VII.
Let’s take some time to notice the silences in this week’s reading

VIII.
Luke 14:1-6 (NRSVue)

On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the Sabbath, they were watching him closely. Just then, in front of him, there was a man who had edema. And Jesus asked the experts in the law and Pharisees, “Is it lawful to cure people on the Sabbath or not?” But they were silent. So Jesus took him and healed him and sent him away. Then he said to them, “If one of you has a child or an ox that has fallen into a well, will you not immediately pull it out on a Sabbath day?” And they could not reply to this.

IX.
We read that the Pharisees “were silent,” and “they could not reply to this.”

Did they so recognize the profound truth in what Jesus said and did, they were humbled into silence? They lost their voice in the face of such wisdom and holiness?

Or, maybe, they wanted to argue with Jesus but were afraid they might lose another argument to him and lose more prestige with the people?

Or, then again, had they already learned it was useless to contend with Jesus, and waited for another time to “correct” Jesus’ errors when the people might give them a hearing?

When might you and I become silent?

We don’t know what to say? We don’t want to say anything? We want to speak but words will not come to our mouths?

Or, could it be that at times we so recognize we are in the presence of holiness, silence is the only offering?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}