than giving up after the first try. When God’s answers seem slow or confusing, like Peter we should make the effort to work it out rather than abandon the conversation.

Reporter Dan Rather once asked Mother Theresa what she said when she prayed. She replied, “I don’t say anything; I listen.” Mr. Rather asked what God said while prayed. She replied God said nothing. “God listens,” she said, “and if you don’t understand that I can’t explain it to you.” True listening is a mystery in which great truths can be revealed.
Comfort: God always listens.
Challenge: Read about the practice of lectio divina.
Prayer: God of truth, I will meet you in the silence.

Evening readings: Ps 12, 13, 14
Tomorrow's readings: Ps 18:1-20; Job 8:1-7, 11-19; Acts 10:17-33; John 7:14-36