“Hard of face and obstinate of heart are they to whom I am sending you” (Ezekiel 2:4).
Each of our readings present the closed and stubborn attitude, the obstinate and hard of heart turned in upon itself that closes itself off from God. The interesting point also is that for Ezekiel, those whose hearts are hardened are the people God has chosen for himself. In the Gospel, the people to reject Jesus are those who are from his own hometown of Nazareth. These are not enemies but family and kin.
It is easy to point fingers at those in these accounts who are closed to God, who harden their hearts, who are obstinate in the face of God’s truth. We need to be careful though that we don’t miss where we are obstinate, where we are closed and dig in our heals to the invitation of the Holy Spirit who is speaking in the silence of our hearts. Are we willing to listen, are we willing to slow down long enough to listen?
Saul, who is the author of today’s second reading to the Corinthians is a good example to follow. One for whom was the best and brightest of his time. He studied under the premiere rabbi, Gamaliel. He was fluent in Hebrew and Greek, he knew the Law and the teachings of the prophets inside and out, and yet when the new way of Jesus, who did not come to abolish but to fulfill the Law came, his heart was so hardened, so obstinate, that he rose up to persecute the followers of Jesus.
Then, on the road to Damascus, he encountered the risen Jesus. Jesus did not condemn him who ordered St. Stephen’s stoning, he asked him a simple question. “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” Saul was blinded, his whole life came to an abrupt halt and in that encounter with Jesus, his heart of stone was softened and he became one of the most prominent promoters of this new way that he fought so hard to crush.
We are invited by Jesus, as he did with Paul, to turn away from the temptations that led him and some of the other Israelites to rebel against God, and instead to open our hearts and minds as did Ezekiel to hear the Spirit speaking in us. That means we need to make time to be still and to listen, for as St. Mother Teresa spoke, “We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is a friend of silence.”
We are also invited to let go of closing ourselves off from our preconceptions and limitations as those residents of Nazareth who could not see beyond the simple carpenter they knew from his youth. A good answer for what Jesus was doing in those “hidden years” before his public ministry is – nothing spectacular. He was a simple day laborer, a peasant. Those who had lived with him most, knew him the least, and even though they were astonished at his teaching, that astonishment quickly shifted to a hardening of heart such that they took offense at the one who was offering them their salvation and he was “not able to perform any mighty deed there.”
Jesus invites us in this moment to become a friend of silence. We can do so with some simple steps that will help us to soften our hearts, unclench our fists, and help our shoulders to come out of our ears. We begin first by taking some slow, deep breaths and then to rest there in those breaths. Next we begin to feel our body again and notice where the tension is, so we can feel the stress and strain, and let it work its way out. Then rest in God’s word. Choose a word or phrase from today’s reading that touched you, a word or phrase from the Our Father or Hail Mary, or from one of the psalms, like Psalm 42, “Hope in God I will praise him still, my savior and my God.” And repeat it and let it become alive in your heart.
Breathing deeply and slowly shifts the momentum of our frantic, daily pace, and God’s word helps us to shift our focus from ourselves, our challenges, and any stress or anxiety, and instead to begin to feel safe and see what is real and true. As we breathe and rest with his word, our hearts and minds can be more open to receiving God’s guidance and by remaining there, not only will our hearts begin to soften, but we will also be more willing to follow his direction. When we breathe and rest in God’s word, we begin to experience his love, and receive his guidance. This is the place that we want to abide, so that we may release any stress or strain, experience his peace, and grow closer to God and each other, and make our decisions not by reacting but acting from God’s direction. When we find ourselves slipping and tightening, we just simply return to each of the above steps.
As with any discipline, these simple steps will become more fruitful with consistent practice. When we are feeling more anxious or emotional, sitting or standing still and breathing, and feeling those parts of our body touching the chair, our feet on the floor, any points of contact, will help our body to feel grounded, safe, and begin to reset itself from the fight or flight mode we often slip into. Resting in God’s word can also help us to feel him close and again to begin to feel safe. For God is our rock and our firm foundation. Let us trust in our God and Father, his Son who he sent to guide us, and the love of the Holy Spirit, so that we can too will experience his love and presence. We will do so when we become a friend of silence.
Photo: While on my Rosary walk last night, I came upon this gift along the path. When we are willing to become friends of silence, we will experience God’s love!
Spiritual Stepping Stones 