What if you could recognize people of faith by how they spoke? By an absence of cliche or of dehumanizing mockery or glib consolations? And what if conversion meant taking on not just a new vocabulary and new ideas but a new style of talking? The “world” is a place where it is barely possible to speak without making things more difficult and destructive. The commonwealth of God is a place where speech is restored, in praise, in patience, in attentive speaking (which is bound up with attentive listening). This is not about any kind of despairing silence, being silent because there is nothing to say or know or because you’re always going to be misunderstood. It is more of an expectant quiet, the quiet before the dawn, when you don’t want to say anything too quickly for fear of spoiling what’s uncovered for you as the light comes.
Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury
Where God Happens, p 80
+
Each day of Advent, we will post here a brief meditation on the Coming of Christ; please come back throughout Advent for reflections, art, music, and more.
You’re invited to join us for worship on this Third Sunday of Advent: “Prepare in Simplicity,” featuring the children’s Christmas program, at 11 am.
Leave a Reply