In front of me on the wall at my desk are words of rebuke and encouragement from Michael O'Brien's character Josip Lasta in Island of the World (memorable quotes here). I'm confronted with these words nearly everyday. They rebuke me because I often do not practice silence, but also they encourage me to pursue such silence.
I love these words because they do not equate silence with inactivity. Indeed, in Island of the World Josip was active. He was active in the service of others through the giving of himself and prayer. Reading the book I found myself wanting so much more for him than he seemed to desire for himself. And, in this way, I was and am confronted with my desire to be "something," to be heard, to be seen, etc. Let these words pour over you and invade your mind. Let them conquer your pride.
I love these words because they do not equate silence with inactivity. Indeed, in Island of the World Josip was active. He was active in the service of others through the giving of himself and prayer. Reading the book I found myself wanting so much more for him than he seemed to desire for himself. And, in this way, I was and am confronted with my desire to be "something," to be heard, to be seen, etc. Let these words pour over you and invade your mind. Let them conquer your pride.
Seek nothing for yourself.
Stand ready to serve in quietness,
demanding nothing, expecting nothing,
sacrificing and praying without anyone knowing.
Silence.
Silence.
Silence.
Then today I was reading 1 Clement. A text penned by Clement the fourth bishop of Rome. The text is addressed to the church at Corinth. I don't want get into the details other than to say he was confronting them on a schism that had arisen in their congregation due to pride and envy. I came across these words in his letter:
"Let the wise show his wisdom, not in words, but in good deeds;
let him that is humble not bear witness to himself, but leave another to bear witness to him"
(1 Clement 38:2).
I couldn't help but correlate them with Josip's words above. I hope both of these words rebuke and encourage you. They're apt words for the Advent season because our Lord came into this world in the silence of obscurity to sacrifice himself for his people and for his creation. Meditate upon these words and imitate Josip . . . Clement . . . and by doing so imitate Jesus.
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