Homily 47 #

On Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Lent — A Teaching by a Certain Monk to His Spiritual Brother on Silence

You ask earnestly, my beloved brother, for a word from me about silence—for God’s sake. But I, being unclean of lips and idle in speech, ever living in falsehood and malice, what can I bring forth from an impure heart concerning such a great good? For in silence dwells the treasure of the whole world and the unspeakable riches of eternal life.

Silence for God’s sake—that is, for the sake of pleasing God and keeping all His commandments—is a great work and the fulfillment of the Lord’s covenant. From the beginning, God has saved all His faithful servants by this very means—from the first man even unto this day.

For God commands us to be silent in regard to every evil deed, word, and thought, and to open our mouths only to Him—to pray to Him in mind and word, with all thy heart, and with all thy soul; to sing, to glorify, to call upon, and to confess to Him, offering a sacrifice of praise.

This work does not cause stumbling, but brings salvation. Silence is broad and spacious salvation; but much talking—except for words from Scripture—is a great sin, and the beginning of ruin is vain speech. Therefore the Lord warns us, saying: “Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment”.

From this understand what kind of speech you ought to utter, and from what words we shall be justified, and from what words condemned. From this, I conclude that we ought to say nothing unless it is the truth. Let us be silent with men and speak with no one about anything concerning others—not slander, not gossip, not judgment—but rather let us condemn ourselves, remembering our own sins.

For the Prophet David speaks much about silence. “I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs”. And again he says: “I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred”. And yet again: “I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou didst it”.

David knew that Christ God is meek and silent—not opening His mouth without purpose, but only for the salvation of mankind. By His Holy Spirit, the Father spoke through the prophets about Christ, saying: “Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth… He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench”. Thus, He opens not His mouth in His humility.

O wonder! How great is the honor of silence before God, that God praises His Son for being silent and meek, saying: He is silent and lowly and does not open His mouth because of His humility.

O our foolishness! How many good things we lose because we lack a quiet tongue and do not shut our mouths from every evil word and twisted speech. Because of this, we are abominable before God and men. Much speaking leads into many sins, but silence turns us away from all evil.

For this reason, our very Lord God Jesus Christ came to us and was made man, giving us an example in Himself—to speak the truth. Yet we all lie, as it is written: “The sons of men are liars: their poison is like the poison of a serpent: they have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders’ poison is under their lips” . And again the Lord says: “How can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh”. And the Prophet David says: “Their tongue is a sharp sword”, and again: “Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile”. And again: “A man that flattereth with his tongue shall not be established in the earth”.

But to the silent, God says through the prophet: “To this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word” (Isaiah 66:2). And David also says: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Psalm 110:10); and the guard of that fear is silence.

For he that fears God dares not speak anything unless it is truth and the righteousness of God. He serves with fear—not only speaking with his mouth, but revealing the thoughts of his heart by his good deeds.

The holy Apostle John the Theologian says, “Let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.” For it is truly vain to appear righteous in speech, or to speak often with people, but be lazy toward God—whether in confession or in praise. Therefore, it is far better to keep silence for God’s sake. Such silence never drains the heart, but rather, I believe, fills it richly with spiritual strength.

If someone quietly reads spiritual books, speaks to others with wisdom, and prays to God day and night, I believe that God Himself, the Holy Trinity, dwells spiritually in that person—filling his soul with light, nourishing him with wisdom, refreshing him invisibly, and making him gentle, humble, and good to all.

Which of the saints did not possess this peaceful silence—that is, true faith and devotion? Silence is the foundation of all commandments; it gives boldness to confess the faith in the Trinity. It guides us to repentance, to love, and to patience. How can you sin against someone if you remain silent? How can you be angered, if you don’t speak about anyone? How can you fall into trouble, and not be immediately delivered by God? If you don’t accept evil lies, how can your righteousness be lost, if you don’t flatter anyone with your tongue?

What harm can the demons do you, if you are always in conversation with God through the words of Scripture? How can you lose understanding or truth, if you are united with God and always keep Him in your thoughts? How can you maintain silence, if you constantly gather with people—except for necessary matters? How can you say, “I am a desert-dweller,” if you do not guard your tongue from all idle speech?

For the desert is not merely a place, but a quiet tongue, a wise mind, lips measured in speech, and a tongue restrained by the fear of God’s judgment. We do not keep silence out of dullness, but out of humility, and in preparation to answer for our sins at the judgment of God.

If we devote ourselves to spiritual wisdom, we must fall silent from all mocking and deceitful speech. But if we give free rein to our foolish habits, thinking we walk a broad path, it will lead us into destruction by means of our tongue.

O my tongue—my adversary, the destroyer of my righteousness! O my tongue, my ruin, companion of Satan, advisor of demons, servant of evil spirits! James, the brother of the Lord, called you “a fire,” for you set the human race aflame, burning with the fire of Gehenna. So fierce are you that you destroy those who never even resisted you, like the venom of serpents. And though every kind of creature is tamed by mankind, no one can tame you, O tongue. You lead people into great sins.

