God's Test of Silence

Is it by coincidence or design that the word "silent" is an anagram of the word "listen" - that is, they both have the same letters? Good listening begins with silence on the part of the listener, but in God's paradoxical ways, one can also be made a good listener by silence on the part of the "speaker" or revealer.

The Lord's silence in refusing to respond to Job's pleas for an explanation of his agonies was probably more severe than the very sufferings that gave rise to those pleadings; certainly his pain was a test, but even more so was his supposed abandonment by God, who responded to his cries with apparently cruel silence.

In doing this, the Lord was not trying to convey his attitude toward Job, but to elicit from Job an awareness of his own petty attitude of petulance toward God. in other words, God's silence was a painful but enlightening test which Job flunked in some way. Finally enlightened, he apologized for complaining (see Job 42:6).

Is not God's silence merciful in not having revealed to you ten years ago the sufferings you have endured since that tiem? Could you have faced such sufferings if he had shown you at that time a preview of them? Wasn't God mercifull in now having answered your prayer reaquest to heal a sick relative, when you couldn't understand that death itself, as a door to eternal bliss, was a much better healing than a physican healing for that person at that time? Only an incandescent faith can see merciful love in God's silence.

This excerpt is from the book One-Minute Meditations for Busy People, by John H. Hampsch, C.M.F., originally published by Servant Publications. It and other of Fr. Hampsch's books and audio/video recordings can be purchased from Claretian Teaching Ministry, 20610 Manhattan Pl, #120, Torrance, CA 90501-1863. Phone 1-310-782-6408 or www.Catholicbooks.net