March 22, 2024

Dear Friends, 

         I can’t promise a letter next week, amidst all the various things going on during Holy Week, hopefully, but who knows. As we begin this Holy Week, there are many different things I could and probably should write about, but as I was thinking about this weekend’s readings, my mind was pulled to an ancient homily that is sometimes referenced for Holy Saturday. 

         If you know my sense of humor, I will always joke about how even Jesus took some time to be away from people as he was ministering to them. I feel that for all of us.  We need to make time for ourselves, to take some “me” time, even if for a few moments, because of the importance of the time to clear your mind. But this ancient homily goes a little deeper with its opening lines: “Something strange is happening – there is a great silence on earth today, a great silence and stillness. The whole earth keeps silence because the King is asleep. The earth trembled and is still because God has fallen asleep in the flesh, and He has raised up all who have slept ever since the world began. God has died in the flesh and hell trembles with fear.”

         The homily goes on further. I will include a link to the entirety of this text below. There is something profound in the silence, this is why we encourage people on Good Friday to refrain from speaking as they leave the church and Gathering Space. To feel the moment in which Christ died for us as we beheld the wood of the cross. There is something so beautiful in the silence. We rush through our day-to-day lives.  From Palm Sunday on, when we first read the crucifixion, as we move into Holy Week as a whole, take time to enter the silence of the entire week. Let things slowdown in your life and take time to be with God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit this week, in all of our liturgies.

         There is a beauty in the silence of this week. There is a beauty in silence in general. Some days off, I can an entire day without speaking to anyone on the phone, in person, etc, not intentionally, but it is something so beautiful. So, if I can find joy in the silence of a normal day, imagine the joy you can see in the silence during this coming week, especially from Good Friday on. 

God Bless, 

Fr. Brian 

P.S. Here is the link for the homily. 

P.P.S. Imagine if that link led to you all being Rickrolled. If you don't know the reference be glad. 

And finally: Silence is golden... Unless you have children... If that is the case, silence is suspicious.