God's Silence of Love

In the British navy, when an explosion or any sudden disaster occurs, the bugler's duty is to play immediately what is called "The Still." It is a signal for wah person to remain perfectly quiet for a moment to calm himself to prepare for panic-free and well though-out action in the emergency.

The trumpet clarion call of the prophet (see Psalms 46:10), "Be still and know that I am Got!," is a kind of bugle signal for us to stop in our tracks and acknowledge God in our life. His own silence can make us aware of our noisy freneticism. The prophet Zephaniah tells us (3:17) that the Lord "will quiet you with his love." But perhaps equally significant is an alternate translation: "He will be quiet in his love."

Just as we can experience a deep and loving sympathy while wordlessly embracing a bereaved person, by that same silent act we can quiet the anguidh in the heart of that same person. thus, the love within our own heart can be silent, but it can also silence the hurt of another in some way. That same twofold characteristic can be found in God's silent love. If we are sensitive enought to detect the waves of his silent love washing over us, our own heart becomes silent and we can then really "know that he is God" in all the profound meaning that those words entail. In this way, his silent love is not seen as diving aloofness but as sacred intimacy, which will launch our prayer life into mystical depths.

This excerpt is from the book One-Minute Meditations for Busy People, by John H. Hampsch, C.M.F., originally published by Servant Publications. It and other of Fr. Hampsch's books and audio/video recordings can be purchased from Claretian Teaching Ministry, 20610 Manhattan Pl, #120, Torrance, CA 90501-1863. Phone 1-310-782-6408 or www.Catholicbooks.net