The Spiritual Disciplines of Solitude and Silence
1 Kings 19:9, 11-16; Psalm 27; Matthew 5:27-32
In the first reading, God reveals Himself to Elijah. He said to him, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” This was an invitation to solitude. Solitude is a state or situation of being alone. While Elijah was alone on the mountain, wind, fire, and earthquake came but the Lord was not present in them. Oftentimes, we think that God is always present in dramatic manifestations. As against this understanding, God revealed himself in a still small voice (Silence). Do not be carried away with dramatic manifestations in churches today. No doubt, God may sometimes appear in such ways, but more often, He is ever present in solemn worship.
Therefore, let us not relegate the spiritual relevance of silence and solitude. Sacred worship is not always about what we say, but what God says. To promote active participation in the Liturgy, paragraph 30 of the Liturgy Constitution, Sacrosanctum Concilium, prescribes that: “the people should be encouraged to take part by means of acclamations, responses, psalmody, antiphons, and songs, as well as by actions, gestures, and bodily attitudes. And at the proper times all should observe a REVERENT SILENCE.” Without silence, sacred worship is incomplete.
Silence and solitude take us into ourselves. Solitude without silence is a waste of time. Oftentimes, many of us achieve geographical solitude without interior solitude. Elijah had both geographical and interior solitude. So, it is not just enough to climb a mountain, we must also make effort to attain interior solitude.
Interior solitude begins from the heart. It is called silence. Both silence and solitude can help us examine our thoughts and deeds. In the gospel, speaking on the sacredness of marriage Jesus calls us to purify our thoughts and deeds. If we must be free from lust and all its concomitant anxieties, we must purify our thoughts and deeds. Silence and solitude are essential disciplines for such renewal.
LET US PRAY
Father, have mercy and hear us. Oh Holy Spirit, sanctify our hearts and help us to grow spiritually. Lord Jesus, save us from distress. Amen.
Fr. Daniel Evbotokhai
