The Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Cycle A

First Reading - 1 Kings 19:9a, 11-13a

Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 85:9-14

Second Reading - Romans 9: 1-5

Alleluia Verse - Psalm 130: 5

Gospel - Matthew 14: 22-33

It is twenty minutes before Mass begins on a typical Sunday morning. The musician is pounding away at the piano while the cantor is practicing the responsorial psalm for the day. People are starting to trickle in and I head back to get vested. The sacristy is in its usual state of chaos before Mass. The sacristan is busy trying to get everything ready while ushers, lectors, extra ordinary ministers of Holy Communion, homebound ministers, and even, sometimes, servers are checking in for their assignments. The conversations are vast and varied. They are often joined by people wanting to say hello, ask a question, lodge a complaint, or get something blessed.

In the priest’s sacristy the clergy are vesting. There are vesting prayers we should be saying, but these are often overlooked as we try to catch up with each other, discussing everything from how we are feeling, to the Mass we are about to celebrate, to whatever big news hit the media that week. Literally hanging, unnoticed, on the walls and the doors leading into the sacristy are signs that say –

“In respect to our clergy preparing for Mass, please maintain sacred silence in the sacristy for 15 minutes prior to Mass.”

Sacred silence. Does anyone really know what silence is anymore?

God is a gentle and caring lover. He doesn’t insist that we listen to him. He won’t shout at us. He won’t even raise his voice. He speaks to us in a whisper; a whisper so faint that you have to listening intently for it to hear it. You have to want to hear God’s voice.

Knowing this, the devil has filled our lives with as much noise and distraction as possible. The noise and distraction don’t end at the doors of the church. Mass is the one place we should be yearning to hear God’s voice and yet most of us are still too focused on ourselves and those around us to hear God even if he were screaming at us.

Elijah stood on a mountain and waited for God to pass by. He was beset by all of the wonders of creation. There was a destructive wind, a mighty earthquake, and an all-consuming fire. But God was not in any of these things. He came to Elijah as a still, soft whisper. The same still, soft whisper he speaks to us in. A whisper that is present in every part of our Mass. His voice is there in the hymns we sing, the prayers we offer, the readings we hear, and the gospel that is proclaimed. His voice speaks through the words of the homily and calls us to a relationship with him in the words of consecration.

Jesus himself whispers to us as we stand before him at communion. He offers his body and blood to us to feed and nourish our souls. In his still, soft voice he says, “I love you,” and yearns, as every lover does, to hear those three words back from us. Oh, the sadness in his heart when someone performs the snatch and grab as if he were nothing more than a poker chip and heads back to the pews oblivious to who they have just received.

Before we go in haste to get on with our day, we can hear his voice in the final blessing and the dismissal. Many have already checked out by that time so his voice goes unnoticed. Some of us rush out of the church in an attempt to be the first out of the parking lot as not to get stuck behind others. Some stand in the pews and the aisles carelessly gabbing with other parishioners. There are some who are trying to spend a few minutes in silent prayer to thank God for all he has given to them. Most Sundays that is a challenge for them because they are beset on all sides by the murmurings of those who don’t quite understand where they are.

Sacred silence is important, both before and after Mass for it gives us the opportunity to hear Gods still, soft whisper calling to our hearts. Perhaps we need signs posted on the doors to the nave that read -

“In respect to the people of God preparing for Mass, please maintain sacred silence in this holy space for 15 minutes prior to and after Mass.”

Silence is a gift only you can give to another. Be generous in your gift.

Evangelizing Worldwide

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