WE need to learn this art of speaking
in silence. And
that’s simply because whether we are in talking or quiet, we need to
communicate and to relate ourselves to someone, foremost of whom is
God and, in fact, of everybody else.
Communication is indispensable to us. We just cannot be on
our own, isolated ad detached, from God and others. As persons, we
have been designed for that purpose. We would be undermining our being
a person if we fail to communicate and relate ourselves to God and to
others. Even when we are alone, and especially because we are alone
physically, we need to communicate mentally or with the heart.
And so, silence, which we also need from time to time,
should not be an obstacle to our duty to communicate. We have to learn
to communicate with God and others in silence. This is always possible
and practicable if we also would just exert the effort to learn the
appropriate attitude and skills.
We have to avoid the silence of a fool that can sometimes
be misinterpreted as wisdom and prudence, as described once in the
Book of Proverbs: “Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is
considered wise. When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.”
(17,28)
Our silence should be an occasion to be in full or at
least in better engagement with God and with others. That’s why we
have to learn how to be recollected even in the frenzy of our
activities.
This spirit of recollection means we are constantly aware
of his presence, vitally doing things with him and for him. It’s not
supposed to keep us always passive, though a certain passivity and
receptivity is involved. But it’s what is supposed to give us impulse,
energy and direction in our life.
This spirit of recollection can only be lived if we
activate the gifts of faith, hope and charity that God constantly,
gratuituosly and abundantly gives us. People who are curious to know
more things as well as lovers who always want to be with their beloved
can offer us the template for developing this spirit of recollection.
We need to seek God, even if we have to deal with great
difficulties. Christ himself told us clearly: “Ask, and it shall be
given you. Seek, and you shall find. Knock, and it shall be opened to
you.” (Mt 7,7)
We have to learn to discern the omnipresence of God—within
us in our mind and heart as well as around us. We have to train our
senses and our spiritual faculties of intelligence and will to go
beyond the dimensions of the sensible and intelligible world. They
have to capture the inputs of faith, hope and charity.
We should go beyond the physical, material and temporal,
to enter into the world of the spiritual, eternal and supernatural. We
should go beyond the merely practical and convenient, to be able to
live the values of morality and piety of being children of God.
We should be able to be in constant intimate relation with
God—talking to him, asking him for light, strength, etc.—by taking
advantage of everything that happens in us and around us.
that’s simply because whether we are in talking or quiet, we need to
communicate and to relate ourselves to someone, foremost of whom is
God and, in fact, of everybody else.
Communication is indispensable to us. We just cannot be on
our own, isolated ad detached, from God and others. As persons, we
have been designed for that purpose. We would be undermining our being
a person if we fail to communicate and relate ourselves to God and to
others. Even when we are alone, and especially because we are alone
physically, we need to communicate mentally or with the heart.
And so, silence, which we also need from time to time,
should not be an obstacle to our duty to communicate. We have to learn
to communicate with God and others in silence. This is always possible
and practicable if we also would just exert the effort to learn the
appropriate attitude and skills.
We have to avoid the silence of a fool that can sometimes
be misinterpreted as wisdom and prudence, as described once in the
Book of Proverbs: “Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is
considered wise. When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.”
(17,28)
Our silence should be an occasion to be in full or at
least in better engagement with God and with others. That’s why we
have to learn how to be recollected even in the frenzy of our
activities.
This spirit of recollection means we are constantly aware
of his presence, vitally doing things with him and for him. It’s not
supposed to keep us always passive, though a certain passivity and
receptivity is involved. But it’s what is supposed to give us impulse,
energy and direction in our life.
This spirit of recollection can only be lived if we
activate the gifts of faith, hope and charity that God constantly,
gratuituosly and abundantly gives us. People who are curious to know
more things as well as lovers who always want to be with their beloved
can offer us the template for developing this spirit of recollection.
We need to seek God, even if we have to deal with great
difficulties. Christ himself told us clearly: “Ask, and it shall be
given you. Seek, and you shall find. Knock, and it shall be opened to
you.” (Mt 7,7)
We have to learn to discern the omnipresence of God—within
us in our mind and heart as well as around us. We have to train our
senses and our spiritual faculties of intelligence and will to go
beyond the dimensions of the sensible and intelligible world. They
have to capture the inputs of faith, hope and charity.
We should go beyond the physical, material and temporal,
to enter into the world of the spiritual, eternal and supernatural. We
should go beyond the merely practical and convenient, to be able to
live the values of morality and piety of being children of God.
We should be able to be in constant intimate relation with
God—talking to him, asking him for light, strength, etc.—by taking
advantage of everything that happens in us and around us.
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