Still Waters

Cultivating a spirit of silence

Matthew 1:18-21, 24A

          Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.

            Often silence speaks louder than words; indeed, sometimes silence can be deafening.  This thought is enshrined in that old maxim, “Still waters run deep; a shallow brook babbles loudest.”  Silence bespeaks depth and power and purpose, not just that someone is asleep!  Shortly before the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, John and Abigail Adams were invited to supper at the house of King George’s viceroy to the Colonies.  The viceroy offered John Adams a very prominent position in the Massachusetts government, basically representing the king.  That was followed by a long and awkward silence, and John’s wife, Abigail, softly said in Latin, “Qui tacet consentire,” which means “silence means assent.”  In other words, “Say something, John!”  John’s silence was deafening; his lips were like still waters because they weren’t moving, but his mind and heart were running deep with thoughts of leading the Revolution against King George.  You see, John’s silence and stillness helped lead the country in the fledgling days of her infancy.

            In the gospel today we meet the one man in Scripture for whom silence was the hallmark of his holiness, namely, St. Joseph.  Did you know that there is not one word that falls from the lips of St. Joseph in the whole Bible?  So, ladies, don’t complain about your husbands when they don’t talk!  But his silence didn’t mean the saint was asleep or uninterested, indeed, it meant he was listening very attentively to the Spirit and acting decisively.  He’s told in a dream to accept the pregnant Mary as his wife, and he obeys.  “Qui tacet consentire” – Joseph’s silence meant he always agreed and assented to the suggestions of the Spirit.  The still waters of St. Joseph’s silence were a sign of the depths of his devotion and determination.

            St. Joseph is the patron saint of the universal Church, which means he’s a model for all Christians.  So, let me ask you: do you cultivate a spirit of silence in your life, or are you “a shallow brook babbling the loudest”?  Mark Twain jokingly said, “It’s better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.”  I have a dear friend who loves to say, “I’ll have to ponder that.”  And she ponders things in prayer and the silence of her heart.  But do you know the best place to grow in silence and stillness?  It’s in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.  Let me encourage you to take an hour a week of quiet contemplation before our Lord.  Pope Francis insightfully said, “The world never recalls the hours Mother Teresa spent in Adoration.  Never!”  Mother Teresa’s nuns spend 3 hours in Adoration every day.  In those three hours those sisters become "still waters" so the Holy Spirit can "run deep" in them.

            “Qui tacet consentire” – silence means assent.  The more silence we cultivate in our lives, the quicker we’ll assent to the Spirit.

            Praised be Jesus Christ!