Keeping Lent: SILENCE
Luke 9:36
Last Sunday after the Epiphany
Episcopal Church on Edisto
February 7, 2016
Almighty God, who has given to us gifts differing according to
the measure of your grace: Enable us each one to exercise the
ministry which we have received of you in the body of Christ
with simplicity, diligence, and cheerfulness; that being bound
together in true affection, and showing honor one to another, we
may serve faithfully your Church and glorify your name;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Have you ever watched another person do some stupid or
inappropriate things and think, He or she is just like me.
Some people seem to move smoothly through life dotting the
Is and crossing the Ts. I, on the other hand, seem to find
my foot in my mouth a great deal of the times.
I would love to be like Moses, who was so in touch with God,
that his very countenance reflected the glory of God. The only
veil that covers my face has egg on it. Well, I did find a
kindred soul in todays lessons. He is, in fact, one of my
favorite biblical personalities. We have so many personality
tracts in common. I am referring to Peter of the Gospels.
Note I said Peter of the Gospels, and not Peter of the Acts of
the Apostles. These are two different characters. Peter of the
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Gospels manages to get his foot in his mouth on more than
one occasion.
Remember when Jesus asked his disciples who they thought he
was, PETER ANSWERED HIM, YOU ARE THE MESSIAH.
(Mark 8:29)
Peter was quick to respond, but when Jesus began
explain the role that he, the Messiah, was to play, Peter argued
with him. PETER TOOK HIM ASIDE AND REBUKED HIM.
(Mark 8: 32)
Peter was unwilling to hear Jesus. He had his own
preconceived ideas. We learn more by listening than talking.
This tendency on the part of Peter to speak without fully
understanding is shown again our Gospel reading for today.
After this great epiphany event, this manifestation of Jesus as
the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets, personified by the
appearance of Moses and Elijah, Peter again speaks MASTER,
IT IS GOOD FOR US TO BE HERE; LET US MAKE THREE
DWELLINGS, ONE FOR YOU, ONE FOR MOSES, AND
ONE FOR ELIJAH NOT KNOWING WHAT HE SAID. (Luke
9:33)
Not knowing what he said! Yes, thats Peter and that
me! Maybe when we have been overwhelmed by an epiphany
from God, the best response is silence. After the voice is heard
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proclaiming Jesus THIS IS MY SON, MY CHOSEN; LISTEN
TO HIM! (Luke 9:35) the disciples got the message. AND THEY
KEPT SILENT. (Luke 9:36)
I think you may be getting the message now. What I am talking
about is holy silence. The Psalmist said it. FOR GOD
ALONE MY SOUL IN SILENCE WAITS. (Psalm 62:1) Also
BE STILL, AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD
(Psalm 46:11)
The
prophet Zephaniah echoes the same theme: BE SILENT
BEFORE THE LORD. (Zephaniah 1:7)
We have reached the end of the Epiphany Season. Lent begin
this Wednesday. REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE DUST, AND
TO DUST YOU SHALL RETURN.
(Prayer Book, page 265)
Lent has
been described as a Christians New Year. Like the secular
New Year, we make all kinds of resolutions, which might last
until February 2nd, so Christians make all kinds of promises
about what they are going to do or not do during Lent. We take
on a hair shirt mentality. Yes, we are invited TO THE
OBSERVANCE OF A HOLY LENT as the Prayer Book tells us.
(Prayer Book, page 265)
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May I suggest you a Lenten discipline. Spend at least ten
minutes each day in silence. JESUS REBUKED THE
WIND, AND SAID TO THE SEA, PEACE! BE STILL!
THEN THE WIND CEASED, AND THERE WAS A DEAD
CALM. (Mark 4:39) Allow Jesus to rebuked the storms and chaos
of the spirit (our inner life) and be still. Be still in order that
you may truly be with God.
Maybe if Peter of the Gospel, you and I were more in touch with
Gods Spirit within our lives, we might be able to get our foot
out of our mouths.
(tell the story of the canonical exam sometime called Paul)
We need to get to an awareness of our true selves, our life with
God.
Our Lenten Program this year Awareness: God All Around Us
speaks to this unique relationship that we have with the One we
call God. I hope you will take the opportunity to be present at
Noon on Wednesdays during Lent.
In getting to a better self-awareness, Henri Nouwen, the spiritual
writer and author of over 40 books, has said, Know yourself
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is good advice. But to know ourselves doesnt mean to analyze
ourselves. Sometimes we want to know ourselves as if we were
machines that could be taken apart and put back together at will.
At certain critical times in our lives it might be helpful to
explore in some detail the events that led us to our crises, but we
make a mistake when we think we can ever completely
understand ourselves and explain the full meaning of our lives to
others. Solitude, silence, and prayer are often the best ways to
self-knowledge. Not because they offer solutions for the
complexity of our lives, but because they bring us in touch with
our sacred center, where God dwells. This sacred center may
not be analyzed. It is the place of adoration, thanksgiving, and
praise.
(Henri J.M. Nouwen: Bread for the Journey, March 23.)
Silent prayer (contemplation) is simply making ourselves
available to God for His agenda, not ours. It is the intimacy and
delight that one takes in simply being in the presence of ones
beloved, without the need for conversation. And we are Gods
beloved! We become silent in order that we may turn our
attention to God by surrender, by listening and in resting in
Gods presence. Some folks may think this is inactivity. Not
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so. It is hard work! It is allowing God to set the agenda. Verbal
prayer is our talk to God. Silent prayer is listening to God talk
to us. As Nouwen said, brings us in touch with our sacred
center, where God dwells. (Henri J.M. Nouwen: Bread for the Journey,
March 23.)
THIS IS MY SON, MY CHOSEN; LISTEN TO HIM! (Luke 9:35)
the disciples got the message. AND THEY KEPT SILENT.
(Luke
9:36)
Let us pray.
O God of peace, who has taught us that in returning and rest we shall be
saved, in quietness and in confidence shall be our strength: By the might
of your Spirit lift us, we pray, to your presence, where we may be still
and know that you are God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Reverend Dr. Colton M. Smith
