03/08/2013

Good morning.

In the Islamic calendar, we have reached the 27th day of Ramadan. It is called Laylat al Qadr, which means 'Night of Power' or 'Night of Destiny'. According to tradition, it was on this night in 610 of the Common Era that the angel Gabriel began to reveal the Holy Quran to the Prophet Mohammed. The Word of God was born in the darkness and stillness of night. A teacher of music once said, 'I always think of silence as a flower bed, an environment out of which beautiful things can grow.'

Within the Christian tradition, one of my favourite stories is found in the Gospel of James, a book which did not make it into the New Testament. It is the account of the birth of Jesus. Mary is in the cave about to give birth while Joseph goes into the village in search of a midwife. Suddenly, everything stops. Joseph sees a shepherd in the field dipping his bread into the pot and his hand is arrested halfway to his mouth; a bird in mid-heaven is halted as it flies. For a moment, everything stands still, then movement begins again and Joseph knows that the Birth has happened in that moment of absolute stillness. God is encountered in the silence.

Stillness requires to be practised. At its best, prayer is listening to God. The secrets of the Sacred are to be discovered when we let ourselves be filled with the silence of God.

Holy God,

calm us and let us be still.

Clear away each distraction.

Come, be born in our silence.