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Jesus and Holy Silence
Matthew 14; Mark 1
July 3, 2005

In a recent issue of Newsweek there was an article describing new treatments available for those who are losing their hearing, baby boomers being chief among them. The article stated that "More than 28 million Americans have some degree of hearing loss, a number that could reach 78 million by 2030." Why? Because of our "ever-louder society," the author claims. He says, "Aging rockers aren't the only ones living with diminished hearing these days. We are all caught in the constant roar of the 21st century. It's the rare kid today who doesn't have wires snaking out of her ears as she rocks through the day to her own personal soundtrack." (Sound like any teenagers you know?) "Televisions are bigger and louder than ever, and so are movie theaters. One study estimates that as many as 5.2 million children in the United States between 6 and 19 have some hearing damage from amplified music and other sources. If they don't take steps to protect their hearing, the iPod Generation faces the same fate as the Woodstock Generation. Or worse."

As we think about our spiritual lives, I wonder if we realize to the same extent what our addiction to noise is doing to our souls? Loud music really isn't the problem…Cranking up the volume a bit can be enjoyable if we are working out at the gym or cleaning the house…But I'm thinking more about our inability to be still. Could our addiction to busyness be dulling our spiritual ears? We give lip service to slowing down and un-cluttering our schedules, but do we do it? I happen to think that if we don't learn to make space in our lives for silence, we run the risk of spiritual hearing loss.

I received an interesting piece this past week on our YM youthworkers e-group called "American Family Life in Flux". Apparently scientists at UCLA have spent the past four years observing 32 Los Angeles families in a study of how working America lives day after day. Interesting article…but one thing that I found alarming was a statement by two of the parents in the study who said they "keep their children busy by design because it is the key to being a successful adult in a culture that rewards multi-taskers." The father, a 47 year old attorney said, "You know the old saying, "If you want something done, give it to a busy person. They're learning to be that."

Yikes! Is this the message we want to pass along to our children? Are we doing our children any favor by filling their every waking hour with a multitude of activities? As people of faith, are our children hearing a different message from us than they are hearing from the dominant culture they live in?

We are in the midst of a series called, "Holy Silence". I've entitled it Holy Silence because the silence I am focusing on is more than just the absence of noise. I want us to be thinking together about what it means to create space in our lives for listening to God. It is what Quakers have called expectant waiting. The belief that Christ is present in the silence and will speak to our present condition.

A couple of weeks ago we looked at a story from Hebrew Bible about Elijah-the prophet of God who was suffering from burnout. And do you remember what happened? In the depths of his despair, God speaks to him in the silence. Elijah hears the still small voice of God out of the silence giving him instructions for the next step of his journey.

The following week we talked about Silence and the Meeting for Worship. That silence is truly one of the great gifts of Quaker spirituality. We talked about some ways that we can enter into our silent times together during worship. And if you were with us last week we practiced holy silence in our unprogrammed meeting for worship. (Which we do the last Sunday of every month)

Today we are going to take a look at Jesus and Holy Silence. Where did silence fit into Jesus' busy life? I sometimes wonder what enneagram number Jesus was. Let see, was he a one or a two? Where would he fit into the Myers Briggs personality profile? Was he an ESFP? Was he an type A personality? As I read through the gospels Jesus seemed to be awfully busy most of the time, and involved in lots of important kingdom work. But even Jesus seemed to sense his need for silence.

There are several references to this in the gospels. And these verses are always sandwiched in-between a flurry of activity.

In the first chapter of Mark's gospel, Jesus has just been tested in the wilderness, he started his teaching ministry, he called his first few disciples, not to mention healing a whole host of people… and then there is this little verse tucked in there, "In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went to a deserted place, and there he prayed."

In Luke we also read, "At daybreak he departed into a deserted place."

