Saturday’s Silence: A reflection on hope.
By Mark A. Vincenti
“I used to feel God a lot, but I don’t feel Him any more. I can’t believe in a God I can no longer feel.”
I was standing in the front yard with an intelligent young man who was clearly struggling with his faith.
“It sounds like you miss what you once had,” I replied.
“Yes, He was so close before. But now it’s like He is gone.”
I nodded slowly, affirming that I understood the sensation and took a breath or two, listening to the Spirit who was very present with us.
“Interesting,” I said.
“What?”
“Well, it would be impossible to miss someone who didn’t exist in the first place.”
After a pause, a smile slowly appeared on his lips and a glimmer of illumination began to work its way across his face. “That’s true,” he responded. “That is profoundly true.”
It took a number of months before my friend felt God’s presence again in his life. But, wisdom from the Spirit in that moment was what he needed to sustain him through the sensation of God’s silence.
Many great Christians throughout the ages have had this same sensation. St. John of the Cross called it the “Dark night of the soul.” Even biblical writers struggled with this. King David wrote:
“How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? Look on me and answer, Lord my God. Give light to my eyes or I will sleep in death.” (Psalm 13:1-3)
On Good Friday, the Messiah was crucified.
On Holy Saturday God was silent. But out of the silence resurrection came and surprised everyone.
The darkness we experience is met with new light from the resurrected Christ that changes our lives in ways we never expected. God’s timetable, though painful, is perfect, and brings with it new life.
Always remember: We can’t miss what doesn’t exist.
God never leaves us nor forsakes us.
Resurrection is coming.
