Silence and Prayer Directions: Read the essay, then answer the questions that follow. Think for a moment of all the times you are truly in silence throughout your day. Maybe your first thought is when you are asleep or taking a shower. Perhaps on your trips to and from school each day. Can you think of other times when no sounds creep into the peaceful silence around you? You might have trouble thinking of anytime at all that you find yourself in silence. Our modern world makes it difficult to find silence. The TV is on even during mealtimes, the radio plays while we are in the car, and we put on earbuds when we study, walk the hallways of our schools, and maybe even when we sleep. Perhaps as a result, many of us are uncomfortable with silence. We think of it as a void that needs to be filled. But are we really listening to the TV, or the radio, or even the music in our earbuds? Or are they functioning more like background noise? What is the difference between hearing something and really listening to it? How does background noise affect what we are able to listen to? One of the great battles of prayer involves a question that many of us have asked at one point or another: Why can t I hear God speak to me? Perhaps it is because we are not listening. In any conversation with a close friend, one must stop speaking and listen attentively to the other. It is difficult to hear anyone, let alone God, speak when we are surrounded by sound. Psalm 46:11 tells us, in God s own voice nonetheless, Be still and know that I am God! The Catechism of the Catholic Church, in describing contemplative prayer, says that it is first hearing the Word of God, and then it is silence in which the Father speaks to us His incarnate Word (2716-2718). Silence, that state of being in which we so rarely find ourselves, is essential to knowing God and to hearing His voice. You don t need to go to great lengths to hear God speak to you. First, you need to be deliberate about when and where you pray. Set aside a specific time to pray. It doesn t have to be a long time. Even just five minutes will do, especially if you re not used to praying. Then find a place that is comfortable and relatively free of distractions. Second, you need to be in a quiet place. Turn off the TV, take off the headphones, and turn off the music. Prepare yourself to listen. Third, as the Catechism tells us, we have to hear the Word of God. How do we do that? Thankfully, God has been speaking to us from the very beginning. He has spoken to us throughout human history and has said all that He needed to say when He sent His only Son to earth to become one of us and to save us from sin. We can hear this Good News of mercy and love in the Scriptures, the Word of God in writing. God is present in His Word. To hear God speak, read the Scriptures. Not all at once. Not even cover to cover. Begin with the Gospels, where we meet God s Word become 30
flesh in Jesus Christ. A single passage will do, something manageable and not overwhelming. The goal should be quality, not quantity. The perfect place to start would be to read the Gospel reading from the upcoming Sunday Mass. Lastly, reflect in silence. Be filled with God s Word, spoken to you. As in any conversation with a close friend, be attentive to what God has said. What is He telling you? Only in the silence will you be able to discover the answer. 1. Why is it difficult to find silence in our modern world? 2. The author suggests that there is a difference between hearing and listening. How would you describe that difference? Give an example of hearing rather than listening. 3. What is one of the great battles of prayer? What does the author suggest is the reason for this battle? 4. What is the main idea of the paragraph that begins Psalm 46:11 tells us? 5. What are the four steps the author suggests for hearing God speak to us? Briefly define each step. 6. Where is a good place to begin reading Scripture? 31
Reflection Question Are you comfortable with silence? In what ways do you fill the silence throughout your day? How might your own prayer experience be different if you took time to be in silence? 32
Lectio Divina Expert Groups Worksheet Directions: In your group, answer the questions about the step of Lectio Divina assigned to you. Then work with a new group to learn and answer the questions about the other steps of Lectio Divina. Lectio Meditatio 33
Oratio Contemplatio 34