Member Log InOur first vocational call came to us in the Sacrament of Baptism: the vocational call to holiness. To be holy is not something reserved for people whose first names are "Saint." It is an attainable goal that we all can achieve; indeed, we were given the desire for holiness and the means to make it happen through the grace we received in Baptism.
The world and our post-Christian culture, not being of God, would have us exist as mindless robots, inundated by a cacophany of noise, distraction, pleasure-seeking, and instant gratification. It is important to turn off the noise and create space for silence. Scripture tells us repeatedly that God's voice can only be heard in silence.
In a recent homily delivered at a weekday Mass the day prior to my youngest daughter's wedding, a connection was made between the words "listen" and "silent": the two words contain the same letters. While the two English words have different origins, the fact that they contain the same letters struck me as something, in itself, supernatural. You know the saying echoed by a number of people whose first names are "Saint": there is no coincidence in the life of a saint.
Ponder this passage from the first Book of Kings: "Then the LORD said (to Elijah): Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD; the LORD will pass by. There was a strong and violent wind rending the mountains and crushing rocks before the LORD—but the LORD was not in the wind; after the wind, an earthquake—but the LORD was not in the earthquake; after the earthquake, fire—but the LORD was not in the fire; after the fire, a light silent sound." (1 Kings 19:11-12)
Consider Psalm 46, after informing the reader of the works of God including the stopping of wars, splintering spears, breaking bows, and burning shields with fire, instructs the reader: "Be still and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:11)
And Proverbs 17 tells us: "Even fools, keeping silent, are considered wise; if they keep their lips closed, intelligent." (Proverbs 17:28)
In short, make time to be silent. Trust that God will be present to you. Listen to what He has to say. If, at first, it doesn't feel like anything is happening, be patient. Go back to the words, specifically, of Psalm 46: "Be still and know that I am God." Hearing God's voice has nothing to do with feelings. It's about knowing.
And, if you want to up your game just a bit, make your time of silence happen in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament, in a local prayer chapel, on a regular basis. If you don't have adoration at your parish, send us an email, admin@jocoserra.org. We will do what we can to get you connected.
God bless you in your quest for holiness!