In Matthew 14, Jesus climbs into a boat for some peace and quiet following the tragic news of the death of his cousin, John. And the crowds just won't leave him alone...And Jesus being a type A sort of person actively responds to what he sees…It says, "When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion on them and cured their sick."

Suppertime arrives and this large crowd is still hanging out with Jesus. The folks are hot and restless and hungry… so he and his disciples serve dinner to more than 5,000 people with a mere 5 loaves and 2 fishes with some leftovers to spare. And immediately after this extremely long day in Jesus' life the gospel writer says, "And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone…"

Jesus understood the value of silence. Jesus knew that taking time for silence in the midst of busyness was an essential part of soul care.

So what are some things we can learn from Jesus about holy silence?

In Matthew's account, after Jesus receives news of his cousin's tragic death he sought out a place to be alone. Jesus must have had some internal warning signs that told him it was time for silence. In this case Jesus' grief compelled him to seek out silence.

So first, we need to be aware of what the signals are for us to withdraw and be alone. For me one of the signals is a tightness that creeps into my neck and shoulders. I sometimes sense this general weariness in my entire body. I begin to feel irritable and impatient and critical of people, even the people dearest to me. These are the signs for me to withdraw and be alone with God. I may not be able to do it immediately, but I know that I need to make time in the very near future..

One of the things I am discovering as preventative soul care is to integrate silence into my daily routine before the melt down occurs. I try to begin each day with silence. If I make time for silence and listening to God a daily practice I am less prone to the spiritual deafness I talked about earlier. I think silence as stress management therapy is grossly under rated. Most of our days are filled with demands, situations in which we are giving out or at least are having energy and time taken from us. Chosen solitude, as Jesus modeled is a time to be re-energized. So think about what your signals are to withdraw and be alone.

Second thing we learn from Jesus about silence…He found a place for silence. He withdrew from people to a solitary place. He found a boat, hiked up a mountain, retreated to some deserted place…

Some people like to have a special room in their home for this. I remember Joanne Smith had an attic room that she claimed as her sacred silent space. Some people like to get outdoors for a walk. Monna likes to hike in the wilderness and get away from all the city noise. I also find running out on the Link River trail to be a great place for silence. As Elisabeth Kubler-Ross said, "There is no need to go to India or anywhere else to find peace. You will find that deep place of silence right in your room, your garden or even your bathtub."

And thirdly, Jesus teaches us to talk to God in the silence. It's a silence of relationship. Not only talking to God, but listening to God. Contrary to popular belief, silence like this is never wasted time. I find that prayerful silence helps make whatever I am going through feel bearable. It often doesn't change a situation or make it hurt less-I just know that I can make it through whatever it is because I know that I am not alone and that I can talk to God about it.

We put our dog, Juba down this past Monday. For all you animal lovers you know how hard it is to say goodbye to our furry friends. No amount of prayerful silence will bring Juba back but I have come to realize that it is in these times of prayerful silence that God comforts me as only God can.

I am gradually learning to trust that God will give me strength to face whatever comes my way. My experience up to this point tells me this is true.

One final observation about Jesus and silence…Jesus modeled this for us so beautifully…Holy silence takes us back into the world. There must be a connection between holy silence and life. Religion and life are of one stuff, as one writer puts it. Something deep within me says that authentic religion gives one a social conscience.

Jesus felt compassion, he responded to the needs pressing in on him. He knew when to withdraw but he also returned ready to give to others. I think Jesus models how to hold this tension between contemplative prayer and action. I believe that Holy Silence changes our perspective…It tenders our heart towards a suffering world. It helps us recognize that life isn't just about securing our own happiness and well being.

Holy silence opens our spiritual ears to hear what God is calling us to do to make a difference in our little corner of the world. So what do we learn from Jesus about silence?

1. Be aware of what the signals are that you need to be alone

2. Create a special place for silence

3. Have a conversation with God in the silence

4. Silence will take us back into a needy world

We are going to close this morning with a hymn and then enter into a time of silent reflection and response