By Kathleen Bordo Crombie
“This is my Son, the Beloved;
with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” .~Matthew 17:5b
Years ago, I went on a week-long silent retreat to listen and hear the voice of God. The community of sisters, who opened their doors to me, lived in a convent that was out in the middle of nowhere. And I mean nowhere! There was nothing else around for miles except row after row of cornstalks during a very hot summer. Their chapel was small yet stunning in its simplicity. There were no pews, chairs, or kneelers as usually found in most churches, so I stood there for a moment to get my bearings. Then, following the sisters’ lead, I grabbed a carpet square from the stack near the entrance, placed it on the floor, sat down, and prepared quietly for Mass.
Following Their Lead
The sisters sang in unison, and the Mass was beautiful. The surprise came when everyone suddenly got down on the floor and prostrated themselves at the Consecration. At first, I was shaken by what had just happened – it totally caught me off guard. We certainly never did that at my parish back home. But by God’s grace, I quickly understood the humility involved and assumed the posture to worship in communion with the sisters. By following their lead, I experienced a physical, emotional, and deep spiritual reverence for the Lord in a way I had never experienced before.
“Listen to Him”
In today’s Gospel, Peter, James, and John were led up the mountain by Jesus. They, too, were out in the middle of nowhere, and no doubt, it was a very hot day in Israel. They were shaken by the voice of God in a cloud saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” What was their response? In hearing the voice of God, “they fell prostrate and were very much afraid. But [then] Jesus came and touched them, saying ‘Rise, and do not be afraid.'”
Discipleship
Jesus says the same to us, His disciples, every single day! It is in hearing God speak to us and rising from a place of humility that we shake our fears and anxieties to go in haste to serve the Lord. That’s what we do as disciples of Jesus Christ: we believe, we follow, and we serve!
Prayer
Lord God, let us hear your voice and rise with humbled hearts to serve you always. Let us shake off any fear we may be experiencing and confidently internalize that, as your disciples; we need not be afraid. May you hear our prayer today and grant this petition. Amen.
Call to Action
The purpose of a silent retreat is to block out the world so we can hear God. Have you ever been on a silent retreat?
Pray about it! Maybe God is calling you to schedule one soon. It might also be the perfect time to prostrate yourself at the altar in the presence of God.
Remember: humble yourself and do not be afraid.
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In my mind’s eye, I see how beautiful this experience was and would be for all. Simple, rustic, and lovely to be in the Lord’s presence in this place. Thank you for sharing with us. I’ve never been on a silent retreat. I have to look into one. Thank you! +JMJ+
Gwen, thanks so much for your thoughts. A silent retreat certainly isn’t easy, but it is incredibly fruitful. I do hope you get a chance to schedule one. Blessings!
I am in Arizona right now, and as we walked on south mountain I thought of Mary and her journey to Elizabeth,; and Jesus walking on dusty roads;
I cannot visit Israel but these moments helped me feel closer to them.
I appreciate your thoughts, Mary! Dusty roads and hot climates are pretty much the same whether you’re in Israel or Arizona! You were in the moment on your walk — so glad my reflection helped you feel closer to the Lord. Blessings.
Thank you for this beautiful and encouraging reflection!
I so appreciate your comment, Roxanne! Thank you! Blessings.
Your words were an affirmation to what I thought I heard the Lord whisper about a specific issue I brought up to Him last night. Thank you for sharing your heart friend.
Praise God, Maysoun! I can’t thank you enough for sharing that with me. Blessings
Simple truths. Why do we try to complicate things so?! Thanks you for bringing to mind these words of Jesus – meant for each of us personally.
Susan! Not sure why we complicate things the way we do. If only we would listen to what God is sharing with us. He knows our hearts and speaks personally to us in so many ways. Lent’s a great time to listen better! Blessings.
This is a good reminder to “lay it all down” before the Lord. Thank you!
Your description opened the curtain to my imagination and I was right there in the chapel with the sisters!! I call that position “going Old Testament.” I could sense the silence and reverence! A silent retreat would be GREAT right about now!
I went on a Women’s De Colores Retreat about 26 years ago at St. Paul of the Cross Retreat Center. After the evening Chapel service we were put on “silent mode” until after breakfast the next morning. I chose to stay in the Chapel for prayer. There in the chapel was an ENORMOUS crucifix!!! Somehow, I had managed to avoid the “cross” in my growing up in the Episcopal church of my youth. I didn’t like to look at it as the acolyte would pass by during the processional and I would avert my gaze. There was no corpus on the cross in the Episcopal church either, but in that chapel there was the body of Christ and Jesus had his eyes OPEN! There was no more avoiding or escaping the cross and it was there in the silence that I had to GAZE on my crucified Lord and make a decision. Would I accept his offer to “come follow him” or not?
The next morning there came a “wake up” knock on my door by one of the Cha Cha’s (a volunteer who was there to help with the retreat). I had discovered that I had no soap and had to communicate this to her without speaking. I mouthed my request and she actually understood me! She gave me the “one minute” sign with her first finger and disappeared down the darkened hallway. She returned and knocked on my door a second time. When I opened to her she had in her hands a small bar of Ivory soap topped with a gold, foil wrapped Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup! She presented it to me like it was on a golden platter and I was a princess! The Reese’s even looked like a miniature crown! I KNEW this was from Jesus because only Jesus and my mother know that I like my chocolate in the morning before I even brush my teeth! Some people say “the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach” but for me, a female, that applied to me. Making me food is my “Love Language” and this was a “sweet secret” that Jesus was whispering to me that morning, an act of intimacy of a Lover to his Beloved; “Come to me.” How could I resist?
The Ivory Soap was also very symbolic to me. At that time in my life any traveling that was done usually involved staying in Truck stops or Super 8 motels due to their “economy.” The soap provided by these establishments were cheap, off-brand, drying to the skin, and left a less than desirable scent on the body. To be handed a bar of Ivory signified a new dignity being given to me, a preciousness and value with the name, IVORY, and a cleanliness that went deeper than just the skin. The combination of the chocolate and the Ivory soap spoke to me of a redeemed and transformed life that Jesus was offering me.
This is an important memory of the LORD inviting me, wooing me, to be in relationship with Him. Life has rolled on with its ups and downs. Relationships can be taken for granted in the grind. The vision of lying prostrate provoked a desire in me for that deep and humble posture before the LORD and a reminder of his pursuit of me has not stopped. How about my pursuit of Him? What about my “Yes” to Him? Am I still captivated? I need to do more than just give up my chocolate this Lent!! It’s time for a long “shower” in an Examination of Conscience, Reconciliation, Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving.
Beautiful Kathy! It felt as it was specifically for me. Be assured that He talked to me through your writing. Thank you!