Listen

On the right-hand side of the entrance to Norwich Cathedral, there is a recently carved statue of St Benedict which depicts him with a finger to his lips, and holding his Rule. The first word of this Rule is ‘Ausculta’ meaning ‘Listen’:

Listen carefully, my child, to the instructions of your master and incline the ear of your heart.

‘Ausculta’ is the word carved on the open book that Benedict is holding. The first thing that St. Benedict wants to tell us is that if we are not attentive, we cannot receive wisdom, but if we are paying attention, we will hear God’s voice everywhere.

In today’s Gospel reading, of the Transfiguration, we hear how, as a cloud came and overshadowed the apostles, a voice came out of the cloud, saying: This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him! This is an encouragement to us to remember how important silence and listening are when we pray.

Benedict’s basic motivation for silence is the creation of an attitude and capacity for expectant listening in the heart. This kind of listening demands an inner stillness — a capacity to be attentive, to be present to the Word. As we enter our second week of Lent, it would be a good idea to reflect on how much of silence and stillness do we create in our lives to help us to pray. For me I can fill my day with too much listening to news bulletins, checking Facebook or YouTube.

I love the quote from Fr Benignus O’Rourke, O.S.A. (in his book Finding your Hidden Treasure): ‘Silence purifies, silence empties. By taking refuge in the silence and allowing our minds and hearts to become quiet, the stagnant pools will be freed and the stream of living water will flow again from the depth of our being.’

Lord give me the grace this week to create more silence in my day, and to listen with my heart, so that a silent listening heart can provide the soil in which my prayer can flourish; with a silent listening heart I can listen to Jesus.