Rarely does Benedict write—and rarely does Sister Joan reflect—without returning us to a single, essential truth: God is to be at the center of our lives. Again and again, they remind us that the spiritual journey is not primarily about our accomplishments, our insights, or even our efforts. It is about recognizing the presence of God, surrendering ourselves to His loving will, and allowing Him to shape us into the people we are called to become.
When we gradually come to this realization, something within us changes. We begin to understand that faith is not merely a set of beliefs but a way of living. We discover that, despite life's sorrows, disappointments, and uncertainties, we are indeed Easter people. The Resurrection becomes more than an event we remember; it becomes the lens through which we view our lives. Hope rises above fear, love triumphs over division, and "Alleluia" becomes not simply a word we sing but the enduring cry of our hearts.
Yet this transformation does not begin with activity. It begins in silence. It begins with a willingness to listen.
In a world filled with noise, distraction, and self-assertion, we are invited to quiet our restless and willful minds. Benedict's counsel is simple but demanding: "Listen." Listen not merely with our ears, but with what he calls "the ear of the heart." In that sacred listening, we begin to hear God's gentle invitation—a call that is often less a command than a quiet beckoning.
What do we hear? We hear the call to trust. We hear the call to surrender. We hear the call to live lives marked by faith, compassion, mercy, and love. We hear the call to recognize the living Christ in every person we meet and to care for His world with reverence and gratitude.
The spiritual life is not a quest to find God somewhere far away. It is the lifelong practice of becoming attentive to God within. Here. Now. In silence, in prayer, in community, and in service, we learn to listen. And in listening, we discover the One who has been calling us all along.
Let me close today by inviting you to read Listening for God in the Silence
under our Links of Interest in the right hand margin.
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