SILENCE AND SPIRITUALITY

Part II (C) Silence and Spirituality

If silence is an act, and a form of communication, why can’t it be used as a means of prayer? Since we can pass message to each in silence, then we can equally interact with God in silence. God sees in secret and hears the promptings of our hearts (Mt 6:18, Rm 8:27). Our ability to communicate in silence is one of those unique qualities of man that distinguishes him from other animals, and makes him ‘little less than the gods’(Ps 8:5). God communicates to us both in silence and in speech, and we can reach Him or rather, respond to Him in both ways.

In silence we communicate from the heart, not just lip’s service! More so, we communicate with the heart. Further still, in silence we communicate the heart! This is where friendship and bond are formed. Hence, prayer offered in silence (or from the silence of the heart) transforms and unites us the more with God.

The restless and noisy society we commonly experience these days is a reflection of the people’s restless hearts, which remain restless until they rest in God, as St. Augustine would say. A heart that encounters God is less noisy and more humble. Calmness and tranquillity are part of the strength of those filled with the Holy Spirit. Therefore, silence is a grace. Thus, we not only need to pray in silence, we equally need to pray for the gift of silence.

‘Be still and know that I am God’ (Ps 46:10). Allowing God to lead the way; to determine the paths we follow, is a grace beyond measure. It is in the stillness of our hearts that we can recognize the God who is active in our lives, give way to Him and follow accordingly. Silence is a grace, a treasure, a platform for interpersonal encounter with God. It is a catalyst to spiritual growth.


Links to previous articles in the series 'Why am I afraid of Silence?'
Part I: Silence Confronts  http://nwachinwe.blogspot.com/2009/12/why-am-i-afraid-of-silence.html
part II: The Nature of Silence (a): Silence as Behaviour http://nwachinwe.blogspot.com/2015/05/why-am-i-afraid-of-silence-ii-silence.html
(b): 'The Conscious Rest' http://nwachinwe.blogspot.com/2015/05/the-conscious-rest.html