From our Old Testament reading, from Ecclesiastes: ‘For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace …’ (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)

Among all these, one stands out: ‘A time to keep silence, and a time to speak’ (Ecclesiastes 3:7)

Stillness enables us to hear the voice of God deep within our hearts, when we can be free of the clutter of empty talk. May we indeed hear this voice, and speak words that come from God; and may God bless you this day.