Sue O’Donnell. 13.09.20
“Whatever imperfection or foolishness we witness in a brother, we ought to interpret it kindly,
as we would wish it done to us.” (Venerable Thomas à Kempis)
Many are the forms of silence.
There is the silence of reverence,
Head bowed, mind filled completely in prayer.
Calming is the silence of an environment
Where all is naturally hushed and still.
The silence of shock
Is when our emotions are held in a locked position.
There is the silence of comfortable companionship,
As when two meet together without need of talk.
Remember the silence in the classroom,
A rapt attention given to the words of a teacher’s instruction?
There is the silence of death,
When a loved one moves out of reach, but only temporarily.
“Death is swallowed up...Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Lord God, grant us Your grace that in serving You in this life, in death we will have the joy of claiming You as our Father, through Jesus Christ our Saviour Redeemer and Brother. Amen.” (1 Corinthians
15 v 54, 57)
An intense silence descends upon everybody
When striving after good results in an examination.
What about the silence given to contemplation,
Or meditation when seeking knowledge or answers prayerfully?
Here is an essential silence the Lord requests of us,
When He says to ‘Be still’ to know Him.
A silence of significance is when an offence is given
And you want to admonish the culprit.
But is this wise, is this God’s way?
No, if you pray you will discover a truth,
Which is of such significance, of real importance to us.
You will hopefully, never forget this vital lesson.
“If we wish to be pleasing to Christ, then let us bear one another’s burdens and in charity pray for one another, for God is in each of us, and each of us is in God.” (Thomas à Kempis)
The requirement of humility necessitates a response to insult,
Given a gentle silence, nothing said immediately.
Instead of retaliating with possibly an equally cutting retort,
Let us remain silent and pray inwardly.
Called to serve God in holiness, we must get this right,
Letting the light of the Lord Jesus shine through us.
“Live a life full of love.
Christ has commanded us to love others,
As He has loved us by giving His life in sacrifice for us,
An offering to God that was totally pleasing to Him.” (Ephesians 5 v 12 The Truth)
We are called to live to God’s glory and our good,
These being one and the same virtue.
“Whatever imperfection or foolishness we witness in a brother, we ought to interpret it kindly, as we would wish it done to us.” (Thomas à Kempis)
The virtue of maintaining silence amidst animosity
Is the time given offering opportunity to pray.
Firstly, we need to look within to see what needs correction in us.
Then look to the † to state contrition and ask for forgiveness for ourselves.
Only afterwards are we in a position for correction of another.
And if this is the way God shows we are to go,
Do so humbly, quietly, prudently,
Having already set aside all feelings and thoughts of hostility.
We must never be retaliatory, but look to charity,
For our thoughts to be caught up in the ways of Jesus.
Amendment is to be a spiritual blessing lovingly given.
“Bear with others and they will bear with you; excuse others, and you, too will be excused. Have compassion on the sinner, and compassion will be yours...It often happens that a man suffers a severe temptation because of something that is indeed very small or because of a simple
annoyance on the part of another...” (“Seeing Clearly” Thomas à Kempis)
“ ‘And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us’.” (Luke 11 v 4)
Lord Jesus, You have given us a model for prayer and gifted us the model of a holy life You call us to live by.
Please help us when offended not to shoot from the hip in cruel retaliation.
May we by Your Spirit, develop the fruit of holiness “Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control.” (Galatians 5 v 22, 23) For at one time or another we will be called
upon to exhibit such virtue.
What wise advice sacred Scripture gives to us, thank You: “If someone yields to sin, you who are spiritual should restore him (her) in a spirit of gentleness. Be careful unless you also are tempted.” (Galatians
6 v 1 The Truth)
“Carry each others’ burdens, for by doing so you will fulfil Christ’s law.” (v 2) “So let us never be discouraged from doing what is good, for in due course, we shall reap abundantly if we persevere.” (v 9) Oh that this will happen!
Lord, we need all of Your grace, Your goodness towards us as Saviour, Teacher and Mentor, if we are to help others not to remain captive to sin. We need to rescue them wisely with compassionate sensitivity, never
haughty nor condemnatory.
May the Holy Spirit be our daily Guide, correcting and thinking and deciding whenever we are in danger of acting unwisely, prematurely or too hastily. As He is the Spirit of love, may we be helped with regard to
judgment.
Lord Jesus, we must learn to use only Your life’s example and teaching as our standard of judgment, not the performance of others. When we see something off key, please help us to correct this as lovingly as we can.
May neither anger nor jealousy, hasty judgment without knowing the details, nor any inbuilt resentment regarding a person, nor any amount of provocation tempt us to shoot down anyone else.
Lord Jesus, our holiness is our being consecrated to You in all things, at all times, with regard to nothing but the truth. Your truth must be upheld. When someone falters, please help us to bless them by rescuing them
through our correction lovingly given.
For this we need the gifting of Your Spirit to show us how to be wise, how to maintain understanding, how to remain patient and compassionate, how to counsel correctly, with a proper sense of respect.
“Move us, Holy Spirit, that we may do what is holy ...Strengthen us, Holy Spirit, that we may guard what is holy. Guard us, Holy Spirit, that we may keep what is holy.” (based on a prayer of St Augustine) I ask this in the holy name of Jesus. Amen.
Images by Artist Christine Garwood
http://www.christinegarwoodartist.co.uk/
Season
Key Themes
CONTRITION
SILENCE
