Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
by Fr. Ivan Olmo

“Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples.” What does silence sound like? Do you know? Contemplate it. What does it sound like to you? How would you describe silence to another person? What words come to mind? Which words escape you? We know what noise sounds like. We can easily describe it to another person. It is simply too loud, noticeable, noisy, and most of the time unpleasant, not welcomed. Noise is a distraction, an attention seeker. Silence on the other hand, is more difficult to describe and explain to someone else. We do not know what silence sounds like because we rarely hear it or never experience it. We tend to be drawn to and want to listen to noise. Actively seeking out lots of sounds, lots of noise and noisy conversations. When it comes to silence on the other hand, we tend to avoid and ignore it, filling up its void, or drowning it out. We know how to make noise, lots of noise but silence we do not know how to make. Silence is something we need to listen for and want to hear. Something we must enter into. Something meant for us to enjoy for even Jesus actively sought out silence. Sometimes he entered into silence alone and on his own. Other times Jesus entered into silence with his closest friends seeking places that were detached, remote, removed, far away from the noise. Whether it is up the mountaintop, or far away to a distant desert or even in the intimate interior quiet of the mind and heart, silence is a loving invitation from our Heavenly Father. An invitation into Holy Communion and peace. Silence is a place of refuge, not merely an escape. It is not a burden or difficult but a gift. In the sound of silence, one can hear their heartbeat, their thoughts cease, their breath breathes, their spirit rising. In the silence, one can be still and be silent. We can listen for God’s voice and perhaps even listen for God’s footsteps as he walks through the corridors of his holy temple, his sacred dwelling, his awesome sweet home in your heart. In silence, we are known, listened to, heard, loved, healed. Silence is quiet yet how profound we can hear it and listen to it. God asked Elijah to listen and wait for it. Mother Mary pondered it. Joseph lived it. Jesus remained passionately silent during all the noise surrounding his Passion and Crucifixion. Silence is truly golden. Just listen.

Reflections from the Heart – December 8, 2024

Reflections from the Heart - December 8, 2024
Second Sunday of Adventby Fr. Ivan Olmo “Take off your robe of mourning and misery; put on the splendor of ...

Reflections from the Heart – December 1, 2024

Reflections from the Heart - December 1, 2024
First Sunday of Adventby Fr. Ivan Olmo “Brothers and sisters: May the Lord make you increase and abound in love ...

Reflections from the Heart – November 24, 2024

Reflections from the Heart - November 24, 2024
The Solemnity of Christ the Kingby Fr. Ivan Olmo “Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” Listening ...

Reflections from the Heart – November 17, 2024

Reflections from the Heart - November 17, 2024
33rd Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo "But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels ...

Reflections from the Heart – November 10, 2024

Reflections from the Heart - November 10, 2024
Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo "Please bring me a small cupful of water to drink." One of ...

Reflections from the Heart – November 3, 2024

Reflections from the Heart - November 3, 2024
Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo “It was fitting that we should have such a high priest: holy, ...

Reflections from the Heart – October 27, 2024

Reflections from the Heart - October 27, 2024
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo Many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he kept calling ...

Reflections from the Heart – October 20, 2024

Reflections from the Heart - October 20, 2024
Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo “May your kindness, O LORD, be upon us who have put our ...

Reflections from the Heart – October 13, 2024

Reflections from the Heart - October 13, 2024
Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo “I prayed, and prudence was given me; I pleaded, and the spirit ...

Reflections from the Heart – October 6, 2024

Reflections from the Heart - October 6, 2024
Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo The LORD God said: "It is not good for the man to ...

Reflections from the Heart – September 29, 2024

Reflections from the Heart - September 29, 2024
Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo “From wanton sin especially, restrain your servant; let it not rule over ...

Reflections from the Heart – September 22, 2024

Reflections from the Heart - September 22, 2024
Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Timeby Fr. Ivan Olmo “Where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul ...