The Sound of Silence

Could you be silent for as long as needed?

At the July 2015 Pan Am Games held in the Greater Toronto Area, I led silent stand-ins. These stand-ins were the culmination of two years of awareness-raising around the reality of human trafficking during large sporting events. We wore T-shirts with our campaign’s message (Buying Sex Is Not A Sport) and stood silently for 45 minutes outside venues where events were taking place.

We ran the gamut of responses from support to outright scorn, derision, complaints and indifference. Police didn’t know what to do with us. Apart from designated spokespersons, team members were to remain silent. This was the most difficult requirement for many. But silence was at the core of our strategy: We wanted to raise awareness simply by standing silently in an atmosphere of love and non-violence.

We hear the sound of silence running through our text. As the conversation between Pilate, the chief priest, the leaders, and the people crescendo to that last “Nail him to a cross!” we hear it. Jesus is silent as Pilate presents his case for whipping him and setting him free. Silent as the crowd shouts for Barabbas’ freedom and his death. Silent in the face of Pilate's stunning abdication of Roman authority and power. Silent as the Sanhedrin say nothing to stop the crowd. Silent as Pilate hands him over to the Council to do what they wanted with him.

Silent. Because he had already spoken: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed . . .” (Luke 4:18).

Respond in Prayer

O Lord of all, help us to know when to keep our mouths shut and our hearts wide open. Silence is hard to practice when we want to rush in and fix this world’s brokenness. Help us to keep silent when you ask us to. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Renee James

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® (NIV®).