Today the Church remembers St Benedict...

One thing that Benedictines value is silence.

The lockdown for the last few months has highlighted for me one of the reasons why. In the stillness of most people being at home, there has been more time, more space - for many, at least - for prayer, and for prayerful reflection.

With many things being postponed, or cancelled, or simply not possible, other ways of being fruitful have been found - learning about ourselves, about our relationships and about faith and Church (sometimes whether we wanted to or not!)

With churches beginning to start holding services 'in person' again, I am wondering what it is of God's voice over the last few months that we are able to bring to discussions about what the 'new normal' we are entering might look like? How can the fruit grown in the stillness of the last few months not be seen as being 'out of season' in the weeks and months ahead?





Perhaps for reflection today? - A quote from the late Benedictine monk Fr Bird, who died last New Year's Eve:

When both our interior and exterior are quiet, God will do the rest.




♫  A musical suggestion that picks up on this theme of silence but that also, as we play it wherever we might find ourselves, can be a reminder that God is with us in all that we do: Be still, for the presence of the Lord