The vocal silence of God, Angels: Day 056

The vocal silence of God

St. Ephrem the Syrian meditates on the mysteriously  intimate communication between the Father and the Son. If  we could understand the language of  the angels, he says, we still would not comprehend the silence in which the Father speaks to the Son.

The human ear cannot hear the mighty crash, nor can it hear the still silence. Then how will it hear the voice of the Son, or the silence of the Father— when the silence too is vocal?

The heavens declare the glory of God. Behold: a silence, of which the whole whispers in all languages to all languages. This firmament declares the glory of its Maker every day.

We are too small to be able to hear all languages. But if we were big enough to hear the language of the angels, which are spirits, then we might lift ourselves up to hear the silence that speaks between the Father and the Son.

Our language is incomprehensible to the beasts. The language of angels is incomprehensible to all the other languages. And that silence with which the Father speaks to his Well-Beloved is incomprehensible to the angels. –St. Ephrem the Syrian,  Rhythm 11

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .

Though the language of angels is incomprehensible, do I join their praise in the liturgy at every opportunity?

CLOSING PRAYER

Lord, who are above all, your silence is incomprehensible  even to the angels, and I am not worthy  to venture into speculation on your nature. Yet I know that your mercy also puts me to shame, and on your mercy I rely.

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