Matthew 11:28-30 MSG “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me — watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
📺 “Unforced Rhythms of Grace” by Engage Worship
I had the opportunity to go on an 8-day silent retreat back in February this year. The location was the Loyola House at the Ignatius Jesuit Centre in Guelph, ON [https://ignatiusguelph.ca/loyola-house/]. Each day started with a hearty breakfast, followed by a one-hour session of spiritual direction and then a Mass service. The rest of the day was spent enjoying meals, time with God in the Scriptures, prayer, walking the labyrinth, hiking the trails, reading, and sometimes napping. It was a much-needed time to rest and replenish my soul.
There is a Chartres-designed labyrinth at the Loyola House. Walking the labyrinth is one of my favorite spiritual practices. Labyrinths and mazes look similar, but contemplative labyrinths are distinct from mazes in a key way. As it is said, “A maze is designed to make you lose your way, while a labyrinth is designed to help you find your way.”
The labyrinth is a creative space that represents the many challenges of life. There is only one way in and one way out, ensuring you will not get lost. Walking the labyrinth can help us reflect on our journey of faith and the obstacles we may encounter, seeking a closer relationship with God. It helps me slow down, breathe deeply, and focus my thoughts on God. It also helps me quiet my mind and open my heart to receive God's presence, interaction, and guidance.
On the fifth day, I was led to reflect on the deeper meaning of silence and quietness. This guided silent retreat was designed to be carried out in a community setting. Although about 30 people were participating in the retreat simultaneously, during those eight days, the only time we would speak was during the Mass (singing and praying out loud if we chose to), and the only time we would talk was during the spiritual direction sessions. There was no talking during meals, even when we were sitting at the same table. So, the physical form of silence and quietness came rather naturally. However, my spiritual director once reminded me that this did not automatically mean there was inner silence and quietness.
I started thinking about the words silence and quietness, and the Chinese word “靜,” meaning “quiet, calm, still,” came to mind. Without checking the origin of this Chinese word, I thought of my own interpretation. The left side of the word, “青,” means “green or fresh.” It reminds me of my first love for God, the pure faith in Christ, and my initial calling. It reminds me to keep my faith and love fresh, though seasoned, for Jesus. The right side of the word, “爭,” means “dispute, struggle, fight.” When I see this word in the context of “靜,” I think of “不爭則心平,” meaning “without contention or struggle or comparison, the heart is at peace.” This gives me a deeper understanding of silence and quietness, which is not hurried but grounded and anchored in God’s profound love.
How can I cultivate and practice inner silence and quietness anchored in God’s love? Psalm 131:1-3 NLT “Lord, my heart is not proud; my eyes are not haughty. I don’t concern myself with matters too great or too awesome for me to grasp. Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself, like a weaned child who no longer cries for its mother’s milk. Yes, like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, put your hope in the Lord — now and always.”
I am encouraged to practice quietness in seeing, listening, sensing, feeling, thinking, speaking, and doing. 靜觀、靜聽、靜感、靜心、靜思、靜言、靜行. That is quietness in eyes, ears, touch, heart, thoughts, speech, and deeds. This means that my entire being is to be anchored in the presence of God, His love, and His grace, allowing me to trust Him fully with all my heart and life, just as a child trusts and finds comfort in their mother’s arms. So, at the end of the day, may my prayer be: “Give me nothing more than Your love and grace. These alone, O God, are enough for me.”
The song “These Alone Are Enough” is based on the “Suscipe,” a radical prayer of total self-giving or surrender by Saint Ignatius of Loyola.
Suscipe
Saint Ignatius of Loyola, 1491-1556
Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty,
my memory, my understanding,
and my entire will,
All I have and call my own.
You have given all to me.
To you, Lord, I return it.
Everything is yours; do with it what you will.
Give me only your love and your grace,
that is enough for me.
The way to cultivate and practice inner silence and quietness is to abide in Jesus, keeping His commands and remaining intimately at home in His love (John 15:4-11). Let us continue walking closely with Jesus, who is gentle and humble in heart. We will learn the unforced rhythms of grace when we come to Him, walk with Him, and work with Him. Grace is God's unmerited favour and love. The rhythms of grace are not about striving or struggling; instead, they flow naturally and effortlessly when we align with God's will and teachings. It’s about being attuned to the natural flow of God's love and guidance. His yoke is easy, and His burden is light. Thus, living in harmony with God’s grace leads to a peaceful, fulfilling life that doesn’t require forced effort. In Him, we will find rest, inner silence, and quietness for our souls, and learn to live freely and lightly. Amen.