I found a wonderful book called “Silence,” by a Japanese author Shūsaku Endō , at a bookstore in León. It is a powerful story of Japanese Jesuit missionaries in the 17th century sent to Japan to spread Christianity. What they encounter is rejection, fear and torture, compelling them by political authorities to deny their faith by “stamping” on an image of Christ and Mary.

What they experience is God’s SILENCE, a deafening silence, that perplexes them, which gives rise to frustration and doubt within their minds and hearts. God’s silence when we or a loved one is suffering is truly painful. God’s silence in: unanswered prayers and unabated loneliness, in addictions that refuse their grip, in relationships that lose trust, in the endless violence in our streets, in the abuse of children and in an economy that is so unjust makes anyone of faith question this God.

What are we to do when God seems to remain silent in our individual lives, when we are praying for answers in our difficult situations, whatever they may be? As I walk across Spain, the Lord, at times, is very silent. He doesn’t want to give me an answer about my own life’s direction. Why? Why can’t Christ more clearly show me the “way?”

In the silence of God, what are we to do? We are to act like the dishonest steward in this Sunday’s gospel. It is discovered by the rich man that he has been misusing the money entrusted to him and he will be fired. Since he doesn’t want to do manual labor and he will be embarrassed to beg, he limits the debt of the rich man’s debtors, one by one, so they might be kind to him and welcome them into their homes.

The point is NOT to be dishonest, but to use one’s talents and INGENUITY to build Christ’s Kingdom by focusing on those who suffer injustice, by making the economy benefit those who aren’t wealthy, by creating a way for all people to receive health care, by ensuring all children a sound education, and by inspiring people of wealth and resources to creatively use those resources for the welfare of others.

In the silence, I let God know my frustration in His silence by entering this silence in writing this very homily; visiting a lonely person in the nursing home; helping another priest in need; or simply walking and breathing in a relaxed manner. Walking slowly can allow for the silence to give way to God breaking the silence to simply being present.

Jesus wants us to be ingenious and creative in how we are living this life of faith. We are to imitate those who have lots of money and find ways to make that money increase, but NOT by imitating any self-centered motives or dishonest financial manipulations. We are to be like them in finding creative and inventive ways of building Christ’s Kingdom. Maybe that is why God is “silent.”

Off to Rabanal del Camino, 11 days until Santiago.