08/09/2026 ~ Proper 14 ~ Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time ~ Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost ~ Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28; Psalm 105: 1-6, 16-22, 45b; 1 Kings 19:9-18; Psalm 85:8-13; Romans 10:5-15; Matthew 14:22-33

The Sounds of Silence

“…after the fire there was a sound of sheer silence.” — 1 Kings 19:12.

I am convinced that as humans we are, both by nature and by the nurturing Spirit of God, called to communicate. Many of us do that in more than one way.

When it comes to sound, aside from communicating with just my voice, I’m a lyricist. I communicate by writing lyrics which are matched with music. Over time I’ve written mostly with three composers, the late David Schaefer, Tom Rasely and another composer you may have all heard of, one Paul Lee Johnson. [1]

Since I’m a song writer people sometimes ask what my favorite type of music is. The question puzzles me. As a song writer I say music in whatever style or type is simply organized rhythmic and tonal sound.

So for me the more pertinent question is ‘how is this sound we’re talking about organized?’ Is it organized in a way which can communicate something not just or only to me but communicate something, anything to someone, anyone?’

An example: I will sometimes hear people say, “I don’t like rap.” My reaction is, “So you don’t like Mozart? Back in the 1700s it was called recitative but it was rap.” Give something a fancy name and it becomes acceptable but a street name… not so much.

The truth is we all bring filters, sometimes prejudicial, to what we hear. But hence another truth is sound that communicates is not about just noise. And for we mortals sound is supposed to communicate. So sound needs to be about listening so carefully that we strive to cancel out our filters. (Slight pause.)

These words are from the work known as First Kings: “…after the fire there was a sound of sheer… silence.” (Slight pause.)

As Christians we maintain God speaks to people through Scripture. That poses questions: is it only through Scripture? Does God still talk, speak with us in other ways? And how does that happen? If God does speak, to whom, through whom and how? Does God sometimes speak with silence? And are we listening? (Slight pause.)

So what is listening? Mark Twain said (quote): “The right word may be effective, but no word is ever as effective as a well-timed… pause.” (Slight pause.)

That leads us back to music. In music you can have a series of notes, sounds, interrupted by rests— silences that give a musician and the listener time to pause and reflect, to consider, prepare for what might happen next.

In short, what a musician does not play, the silence, can be significant. But silence can be unsettling to many. Let’s see if we can try that, be silent and even listen for a stretch. (Long pause) For what and/or for whom did you listen?

I think God can and does speak in the silence and also speaks with the cacophony, the clamor of many voices, multiple voices. I believe the voice of God is there, present, in both silence and among clattering, chattering, distracting voices and noises.

That beings us back to the question how does God speak? I think God speaks with the voices of the loving spirits of those gathered to worship, members of a community of faith. But perhaps God speaks in a most profound way when those loving voices around us are silent.

So yes, I say God does speak clearly and clearly speaks, but God especially speaks when we learn to listen so intently that we trust God. This leaves us with yet another question: where and when does God not speak? (Slight pause.)

God does not speak in or through the noise of injustice, violence, oppression— economic, physical or cultural oppression, violence which sets people apart as being different, strange, unacceptable— all that clamor is the noise of injustice. When we see or hear the noise of injustice, it may be organized sound but we know God is not speaking. (Slight pause.)

So it seems to me our goal is to listen because God does speak. But that leaves a final question: do we trust God to the point where we listen hard enough to filter out the noise of violence, injustice and really hear both that God does speak and what God is saying. Indeed, can we hear what God says even and especially when God speaks in the silence? Amen.

08/09/2026
Devil Island, Stonington, Maine

ENDPIECE: It is the practice of the Pastor to speak after the Closing Hymn, but before the Benediction. This is a précis of what was said: “The last words of Paul Simon’s The Sounds of Silence are these (quote): ‘The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls— And tenement halls— And whispered in the sounds of silence.’ Paul Simon is Jewish and I don’t know if he is a Hebrew scholar. But what we translate in the passage we heard as ‘sheer silence’ can also be translated as whispered silence. Whispered in the sounds of silence— Paul Simon’s words. Indeed, Elijah hears whispered silence and listens for the voice of God. The bottom line: listening for God is, I think, the key.”

BENEDICTION: We are called to care in a world which can be uncaring, commissioned as lovers among some who may offer back indifference. Know this: God is with us in all our days. So, let us go forth knowing that the grace of God is deeper than our imagination, the strength of Christ is stronger than our need and the communion of the Holy Spirit is richer than all our togetherness. May God guide and sustain us today and in all our tomorrows. Amen.

[1] Note: the pastor is a member of A.S.C.A.P.— the American Society of Composers Authros and Publishers— as a lyricist— and the composer Paul Lee Johnson was present. Also note: the first hymn— Morning Has Broken had new lyrics by the pastor and the Communion hymn— Kyrios Iesous— was written by the pastor and Mr. Johnson.

This is the lyric for Morning Has Broken.

Morning has broken,
Christ is the morning.
God’s Word now spoken,
lighting our ways.
In Christ is being
new light and dawning,
Wisdom and meaning,
all of our days.

Christ in a manger;
Angels are singing
Shepherds are fearful,
why be afraid?
Light to the peoples,

Light to all nations;
God ever caring.
Covenant made.

Christ is the Sunlight
God with us always.
Alpha, Omega—
granting new sight.
God Who is steadfast,
God Who is gracious,
God Who is faithful,
banishing night.

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This is the lyric for Kyrios Iesous.

Kyrios Iesous,
Kyrios Iesous,
Kyrios Iesous—
Jesus the Christ.

Praise be to Jesus,
Praise be to Jesus,
Praise be to Jesus—
Jesus the Christ.

Sing alleluia,
Sing alleluia,
Sing alleluia—
Jesus the Christ.