I read fiction for pleasure–science fiction, mysteries, thrillers, that sort of thing. So it was sort of a sense of duty that led me to borrow from our library and listen to Shusaku Endo’s Silence over the last couple weeks. There was a little further motivation in the Martin Scorsese film adaption coming out just before Christmas, but having read the book I’m not thrilled about seeing the movie. I like happy endings and found none there. Overall, it’s a bleak but moving story of the suppression of the Catholic mission in Japan.
The central character of Silence, a Jesuit named Rodriques, struggles with his faith in the face of Japanese persecution of Christians in the 17th century. Though he faces the threat of being tortured and martyred, Rodriques is tormented much more by having to watch Japanese Christians be tortured and killed for their faith. He wrestles with his Lord’s silence in the face of all that happens to His people.
In our text for this coming third Sunday in Advent, Matthew 11:2-11, John the Baptist finds himself imprisoned and, we know from other Scripture, ultimately facing execution. He struggles with his faith in the midst of his suffering, wondering if the confidence he had placed in Jesus was warranted. Juan Fernandez de Navarrete’s painting above captures the spirit of John, dolefully contemplating a cross in his prison cell.
Unlike Rodriquez, however, John is not confronted with a silent Lord. When he sent messengers to Jesus, expressing his doubts in verse 3, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” John received a reply.
Jesus’ reply to John in verses 4-6 was largely a quotation from Isaiah 35:4-6, our Old Testament lesson for Sunday. But to the words of Isaiah, Jesus adds something. In addition to confirming that He Jesus is accomplishing the miracles which the prophet predicted of the Messiah, Jesus adds a new, unexpected miracle. It’s a surprising addition, unexpected news which makes all the difference to John’s own particular situation.
I’ll leave you to compare the texts and find the surprise. It makes all the difference for all of us.