The boys were used to shootings and street deals and non-stop noise of the city...but the quiet stillness of the woods freaked them out, big time. They were not used to it. They had trouble sleeping. This was before smartphones and all that, so their distractions were minimal. I think they were ultimately glad to get back to the hood where we all lived.
I'd like to read Cardinal Robert Sarah's new book, The Power of Silence: Against the Dictatorship of Noise, because silence has been on my mind lately. The book was fittingly recorded from conversations between Cardinal Sarah and Nicholas Diat at La Grande Chartreuse, the Carthusian monastery near Grenoble, France, where Into Great Silence was filmed (please do yourself a favor and rent this powerful, artful and moving film if you get the chance.
Silence is multi-faceted:
- It can be used as a weapon--one "silences" the opposition. You see this with identity politics, shutting down conversations.
- It can be indicative of a kind of moral cowardice, when we "remain silent" when faced with injustice, when we are called to speak out to defend innocent men.
- It can indicate an reflectiveness that does not betray one's innermost thoughts, as "the mouths of fools are their undoing" (Prov 18:17)
- It can look like "pleading the 5th" in the Constitutional sense when one refuses to incriminate oneself before a jury by remaining silent.
- It often holds the key to hearing God's voice which often comes not in earthquakes and fire, but in a whisper (1 Kings 19:12)
Take Jesus before Pilate:
"Now Herod was very glad when he saw Jesus; for he had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had been hearing about Him and was hoping to see some sign performed by Him. And he questioned him at some length; but He answered him nothing.
And the chief priests and the scribes were standing there, accusing Him vehemently. And Herod with his soldiers, after treating Him with contempt and mocking Him, dressed Him in a gorgeous robe and send Him back to Pilate. Now Herod and Pilate became friends with one another that very day; for before they had been enemies with each other." (Lk 23:18)
This is a very telling scene that I have been reflecting on. Herod was a fool, and regarded Jesus as a source of entertainment. It is written in scripture, "do not speak to fools, for they will scorn your prudent words." (Prov 23:9). Later before Pilate, Jesus is again accused and stands before the chief priests silent, and Pilate "is amazed". (Mk 15:5).
Jesus is a man who knows his power. He knows his innocence, and he knows who He is. When he speaks, every word is imbued with power. When pressed by the High Priest point blank, "Are you the Messiah?" he replies.
"I AM. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." (14:62)
Should you ever stand accused, remember that "it is better to suffer, should it be God's will, for doing good than doing evil." (1 Peter 3:17) Jesus gives the truest example of the Suffering Servant, as prophesied in the book of Isaiah:
"He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet he did not open His mouth;
like a lamb that is led to slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers,
So He did not open His mouth.
Because he had done no violence,
Nor was there any deceit in His mouth.
But the LORD was pleased to crush Him, putting Him to grief
If he would render Himself as a guilt offering,
He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days,
And the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand." (53:7-8,10)
Let your silence be power, and when called to speak, speak with power by the Holy Spirit. "Be strong and courageous! Be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed!" (Joshua 1:9)
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