Whispers

Jun 23

The First Reading from the Prophet Jeremiah and the Gospel from this past Sunday both speak of whispers. Jeremiah hears whispers filled with fear, anger, and sorrow. In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus says, “What you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops.”

I write this after completing an Oblate retreat in preparation for the selection of our new provincial. Our retreat director began with the theme of personal and communal transformation and invited us to begin by “naming the moment.”

I could not help but connect that invitation to the Gospel: name the whisper. What is my heart whispering to me?

When I name my whispers, I discover that some sound very much like Jeremiah’s. They carry fear, anxiety, anger, discouragement, loneliness, and sadness. How very human. Yet other whispers speak of joy, hope, love, gratitude, and trust.

Name the whisper. Practice the whisper.

Our Rule of Life and the Spiritual Directory place whispers throughout our day.

Upon waking, we are invited to think first of God and recall the Resurrection.
Whisper: “Lord, you have the words of eternal life.”

Every fifteen minutes, we are encouraged to turn our minds toward God.
Whisper: “Lord, lead me in the way everlasting.”

Throughout the day, we practice the Direction of Intention, uniting our will to God's Will.
Whisper: “My God, I give you this meeting, this email, this conversation, this moment.”

A large part of our spirituality is learning to attend to these whispers. The first step is simply naming them. As we learned on retreat, what is named can be healed when those whispers are marked by fear, anxiety, or sadness. What is named can also be deepened when those whispers are filled with joy, love, gratitude, and hope.

Name the whispers for healing and deepening. Practice the Directory. Fill the day with those quiet whispers that God is close, God is here, and God is at work.

I cannot say that this practice has made me perfect. But I am practicing, day by day, so that these whispers become permanent, shaping my heart more than the fears and anxieties that so often remove me from God’s presence.

Whisper: “Search me, God, and know my heart.”

May God be praised!