O tongue, you are the power behind sin, tearing apart brothers who were of one mind. O disturber of peace! How can I call upon God with you? How can I let you run wild with evil words, disturbing the brethren who live reverently before God?

O tongue, why won’t you remain silent and live quietly, humbly, gently, and with compunction? O tongue, my evildoer, you ruin me—worthless member, foul-talking instrument! O deceitful tongue, how much good for God’s sake have you taken from me! How you’ve robbed me of spiritual joy, my enemy! Through you I hate my brothers. Through you, my prayer does not rise to God. Through you, my labor is not pleasing to Him. You’ve driven my mind away from God. You’ve defiled my soul with hatred toward my brother.

You’ve stirred my heart to wrath. You’ve made me an enemy of all mankind. Because of you, I fear to meet any person. When I see someone, your fear pierces my heart like a spear. And I say within myself, “I shall not escape this servant of God without sin.” For through you, O tongue, I wound him. And if he is silent, I cannot restrain you. You have no good word in you. As you are, so are your fruits.

O how you teach me every kind of evil speech! O where can I flee with you? Where will you drag me? You rule over me and are leading me into the fiery Gehenna, where you have already led all who obeyed you. Is this what God made you for? Were you not created to call upon your Creator, who made man with many members in one body, and within it an intelligent, articulate, spiritual soul—able to govern the whole body, so that each member has its purpose, and all work together in unity to glorify God?

To you, O tongue, it was commanded to speak truth with everyone, never to lie or flatter. But you are filled with every kind of evil speech—shameless, rash, and quick to stir up unrest. You rage like a storm, filled with wind, destroying me with anger, strife, blasphemy, mockery, and slander. You flattering tongue!

And then again, with deceitful advice, you pretend to show an appearance of gentleness outwardly, while within you carry poison under your lips, seeking to divide me from my friend and lead me into sin. O uncontrollable member—I do not know what to do with you!

I heard the Lord say: “If thy right hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to be cast into hell fire.” Likewise He said: “If thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.” How much more, then, should you, O my tongue, be cut off, that you may cease from all the evil you bring forth.

You have stirred up one nation against another, and one people against another. You provoke wars among men. You drive out the fear of God from the faithful. Through you, apostates blaspheme our Lord. Through you, the sons of men have rejected the faith. Through you, idols have been praised. Through you, shameful speech of both men and women has risen up to the heavens. Through you, Satan gathers his host and dances across the whole world. Through you, every deceit of the enemy has been revealed among mankind.

O what a teacher of evil you are, my tongue! You do not contend with the word of God. You do not cease from slander. You are the destroyer of silence. But know this, O my tongue: if you do not fear God, and do not prepare to give an account to Him; if you do not speak your words with fear and humility, if you do not cast off deceit, and refuse to speak the truth, if you care nothing for your sins and will not constantly converse silently with God; if your words about God do not come forth truly when speaking with others—then what shall I do with you? I do not know. Only the One who knows the hearts—God alone—knows.

Because of this, you wicked thing—my tongue—I will compel you to open only for singing, for prayer, for reading and learning from the Scriptures, for giving glory to God, and for speaking necessary words, answering only when someone asks. But if you will not hear the fear of God in this, then I will silence you, as David said: “I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.” And again: “Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man.”

So I, rebuking my own tongue, confess to God that I do not suffer from some foreign or unfamiliar tongue bringing me trouble, but that I myself carry within me all evil and destructive habits. And with all my inner and outer senses, my tongue is the chief offender in every sin. Therefore, I would rather remain silent with boldness than speak, but I cannot.

For this reason, I pray to Almighty God: whenever I sin with my tongue, I ask for deliverance and correction for every word I speak:

“O Lord my God, O Trinity of one essence—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—guide me in Thy truth and teach me to do Thy will. Deliver me from every useless and harmful word.

Grant me, O Lord, pure speech grounded in faith, that I may overcome my tongue when it judges or condemns others.

And Thou, O Lord, by Thine almighty power and lovingkindness, deliver me, help me, and grant my tongue silence.

Set a guard upon my lips and a door to enclose my mouth.

Instill Thy fear in my heart, that I may fear Thy commandments and abide in them, meditating on Thy law and calling upon Thy most holy name all the days of my life.

Prepare me for the meeting with Thee at Thy Resurrection—when You shall come again to judge on that great and radiant final day—fearfully to expose the entire race of man, to judge all in righteousness, to give to each according to his deeds, to condemn the wicked and deliver them to bitter and dreadful everlasting torments, but to save the righteous and lead them into eternal life.

For Thou alone art God, glorified in the Trinity, the Lord and Creator of all creation. Unto Thee do we send up glory, honor, and worship, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.”