“By every means, but especially by peace of soul, we must try to provide the Holy Spirit with a resting place. Then we shall have the light of knowledge shining within us at all times”
-Diadochus of Photice
Lent is here and what better way to join Christ on His journey to the cross than to quiet our soul? This time every year we typically will briefly examine our lives and determine what holds us back, what is missing, and where we are in our relationship with Christ. As a result we might give up something (penance) or add a new routine to our day (almsgiving and prayer). When we examine our relationship with our Lord we should envision where we want to be at His death and His resurrection (Good Friday and Easter). Lent’s Christocentric focus compels us to transform our life to Christ. Rather than give you a proscription on what to give up or add I would rather like to offer the wisdom of our spiritual past: quiet your soul.
As quoted, we must give the Holy Spirit a resting place, and I would like to emphasize a resting place. What do you imagine as a resting place? Is it somewhere with constant noise and distractions, messy and out of sorts, or is it a place to ‘get things done’ like chores and work? Maybe a resting place is a space for detaching oneself from the trivialities of the world; an area of quiet solitude and relaxation. As a father of four young boys ages five and under, I can attest to the joys of noise and what I like to call “orderly” chaos. While it can be relaxing, in an odd way, I recognize the need for greater calm to truly become like our Lord.
Two ideal locations of rest I like to think of are adoration chapels and retreat centers. Both are quiet and still, where the most prevalent noise is the stillness of the room and the thoughts in the mind. These resting places allow me at least to examine who I am, what I am doing, and what I desire to do. More importantly they allow me to create an opportunity to listen to God, to allow the Spirit to move me. Contrast this with the regular noise of our lives. The focus no longer becomes how I can give myself to the Lord, but how I can make it to the end of the work shift, the end of the day with the kids, or finish this or that responsibility. While we can make this an offering to God, it is in quiet solitude that we are able to examine what we are doing in order to do it better. The solitude offered by churches and retreat centers give us the place to examine our lives thoroughly without interruptions. One, however, cannot always get to a Church or go on a retreat. In light of this reality, one needs to create quiet places within the home to recreate the spiritual wisdom given in the Church.We do this through designating a place (or in some cases, time) that we can go to be with God. Usually it should be somewhere with some Christian iconography to grapple with our focus.
Let us return to Lent. It is a busy year, the political primaries are in full force, March Madness is coming, school, activities and the like are always there. Whether important or trivial, the ways of the world will press upon us and offer us temptations to move away from God and our vocation: communion with Him. During this Lenten season when we make our sacrifices or take on new responsibilities or devotions, we must first ask ourselves: is this the will of God? How can we properly discern this, and know that our sacrifices will indeed bring us closer to God, unless we create that resting place? During Lent, how can we see that our Lenten commitments are bringing about the desired fruits unless we take time in silence to examine it?
The light we need will only come when we have first given the light a suitable place to shine within ourselves. This light can lead us into many different directions dependent upon where we are at. God may be calling us to something radical or simple. The Spirit may move us to go all Lent without any noise of the world, be it television, social media, or even the internet (but wait, how am I to follow my sports team, or political process, or that TV show?). Or, He may move us to add that devotional you always wanted to do but never seemed to make the time for. The Spirit may request you sacrifice that fault which has held you back from striving for a holy life. Whatever it is, the Spirit gives the clearest direction when you have created that resting place for Him to talk to you.
Regardless of what God is calling you to in Lent, know that its purpose it to grow in faith and deepen your relationship. What you do will lead you to closer to God, not just through Lent but hopefully for the rest of your life (and then next Lent God will call you for something even more). What is most important is to keep the penitential season of Lent Christocentric, where Christ is always at the center of all you do (or not do). The Spirit is the one who guides you to Christ. In order to allow the Spirit to lead you to Christ first seek Him in the solitude of your soul. It will be in this interior quiet that the light of knowledge shines within you. The interior light will exteriorly shine out to be a beacon to the world.
