In the early morning before seven o’clock there is a minute of silence. The elevators are allowed to rest. Water does not rush through the old pipes. Here is a moment to review yesterday’s successes, failures, to remember yesterday’s hopes, prayers, and intentions. Here is a moment to plan today’s actions. Here is a moment to think about goodness, to think about holiness. The silence presents a moment for reflection. Modern life is busy filled with angst, anxiety, arrogance, ambition, filled with noise, rustling and bustling around each of us. Modern life is filled with all types of distractions and diversions encouraging us to follow. Silence is fleeting. Each moment of our lives, there is a need for silence, a need for us to evaluate ourselves and our activities, both visible and invisible. The spiritual life is very important and needs to be nourished. Prayer is very important. Each day we should present all our thoughts, all our activities to God. Each day instead of making time for God in between going to the gym and picking up the dry cleaning, we should give our either being to God, offer to do his work, offer to serve him. Silence allows our minds to rest, to focus on what is important.
There is a heavy truck beeping outside my window. There is a choice which has to be made. My mind remains quiet, calm filled with gentle praise, filled with examples of mercy, hope, and love that I have seen in others. There is a desire to share mercy, hope, love with others. The silence allows us a moment to remember “to you who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be holy” the responsibility of our baptism. Each moment of our lives should be governed by the gentle, loving call to be holy, call to holiness.
Each day we are allowed to renew our love and dedication to Christ Jesus. Each moment we are able to renew our commitment to be humble, to be obedient, to serve the Lord.
As Christians hopefully there is time for us to remember that we have all been called to serve God. The call is not limited to the clergy, to those in consecrated life, or to the priests. God wants us all to be good, to encourage others to be good and to believe in him.
As Christians we have a choice, to obey or not to obey; to love our neighbors as we love ourselves or not to love our neighbors. Goodness and holiness are not complicated.
Silence allows each individual a moment to look within their heart, to search for signs of love, mercy, charity, compassion.
And hopefully each soul will feel God’s gentle call.
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