06 : on silence

Sit here while I go over there and pray.

— Matthew 26:36

In the Garden of Gethsemane, we find Christ at a crucial moment of solitude and reflection, away from the noise of the world. The Bible tells us, “Sit here while I go over there and pray” (Matthew 26:36). In this poignant moment, Jesus chooses silence — not as a passive retreat, but as an active choice to engage in deep reflection, prayer, and self-awareness. This solitude serves as a space for connection with the divine and for gathering strength to face what lies ahead.

Christ’s repeated retreats into silence and solitude throughout the Gospels highlight the essential nature of stillness in the spiritual journey. In these moments of inner quiet, we find clarity, purpose, and healing. From a Jungian perspective, Christ’s choice to retreat into silence can be seen as an act of individuation — a journey inward that brings integration, self-awareness, and alignment with the true self. That space where we allow Truth to appear.

We, too, have the ability to make this choice. In a world filled with noise and distraction, we can consciously choose silence as a practice of self-reflection. Like Christ, who withdrew to pray alone, we can create sacred space for ourselves to pause, listen, and be still.

The painting Christ in Gethsemane by Heinrich Hofmann (1886) beautifully captures this moment of solitude. In this artwork, Christ is depicted in a moment of quiet intensity, symbolizing the profound inner work that happens when we step away from the world and turn inward. The stillness is not passive; it is active, a decision to listen and reflect with deep intention. Now, imagine Christ as the embodiment of the Integrated Self, the wholly version of us, the earthly and the divine combined. That version of us needs silence.

As we walk our own 40-day journey, consider how we might carve out moments of stillness for ourselves. In these moments, we can reconnect with our inner voice and allow it to guide us, just as Christ did in the garden.

Journaling Prompt: What do you need to release in order to embrace silence in your life? How can moments of solitude and reflection support your inner growth during these 40 days?

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