A few days after Christmas, my cell phone went off. Not because it was ringing, nor was I receiving a notification or a text. It was going off because I was powering it down. As I began an eight-day silent retreat in Texas, all electronic devices were being turned off, preparing me for the coming time of silence, prayer and rest.
For many of us, the idea of cutting off communication with the outside world is unsettling. “How will I be able to keep up with friends? What will happen if there’s an emergency? Will I be able to make it through these days of silence without my phone in my pocket?” These are all questions that can run through our minds when beginning a silent retreat. For me, the powering down of the phone represented outwardly my letting go of the control I (pretended to) have over much of my life. It was as if a part of my brain were being turned off.
At the same time, I realized that in silencing my cell phone for this retreat, I was allowing my mind and my soul to prepare to perform an important action: to listen. Very often, we can get caught up with the world around us and neglect to be aware of Jesus’ presence and his voice in each moment. This time of retreat was an opportunity for me to reorient my soul toward God by listening to him in prayer and allowing him to bring a renewed sense of peace to my life.
Choosing to step away from the outside world for a while allows me to focus less on myself and what I wish to do, which permits Jesus to draw me toward him and accomplish what he wishes to do in me. A recent daily Mass Gospel recounted Jesus saying to his disciples, “Come away and rest awhile,” inviting them to a secluded place to rest and refresh after working hard in ministry (Mk 6:30-31). In many ways, I find retreats to be similar moments where Jesus pulls me aside to spend personal time with him away from any distractions.
The good news for us is that we do not have to travel to Texas to be with Jesus on retreat. So many of our parishes offer us the gift of visiting with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament in adoration. Consider that he is inviting you to “come away for a while,” take a break from your worries, and rest in silence with him. The outside world and the digital world on our devices all melt away in his Eucharistic presence. He is waiting for us to listen to him speak to our hearts.
Please keep me and my brother deacons in your prayers as we prepare for priestly ordination in June.
Deacon Briggs, who is from St. John the Baptist Church in Front Royal, is in his fourth year of theology at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md., and is serving at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More for his deacon assignment.
Made for communion