Being With Jesus: Solitude and Silence Part 2Egzanp

Learning to Love Your Neighbor in the Quiet Place

Imagine this scene from the Gospel of Matthew. It's the last week of Jesus' life on earth, and we find him having a conversation with a lawyer who poses the question, "Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" Matthew records Jesus' response this way:

"He said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.'" (See Matthew 22:37-40 NRSV)

"Love God, and love our neighbor." So, if that is the primary goal of being Jesus' apprentice both then and now, what practices from His life can help us as we seek to make progress towards obeying what He said?

When it comes to "loving our neighbor," practices like serving the poor, showing hospitality to our neighbors, and coming together for corporate worship are often at the top of most people's lists. On the contrary, practices like solitude, silence, and stillness are common in our pursuit of "loving God."

However, when we view solitude and silence as an individualistic discipline focused solely on "loving God," having no real impact on how we interact with others in community life, we misunderstand the discipline altogether.

For you and me, the regular practice of solitude and silence creates the necessary space for God to do the work in us that only He can do. Work that is necessary for us to grow in love and affection for our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Without this space for God to soften our hearts, we often get stuck in a constant state of selfishness, seeing others only for how they can satisfy our needs and desires.

Through the ages, many of the devotional masters have testified to the role that practicing solitude and silence plays in "loving our neighbor as ourself." Thomas Merton wrote, "It is in deep solitude [and silence] that I find the gentleness with which I can truly love my brothers. The more solitary I am, the more affection I have for them." More recently, Richard Foster commented, "The fruit of solitude [and silence] is increased sensitivity and compassion for others. There comes a new freedom to be with people. There is new attentiveness to their needs, new responsiveness to their hurts."

So, how exactly does entering into solitude and silence cultivate gentleness and love for our neighbor? In the quiet place, we are not alone; we are in the presence of the one true God who exists in a community of love – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. As we are transformed from the inside out by God's love, we begin the slow process of seeing our neighbor through fresh eyes. Eyes of compassion, where judgment once reigned. Eyes of forgiveness, where anger once ruled the day. And eyes of reconciliation, where division felt like the only option.

Today, intentionally carve out some time to get quiet with God. As you do, allow His love to wash over you, filling you with renewed love for your neighbor.

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