Cardinal Sarah talks about the homilies of Isaac the Syrian who wrote to love silence above all things, because it brings near to fruit that the tongue cannot express. Silence allows us to grow in humility. Being present to God without words is a beautiful prayer! Cardinal Sarah says in the silence of humiliation and self mortification, the turmoil of the flesh is tamed. I was listening to a talk about feedback which really resonated with me recently. Someone made a comment that better communication was needed. I was offended by this feedback because I had made an effort and reached out to this person several times asking for information in order to provide effective communication. The person who was speaking about feedback that you found untrue, as I had in this situation, said just to accept it humbly. That what is important is our response, whether we feel the feedback is wrong or right, to accept it humbly. This speaker’s point has helped me recognize I need to tame my response, and be humble not defensive as the turmoil with me flesh would cause me to do.
