While we must do good, we must also make room for silence.

   Silence is where we give God room to speak to us.  We can be Martha doing all the good in the world, but without being Mary at the foot of Jesus, how can we know the good in the world that God wants us to do?  God knows better than we.  We simply cannot understand everything and what truly is the best good to do.

   It is humbling to think of it like that, but it also makes it easier.  If we take our directions from God, then we do not have to figure out the best good to do.  Sure, sometimes God leaves that up to our prudential judgment, but we always need to have room for Our Father to guide us if we choose wrong.  “Good try, but here is what I want you to do.”

   Our Father will not punish us for trying to do our best.  However, we will need correction from Our Father when we do not listen to Him.  We spend too much of our time too loud and busy to hear Him.  Does He yell?  No.  He waits, but He continually is speaking to us.  We just need to make room for Him, so that we can hear Him.  We need silence.

   People commonly wonder what they would ask God if they could ask Him one question.  Well, we simply need to turn to prayer to ask God any question.  Sure, we may not get a direct answer immediately, but we can be assured that God will hear us.  We just need to make sure that we are not talking over Him.  First, we must listen to the Father that loved us into existence.

   Jesus, You made time to listen to Our Father in silence while You walked the earth.  Help us to make room to listen to Our Father every day.  Amen.