Abandonment and Trust in Silence

The Canaanite woman in today’s Gospel gives us a wonderful example of silent suffering, prayer and faith. Her daughter, whom she loves, is in need of healing and she finds herself in the presence of Jesus who is continuing his journey of going to the lost sheep of Israel. But her perseverance in supplication shows how prayer can find answer in the mercy of God. He heals the daughter of her demon at that hour because of the woman’s great faith!

This encounter with Christ gives us pause when we reflect on our own prayer life and how best to approach God in the Holy Trinity. Jesus Himself says that when we pray “go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” MT 6:6 There are many examples in the Gospels where Jesus goes off to a deserted place to pray. Places of silence and solitude bring us to a disposition of prayer where we can come into the presence of Christ.

“All believers and non-believers alike, need to learn a silence that allows the Other to speak when and how he wishes…In the humble acceptance of the creature’s limits before the infinite transcendence of a God who never ceases to reveal himself as God-Love…I see the expressed attitude of prayer… We must confess that we all have need of this silence, filled with the presence of him who is adored.” St. John Paul II Orientale Lumen

Our world today is noisy! The constant battles of someone or something seeking our attention. All the things of life that distract us, even when we are alone, we can find ourselves caught up in doomscrolling the internet, surfing sites that lead us into dark places, gaming, etc. Thoughts of family life, jobs, school, friendships, trying to make sure the bills get paid, etc. etc. The list of things that keep us from silence is never ending it seems.

It is often hard to imagine where one might find a time and place to enter into sacred silence. As wonderful and faithful as our own parish is, sometimes it is even hard to find that beautiful silence in our Church. Be mindful that in preparing for Mass, we should bring our sacrifice in silence, to respect others who are doing the same. Liturgy, the Mass is a time of entering into those silent times of Christ on the Cross. A pall over the earth in that moment and our own brokenness in the midst of that in this moment. Entering into Communion with Him and one another and then finding Joy in the Resurrection. We were once separated from Him, now we bow down in Adoration before our Lord because He has joined us to Himself!

Silence brings us to mystery, sacredness and the profound. It brings us to reverence and fear of the Lord. It brings us to know that He is God and we are not. It is in the “still, small voice” that we hear God speak.

Yet, even when we do find the time to rest in silence; to pray a rosary, or read and contemplate on sacred scripture, or read the lives of the Saints, or just simply pray in thanksgiving and supplication, we find all those distractions that swim around in our heads. Do this, don’t do that and on and on. A lot of these distractions we find in the silence may be the things we need to pray about. One thing that I have learned however, is that each time we re-focus your attention to God in prayer, it is a small act of repentance. Practice this and we find ourselves growing closer to God in prayer. To abandon our lives and all that we are to His love for us. When we trust Him as the Canaanite woman has done, we will hear His reply, “O, how great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.”

Silence brings us to humility, humility brings us to virtue, virtue brings us to adoration and adoration brings us to love. God is Love.