Sunday, July 20, 2008

Preciousness of Silence

Nun Praying Before Crucifix
PRECIOUSNESS OF SILENCE

"Lord, set a guard over my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips." Ps 141:3 "But Jesus was silent." Mt 26:63

The Silence is Meekness. When you do not defend yourself against offenses; When you do not claim your rights; When you let God defend you; The Silence is Meekness.

The Silence is Mercy. When you do not reveal the faults of your brothers to others; When you readily forgive without inquiring into the past; When you do not judge, but pray in your heart; The Silence is Mercy.

The Silence is Patience. When you accept suffering not with grumbling but joyfully; When you do not look for human consolations; When you do not become too anxious, but wait in patience for the seed to germinate; The Silence is Patience.

The Silence is Humility. When there is no competition; When you consider the other person to be better than yourself; When you let your brothers emerge, grow and mature; When you joyfully abandon all to the Lord; When your actions may be misinterpreted; When you leave to others the glory of the enterprise; The Silence is Humility.

The Silence is Faith. When you keep quiet because you know that the Lord will act; When you renounce the voice of the world to remain in the presence of the Lord; When you do not labour yourself to be understood; because it is enough for you to know that the Lord understands you; The Silence is Faith.

The Silence is Adoration. When you embrace the cross without asking "Why?"; The Silence is Adoration.

"But Jesus was silent."

From the Missionaries of Charity Prayer Book

Shared by Sue via email.

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