We remember silence more than speech. Great melodies seek moments of silence as music calms the fevered heart. The soothing chant of the Psalms needs reflective pause if the mind is to savour truth. All dialogue calls for reverent mind and attentive ear.
Listening is the other half of language. Recent prayer-filled celebrations honoured our heroic dead and summoned us to fulfil our promises with sincerity and love. Of what value our assembly and our song if we betray those who sacrificed their brief todays for our tomorrows of opportunity and hope? "Speak Lord, Your servant is listening!"
St Benedict is patron of our Europe and builder of all that makes for peace. He leads to wisdom in a plan for life, "If we talk a lot we will not escape falling into sin . . . Death and life are in the power of the tongue . . . It is fitting for the Master to speak and to teach! The disciple's task is to keep silent and to listen . . !"
Christ is our Master. He speaks in Scripture, in prayer, and in healing sacrament. If today we hear His voice let us not harden our hearts. Our new President gives us Gospel values as she points to bridges we must build. She urges us to learn wisdom from shattered dreams and poignant memories.
Moments of silence remain forever in the heart. The cuckoo's call on a summer morning close to Ben Bulben and the sun drenched cascade of Glencar's waterfall. The silent movement of the wondrous humming bird around the altar of a tiny chapel by a Caribbean sea fragrant with the scent of orange and of lime. The eager laughter of children by deep blue waters in the joyous harmony of a "united nations" little ones alone can build - before we teach them how to hate.
Many have lived free from apocalyptic terror. As we listen to heroic survivors (of all nations) we wonder at the devastating folly of captains and of kings. "War is a game which, were their subjects wise, kings would not play at!" Each day we need moments of silence, of repentance, and of fresh resolve. Pope John Paul calls to us: "Be converted every day!" St Benedict's faithful son, Cardinal Basil Hume, seldom calls aloud. He speaks to us only after prayer, reflection, and counsel from the truly wise. He led his people in a silent "Walk of witness" through the streets of London. He called on all to pray, and to remember 5 million unborn infants killed since 1967. We must not forget this cruelty and the dreadful pain of innocent babies and of mothers' suffering agony because a nation has betrayed ideals of family and of human love. ". . .We all must hang our heads in shame . . ." A film on this holocaust was forbidden as too degrading and too sad. What then of the dreadful reality? St Benedict, protector of culture and of peace speaks again to us through his faithful and courageous son. Will we learn wisdom before it is too late?
"When tongues are silent God is heard." In the quiet moments of dawning and of dusk, each flowing river can be for us a Jordan, and every majestic mountain be a sacred Tabor. "Be still and know that I am God!"
May each silence be as a saving sacrament in which we know His healing mercy and His saving Love. By His truth we all stand judged! "Now is the acceptable time . . . Now is the day of Salvation . . ."
F.MacN.