The silence of the Lord
An old Norwegian legend tells about a man named Haakon, who always looked at an image of the crucified Christ. This cross was very old and people used to go there to pray with great devotion. Many went there to ask Christ for a miracle.
One day Haakon wanted to ask him for a favor. Driven by a generous feeling, he knelt before the cross and said:
Lord, I want to suffer for you. Let me take your place. I want to replace you on the cross.
And he remained fixed with his gaze fixed on her, as if waiting for the answer.
The Lord opened his lips and spoke. His words fell from on high, whispering and admonishing:
My servant, I agree to your wish, but it must be on one condition.
“Which one, sir?” Haakon asked pleadingly. “Is it a difficult condition? I am willing to fulfill it with your help, Lord,” the old man replied.
“Listen… whatever happens and whatever you see, you must always keep silent.”
Haakon replied:
“I promise you, Lord!” And the change was made.
No one noticed the barter. No one recognized Haakon, hanging from the nails on the cross. The Lord occupied the place of Haakon. And he, for a long time, fulfilled the commitment. He said nothing to nobody.
But one day a rich man came and, after praying, he left his wallet behind. Haakon saw it and was silent.
Nor did he say anything when a poor man, who came two hours later, appropriated the rich man’s wallet. Nor did he say anything when a boy prostrated himself before him soon after to ask for his grace before setting off on a long journey.
But at that moment the rich man came back in search of the bag. Not finding it, he thought the boy had appropriated it.
The rich man turned to the young man and said angrily:
– “Give me the bag you stole from me!”
The surprised young man replied:
– “I have not stolen any bags!”
– “Don’t lie, give it back to me right away!”
– “I repeat that I have not taken any bag!”, said the boy.
And the rich man lashed out, furious at the young man. Then a loud voice rang out:
– “Stop!”
The rich man looked up and saw that the image spoke to him.
Haakon, who could not remain silent, shouted defending the young man, and rebuking the rich man for the false accusation. He was stunned, and left the hermitage. The young man also left because he was in a hurry to start his journey.
When the Cross was left alone, Christ addressed his servant and said:
“Come down from the cross. You are not fit to occupy my position. You have not known how to keep silent.
But Lord… -said Haakon- how was I going to allow that injustice?
Jobs have been changed. Jesus occupied the Cross again and the hermit stayed before the Cross.
The Lord continued speaking:
– You did not know that it was convenient for the rich to lose the bag, because it carried in it the price of a young woman’s virginity. The poor man, on the other hand, needed that money and he did well to take it…
As for the boy who was going to be beaten… His injuries would have prevented him from making the trip that would prove fatal for him.
Now, a few minutes ago, the boat in which he lost his life has just capsized.
You didn’t know anything. I do. That’s why I’m silent.” And the Lord was silent again.
Many times we ask ourselves: why doesn’t the Lord answer us… why does the Lord remain silent? Many of us would like Him to answer what we want to hear, but Jesus is not like that. The Lord still answers us with silence!
We must learn to listen to it. His Divine Silence are words intended to convince us that He knows what he is doing.
One of the things that intrigues us the most is realizing that in the face of some difficult circumstances in life, it seems that for Jesus our pain, anguish, and need go unnoticed. In other words, it would appear that he is indeed silent. What happens is that we cannot see beyond the immediacy of the moment and we do not realize that behind what happens to us and the apparent silence of Jesus, a great purpose is hidden. Next time, don’t ask yourself why what is happening to you, ask why, and what the Lord wants from me in this situation.
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