A Day in the Life: Times of Silence

Twice a week, we have Exposition and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. On Wednesdays, we have a holy hour for vocations, and on Sundays, we have Exposition following Mass until lunchtime, around 11:30. Nearly every time I am there in front of the Monstrance, I think about the story told by St. Jean Vianney. St. Jean once asked an elderly parishioner what he said to Our Lord during his many long hours in front of the tabernacle. The man replied, "Say? I don't say anything. I just look at Him, and He looks at me." What a grace of interior silence!

When I first started college after nearly three years of initial formation without regular travel beyond our apostolates and grocery shopping, it took me some time to get used to the noise. I hadn't realized how accustomed I had become to really not having constant talking or background noise during the day. Even now, when my class schedule permits it, I prefer to spend my downtime in the library or some other place on campus which is not heavily populated.

Don't get me wrong - I enjoy conversation, laughter, and music. Most people who know me would readily agree that I am quite a chatterbox! However, there is definitely a need for times of silence in our daily lives. So many people miss out on the beauty of silence. Its more the norm than the exception to see people who are constantly plugged into their mobile devices when they're not doing something else. It's so easy to live in an insulated media bubble, especially nowadays with all our technology-based instant communication. We can spend all our time distracting ourselves from reality with very little effort.

Constant noise is not healthy: physically, mentally, or spiritually. The Lord knows our needs, our sufferings. He is waiting patiently for us to run to Him, His arms open wide to embrace us with love. He is not surprised by our faults, He does not judge our appearance. He loves us always, unconditionally, and His desire is to draw us away from sin and into His eternal life. He is waiting for you; He wants to "look at you" today. Are you going to keep Him waiting?