Solitude: It’s Not Anti-Community Sunday, January 24, 2010

In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength but you would have none of it. You said, “No, we will flee on horses.” Therefore you will flee. Isaiah 30:15-15

Come to me, all who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. John 10:14-15

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Psalm 139: 23

The monks came to appreciate how hard it is not only for the individual Christian but also for the church itself to escape the seductive compulsions of the world. What was their response? They escaped from the sinking ship and swam for their lives. And the place of salvation is called desert, the place of solitude. Henri Nouwen, The Way of the Heart, p. 14 Solitude is the furnace of transformation, the place of the great struggle and the great encounter – the struggle against the compulsions of the false self, and the encounter with the loving God who offers himself as the substance of the new self.

Solitude, necessary for perspective Solitude as a place of conversion and authentic growth Solitude as the place of purification and transformation

St. Anthony Balanced, gentle, and caring. He had become so Christ-like, so radiant with God’s love, that his entire being was ministry. In order to have a compassionate ministry with people we must regularly find ourselves in solitude, away from people.

A Glance at Jesus’ Ministry baptized by John enters 40 days of desert wilderness time. goes to Galilee, proclaiming the good news. chooses disciples teaches in the synagogue drives out demons gains fame throughout the region of Galilee heals Simon’s mother-in-law that night he was brought all who were sick or demon possessed.

Solitude then in the morning he got up, while it was still dark, to pray.

he was found and asked to do more. he healed a leper he leaves because too many knew about him he stays in the country area but people still found him. returns to Capernaum many gathered around him he heals a paralyzed man he went to the sea and people followed him there he was criticized for eating with sinners. and so on….

Mark 4:10 “When he was alone” …“those who were around him along with the twelve asked him about the parables.”

If you keep up the habit of retiring for prayer, you will find it sweet; but if it is irregularly done, distaste for it will be the result. If in the commencement of your spiritual life you form the habit of retirement well, and keep it, afterwards it will become to you a dear friend and a most refreshing solace. In silence and quiet the devout soul advances, and learns the hidden things of Scriptures. There the soul finds floods of tears, wherewith it nightly washes and cleanses itself, that it may become the more familiar with its Maker the more remote from all the turmoil of the world its time is passed. He, therefore, who withdraws himself form acquaintances and friends, to him will God with His holy angels draw near. St. Thomas a Kampis, The Imitation of Christ

The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.” 1 Kings 19:11-13