Semana Santa, the Holy Week between Palm Sunday and Easter, usually attracts a few thousand tourists to our Andean city. The streets come to life with religious pomp and pageantry, mixed with a heavy dose of music and incense and vendors hawking their wares. But everything came to a grinding halt during the year of the Covid lockdowns.  

No processions, no live passion plays, no incense clouding the air. 

It was most definitely a Silent Semana Santa. 

I felt sad about it at first, until I realized that the silence might be just what we needed in order to truly listen to the voice of God. I was reminded of Elijah, who had just come through what could definitely be called a “mountaintop experience” when God showed up on Mount Carmel and defeated the prophets of Baal. As often happens shortly after an experience when God shows up in a big way, Elijah was attacked… by Jezebel, who wanted to kill him, and by Satan, who filled his mind with fear and despair.  

The Lord found Elijah, alone and afraid, hiding in a cave. Then he was told, “Go, stand on the mountain at attention before God. God will pass by.” (1 Kings 19:11) Following his recent mountaintop experience, Elijah must have been expecting God to show up in a powerful display, but He did not appear in a rock-shattering wind, in an earthquake, or in a fire. But after the fire came a gentle whisper, (1 Kings 19:12), and that’s where God chose to show up for Elijah. 

What about you… 

Have you been through a recent mountaintop experience like Elijah and feel like you’re now being attacked by the enemy? Or maybe, like me during our annual Semana Santa traditions, you’re struggling to hear God’s voice through the cacophony of noise all around you. Take some time today to meditate on Psalm 46 and to follow the advice to “Be still and know that I am God.” Because silencing our own hearts and minds is the only way to hear that gentle whisper.