Returning to Paradise Day 11: Silence

📚 Scripture Readings: Genesis 5:1-24 | Isaiah 6:1-12
🛠️ The Ladder of Divine Ascent – Step 11: On Talkativeness and Silence

The Silence of the Saints

In our earlier analysis of Step 10 of “The Ladder of Divine Ascent,” we looked at gossip and slander and acknowledged the damaging effects of careless speech. Today, we broaden that focus to include the dangers of talkativeness in general as well as slander. The more we speak, the less we listen—to others, to ourselves, and to God. Excessive use of words can draw us away from prayer, erode our spiritual focus, and easily lead to sin.

We live in a time when words are abundant. Our daily lives are controlled by social media, news cycles, and endless conversations. But in all this talking, how much of it is actually necessary, wise, or divine? Consider a packed room where everyone is trying to be heard but nobody is listening. This is the modern world: a constant flood of noise where the wisdom of silence is all but forgotten.

In contrast, the wisest people throughout history have always valued measured speech. Socrates was famous for asking questions rather than talking endlessly. Instead of engaging in meaningless banter, Saint Seraphim of Sarov said, “Be quiet a lot, speak little, and silence will come in your heart, and your spirit will be calm and full of peace.” The early Christian desert fathers placed great importance on silence because they believed that only in silence could they clearly hear God’s voice. Saint Evagrius said, ”Silence is the mother of prayer, and prayer is the mother of divine vision.”

Learning to regulate our speech so that it elevates rather than degrades is the main goal of Step 11 of The Ladder of Divine Ascent. It demonstrates that wisdom involves knowing when to be silent and refraining from talking constantly.

Step 11 of The Ladder of Divine Ascent: On Talkativeness and Silence

St. John Climacus warns us about the dangers of excessive speech:

“Talkativeness is the throne of vainglory on which it loves to preen itself and show off.”

The more we talk, the more we become trapped in our own words. Unchecked speech leads to boasting, slander, gossip, and idle chatter. According to Climacus, “He who has become aware of his sins has controlled his tongue, but the talkative man has not yet known himself as he should.”

According to the saints, silence is the first step toward true Godliness and virtue. St. Maximus the Confessor states, ”Silence is the mother of prayer, and prayer is the mother of all virtues.” Saint Gregory Palamas said, “Stillness and silence lead to the knowledge of God, while words often scatter the mind.”

This step serves as a reminder of the power of our words. As Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” We must be deliberate in our speech if we wish to move closer to God; we must refrain from using superfluous words and limit our speech to that which is necessary, true, and edifying.

Talkativeness is the throne of vainglory on which it loves to preen itself and show off.

St. John Climacus Tweet

Faith and the Fear of the Lord – The Key to True Wisdom

In Genesis 5:1-24, we read about Enoch, a man who “walked with God” and was taken up into heaven. Enoch’s life is mysterious, but one thing is clear: he lived in a way that pleased God. The early Church saw him as a model of faith—a man who trusted God so deeply that he was freed from the grasp of death.

“By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death… for before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God.” (Hebrews 11:5)

What made Enoch different? He lived in the fear of the Lord. This does not mean a crippling terror, but rather a deep reverence and awareness of God’s presence. Saint Gregory of Nyssa (c. 335–394), in “On the Making of Man,” says, “To walk with God, as Enoch did, is to ascend beyond the earthly, drawing near to the divine nature through virtue.” “In Enoch, we behold the possibility of communion with God, a foretaste of what awaits those who seek Him.”

In his book, “The Orthodox Way,” Metropolitan Kallistos Ware of blessed memory said, “Enoch walked with God by keeping his heart attuned to Him, a model of the prayerful life we are all called to.”

Dumitru Stăniloae, in his landmark book, “The Experience of God: Orthodox Dogmatic Theology,” says, “Enoch walked with God because he lived in constant dialogue with Him, a dialogue that lifted him beyond this world.” He goes on to say, “In Enoch’s walk, we see the heart of our faith: to be with God, to know Him, and to be transformed by Him.”

How is this relevant to the silence discussion from Step 11 of the Ladder of Divine Ascent? Because silence is the gateway to intimacy with the Lord. Remember that in 1 Kings 19:11-12 God was found in a “whisper,” or what one translation famously calls the “still small voice.” Talkativeness drowns out that voice. St. Symeon the New Theologian said, “In silence, the soul finds God; in talkativeness, it loses Him.”

It is the same kind of awe that Isaiah experiences in Isaiah 6:1-12 when he sees the Lord high and lifted up, and cries:

“Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips.” (Isaiah 6:5)

Isaiah, like Enoch, understood that standing before God demands humility, silence, and reverence. The saints teach us that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10), because it keeps us from pride and foolish talk.

The Discipline of Silence – Training Ourselves in Wisdom

If we are to grow spiritually, we must train ourselves in silence and wisdom. Here are some practical ways to apply Step 11 in daily life:

Start each day with quiet prayer before speaking to others.
Limit unnecessary conversation. Ask yourself, Is what I’m about to say true? Is it necessary? Is it loving?
Fast from idle talk. Take periods of intentional silence throughout the day.
Listen more than you speak. Follow the wisdom of St. James: “Be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.” (James 1:19)
Fill your speech with wisdom. When you do speak, let it be words of encouragement, prayer, or praise.

The more we practice these disciplines, the more we will grow in faith, wisdom, and the fear of the Lord.

Final Thought: The Silent Path to God

The saints did not become holy by saying much, but by listening to God. As St. Isaac the Syrian said:

“Love silence above all things, because it brings you near to the fruit of the Spirit.”

May we, like Enoch, walk with God in faith. May we, like Isaiah, approach Him in holy fear. And may we, like the saints, learn that sometimes the wisest thing we can do is to be silent and listen.

This concludes Day 11 of our 40 Days of Lenten Reflections. Tomorrow, we explore Step 12 – On Falsehood, and how truth is essential for our ascent to God.

May your Lenten journey be filled with the wisdom of silence!