St. Paul’s Church, Barton, Newport, Isle of Wight

 Something to reflect on

The Long Silence

At the end of time, billions of people were scattered on a great plain before God's throne. Most shrank back from the brilliant light before them. But some groups near the throne talked heatedly.

"How can God judge us?  What can he know about suffering "snapped a young woman. She ripped open her sleeve to reveal a tattooed number from a Nazi concentration camp. " We endured terror......beatings.... torture.... death……."

In another group a black man lowered his collar.  "What about this?" he demanded, showing an ugly rope burn. "Lynched for no crime but being black.  We have suffered in slave ships, bee wrenched from loved ones and toiled until only death gave release”.

Many other people recounted stories of suffering and far across the plain were hundreds of such groups.  Each had a complaint against God for the suffering and evil he had permitted in his world.  How lucky God was to live in heaven where all was sweetness and light; where there was no weeping or fear, or hunger or hatred. What did God know of all that man had been forced to endure in this world?  "For God leads a pretty sheltered life", they said.

So each group sent out a representative.  There was a Jew, a black woman, an untouchable from India , an illegitimate child, a victim from Hiroshima, a sweatshop worker and a prisoner from a labour camp.  In the centre of the plain they consulted.

At last they were ready to present their case. It was very daring.  Before God could be qualified to be their judge, he must endure what they had endured. So the decision was made: God should be sentenced to live on earth - as a man!  But because he was God, they set certain safeguards to be sure he could not use his divine powers to help himself:

   Let him be born a Jew.

   Let the legitimacy of his birth be doubted, so that no one will know who his father really is.

   Let him champion a cause so just, but so radical, that it brings down upon him the hatred and condemnation of the establishment.

   Let him try to describe what no man has ever seen, tasted, heard or smelled… Let him try to communicate God to men.

   Let him be betrayed by his closest friends.

   Let him face false charges, be tried by a prejudiced jury and convicted by a cowardly judge.

   Let him be tortured.

   At the last let him see what it means to be terribly alone.

Then let him die – a humiliating death alongside common criminals

Let him die so that can be no doubt that he died.  Let there be a great host of witnesses to verify it.

As each leader announced his portion of the sentence, loud murmurs of approval went up from the throng of people assembled.

As each leader announced a portion of the sentence, there was a long silence. No one uttered another word... no one moved.

For suddenly all knew… God had already served his sentence.

Author unknown

Page last updated 26.11.06