Decipher the Silence

Silences need to be deciphered and interpreted. Silence does not always serve as the synonym of timidity rather at times it could be the most radical form of protest. The adage goes - “Certain silences are too noisy.” Remember the silence of Jesus before Pilate. Wasn’t that silence a noisy protest? Silences can make us really uncomfortable and thus dealing with silence is an art. In our faith journey we have to deal with the Silence of God. Jesus experienced this silence in the garden of Gethsemane and even on the cross. Job wrestled with this silence when he was afflicted. Biblical Scholars have termed this as ‘Aggressive Silence’. Thus the Psalmist laments “O God of my praise do not be silent” (Ps 109:1).

Silence as a powerful form of protest is not something I say for the sake of argument rather history testifies the same. Bring in to your memories Mr. Erdem Gundus of Turkey - the 34 year old dancer and performance artist - who initiated a new form of protest viz. ‘Duran Adam’ (Turkish for standing man) in June 17, 2013. It was a protest against the destruction of Gezi Park in Istanbul’s Taksim Square for a commercial parking garage. Mr. Erdem Gundus, a lone man walked across Istanbul's Taksim Square and began to stand silently, facing toward the Ataturk Cultural Center. At first he seemed like any other person visiting Taksim Square, except for one exception: he didn't move. Hands in his pocket, he just stood there, like an automaton. Minutes turned to hours. He was still there. Slowly, though, other people began to join him, silently staring towards the cultural Center. The situation proved the power of silence and gave birth to a new form of protest viz. ‘Duran Adam’.

Today is a very special day for me as my father celebrates his birthday. So I intend to a make a mention about a father who is silent in the Bible yet exhibits magnificent influence. He is none other than Joseph. Joseph is often termed as the 'foster father' of Jesus. If I may ask – which father is not a 'foster father'? Kahlil Gibran opines “Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of life’s longing for itself. They come through you but not from you. And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.” This illumines the very fact that all fathers are 'foster fathers'.  In the excessive exaltation of the motherhood of Mary, the fatherhood of Joseph got submerged. Bible records few women complimenting Jesus – “Blessed are the breasts that nursed you and the womb that bore you”. Joseph did not not even find a space in the compliments given to Jesus, yet at the age of twelve, when infant Jesus had to describe God, he found no other word than ‘Father’. This makes it blatantly evident the influence Joseph had on Jesus. Whether scripture testifies or not Joseph is indeed the silent subsistence of Jesus.

When it comes to express love, most Fathers are far behind mothers. Silence usurps their expressions. Their silences need to be interpreted. To comprehend the love of our fathers we need to unravel their silence, their anger, their idiosyncrasies, their anxiety, the rhythm of their heartbeats, their inconsistent breath, their wrinkled skin, their eccentric gestures, their frequent sighs and many more emotions. Their unexpressiveness is the greatest expression of their love. This lent, let us decipher the silences of our loved ones and parents especially our fathers and teach our children as well to do the same.

I conclude with a poem penned by my friend, Nikith P. Sam - who pursues second year Bachelor of Divinity at the United Theological College, Bengaluru. The poem was originally written in Malayalam but with his consent I have translated it into English. I dedicate this poem to my father as his birthday present. Happy Birthday Pappa.

Father is whom I love

I have heard many sing praises about the glory of the love of Mothers

Seldom have I heard someone exalting the glory of the love of Fathers

Poets too seem not to have elucidated that Love

In the exponential eulogization of the submissiveness of Mother Mary;

Bible had way back forgotten the sacrifice of Father Joseph

If nectar symbolizes Mothers then Fathers are the ones who become bread

Diminishing crumb by crumb by becoming food to their family

Shedding their body bit by bit to sustain their family

Trivializing their own dreams for the sake of their family

Crushing his life to give me life

Those are the souls whom we never ought to forget

While sympathising with them who are confined to kitchens

There do exist some souls who burn in the scorching sun

Why has the love of the Fathers been forgotten?

Why are we blind to the affection of the Fathers?

Society – I do not know – I cannot understand you

Let us pray

Ineffable God, help us to deal with your silence in our faith journey and also to decipher the silence of our loved ones especially our fathers. Let the motherhood and fatherhood be equally respected. For Christ’s sake we pray. Amen

Prayers

Dn. Basil Paul