Silent Saturday Examen

Today is the Saturday Examen. This is what is known as Silent Saturday In Holy Week. Dr Suess has a line in his children’s book My Many Colored Days that goes: Gray day. Everything is Gray. I watch. But nothing moves today.

Today is the day in-between. The day where hope seemed lost. A day of quiet. Stillness. Nothing moved, today.

For today’s examen, we will practice silence for three minutes. Are you tempted to turn off the examen now? Do you find yourself thinking: silence isn’t useful? Silence will be a waste of my time? I can’t be silent for three minutes?

That’s okay. Learning how to be still is difficult. But it is not impossible. When we are still, we are like branches, abiding in the vine. When we are s
pasture. When we are still, we are like the wind and the waves, hearing the voice of Christ over us: Peace! Be still!

As we enter into our stillness, take time to quiet yourself. If you can, sit upright in a chair with both feet on the ground. Take slow, deep breaths. Keep your eyes closed if you can, to avoid distraction. A chime will ring at each minute to help you know you’re making progress through this quiet space! When you get distracted, or antsy, or impatient, remember that today is Saturday in Holy week. God is at work, but we are not. God is all knowing, but we’re confused. God is on the move – and so, we wait.

Keep bringing your attention back to his words:
Peace. Be Still.

Take a deep breath, and pray Come, Holy Spirit.
(keep music playing)

The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth. The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works. GOD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed are those who trusts in Him!

This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Amen.