Sunday, April 6, 2025

Today's Scripture
Mark 3:7–12

But Jesus withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea: and a great multitude from Galilee followed him, and from Judaea, and from Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and from beyond Jordan; and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they had heard what great things he did, came unto him.

And he spake to his disciples, that a small ship should wait on him because of the multitude, lest they should throng him. For he had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had plagues. And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, “Thou art the Son of God.” And he straitly charged them that they should not make him known. (KJV)

Reflection

One wonders…

After Jesus did the impossible, ridding demons from a multitude of unclean spirits, he “straitly charged” them to stay silent. Why silence? Was it concern for harm? Was it simply not time yet for all to know of the immense power of God through Christ? Or was it something else?

The power of silence.

In the aptly named book The Power of Silence, Catholic Cardinal Robert Sarah asserts “silence is the indispensable doorway to the divine,” and further he posits, “Do not wisdom, artistic vision, and devotion spring from silence where the voice of God is heard in the depths of the human heart?” Howard Thurman further states, “In the stillness of quiet, if we listen, we can hear the whisper of the heart giving strength to weakness, courage to fear, hope to despair.”

Yet from the moment this Lenten assignment was received to this day of dissemination, the world changed. Silence of our voice offers no resistance to fundamental challenges against freedom of speech, freedom of expression, freedom of thought (e.g., as scientists), and especially equity. The church has, for decades in America, been the reservoir of ground truth. An unwavering fount of justice. When all others wither, we rise, even soar and hold to a force, a Faith that breathes possibility to the impossible, fuels the exhausted, and loves the forgotten.

Our spiritual silence inclines us to eschew vainglory, or as my mother taught me, “Beware pridefulness.” Just as Jesus didn’t want misguided attention obscuring the immensity of acts, we too are benefited, even emboldened, by doing good not for praise but for principle. Our pensive silence recognizes our servant leadership with qualities of empathy, listening, and integrity. Our faithful silence brings us closer to God — we pray more intently; study more deeply; and reflect more soulfully.

As Jesus strictly directed, we should be silent and source our Faith from the still moments.

But there is a righteous time to speak, to raise our voices and argue for good; and when we boldly exit our quiet space, Thurman affirms, “there is no limit to the power that may be released.”

That is our charge: hold the vast power of silence and quietude. It is how we engage more deeply in God’s space; it is how we fully immerse in the Lenten season and become subsumed by the miracle of Easter. But have fortitude, wisdom, and courage to break our silence and use our inspired elevated voice for good purpose, for good people, for all people.

Imagine if we can skillfully navigate silence and voice ...

One wonders.

Prayer
Should we feel troubled, burdened, or frightened navigating this balance of silence and voice, turn to this family favorite, an empowering hymn: “His Eye Is on the Sparrow” (Civilla D. Martin, 1905):

“Let not your heart be troubled.”
His tender word I hear,
and resting on his goodness,
I lose my doubt and fear.
Though by the path he leadeth,
but one step I may see:
his eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me;
his eye is on the sparrow,
and I know He watches me.

Amen.

Reflection written by Clyde Yancy, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church