Posted by admin on March 18, 2010 under 4. Thursday's Spiritual Smoothie | 
Inspired by Fr. Peter’s post on Tuesday, I want to reflect on silence as well. Every time I go on retreat with my students, I urge them to consider a “technology fast.” This isn’t because technology is a bad thing (see Katie’s posts on Mondays!), but because sometimes our reliance on technology can keep us from being present in the moment. Too often I think we characterize silence as the awkward moment when no one is talking, nothing is happening, and we don’t know what we’re supposed to be doing. And having that cell phone to text someone about it or being able to instantly update our Facebook status allows us some relief from dealing with the question of why that silence is there.
Clearly, not all silence is sacred silence. Sometimes silence really is awkward because no one knows how to respond or what to do next. But I really think it’s in the sacred silence, when we intentionally embrace those naturally occurring moments of silence or set time aside specifically to be silent, that we allow ourselves to strip away our illusions of what we “should” be doing and instead listen to the whispering voice of God.
One of my favorite scripture passages is the story of Elijah hiding in a cave, waiting for the Lord to pass by (1 Kings 19). Elijah endures strong winds, an earthquake, a fire, and finally, in a tiny whispering sound, knows that God is present. How can we find God in the stillness today?
Sarah Heiman is Campus Minister for Education and Spiritual Life at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT.
Posted by admin on February 23, 2010 under 2. Fat Tuesday |
For this Sunday’s gospel, we are given a transfigured Christ and a transfiguring message: “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.” The Church places the Transfiguration narrative on the Second Sunday of Lent more because this is a turning point in the ministry of Jesus. Up to this point, he has been experiencing great success in his Galilean ministry. The signs of the kingdom have accompanied his preaching. After this experience during the day of prayer on the mountain, Jesus sets his face to Jerusalem and “his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem.”
Though it is only the Second Sunday of Lent, we are heading soon to Holy Week and to our celebration of Christ’s Exodus, our own Passover. Many of our campuses have Lent interrupted by Spring Break. The opportunities of Lent are fleeting.
Amid the hubub of Peter’s activity on the mountain, the command is clear: “listen to him.” This Sunday is a good opportunity to encourage students to stop and listen during Lent. Suggest an “unplugged day,” much like a meatless Friday, to give oneself a chance to listen to Christ. As T.S. Eliot wrote in “Ash Wednesday” only in stillness can the Word be heard:
Where shall the word be found, where will the word
Resound? Not here, there is not enough silence
Not on the sea or on the islands, not
On the mainland, in the desert or the rain land,
For those who walk in darkness
Both in the day time and in the night time
The right time and the right place are not here
No place of grace for those who avoid the face
No time to rejoice for those who walk among noise and deny
the voice.
We need his prayer to become ours this Lent:
Teach us to sit still
Even among these rocks,
Our peace in His will
