Homily: Monday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time - Led into the desert

The Christian Philosopher Svoren Kierkegaard said if he were a doctor he would prescribe as a remedy for all the world’s disorders, “silence”. 

Our culture abhors silence; it is addicted to stimulation.  It has to have the television or internet going all the time; one of the spiritual dangers of having cell phones that can access the internet anywhere, anytime, is that one never learns how to sit in silence.  And that is a great obstacle to knowing ourselves and listening to God.  The constant stimulation and busyness bring not cheerfulness, but exhaustion and emptiness.

Through his prophet Hosea, God says, I will lead Israel into the desert, and speak to her heart.”  It is in the silence where God wishes to refresh us, renew us, deepen our love for Him. 

At the beginning of Lent, we read about Jesus going out into the desert; in fact, the Gospel said he was led by the Holy Spirit into the desert. 

We have many accounts of early Christians going off to live in the desert.  The first Christian monks were those who went into the desert like our Lord for a life of solitude and prayer.

The desert is a place of testing; we are likely to encounter our inner demons there.  It is also a place of purification; where we strip ourselves from what is unnecessary, particularly for our spiritual lives.  Yet, the desert is also a place of profound encounter with God. 

I will espouse you to me forever: I will espouse you in right and in justice, in love and in mercy; I will espouse you in fidelity, and you shall know the LORD.  Espousal, can there be anything more profound?

During Ordinary Time, as we focus on the ordinary elements of the Christian life, we realize the desert experience isn’t just for Lent.  We need to go to the desert every day. 

My spiritual director in the seminary encouraged us to go to the desert for one hour per day, one day per week, one week per year.  An hour a day set aside for quiet silent prayer either in the chapel or walking in nature; one full day per week, where we turn off the electronics and dedicate the day to growing in the Lord, and one full week per year, in a quiet or silent retreat experience. 

May we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us into the desert, that we may encounter more deeply, the profound love of God; for the glory of God and salvation of souls.