Shusaku Endo's SILENCE (Grade B+++)

This is one amazing book. It's simple, and yet profoundly deep. It could be read to a ten year old, and yet challenge most adults. This historical novel explores the motives of a Portuguese Catholic priest who secretly enters Japan in the late 18th century. He and a companion are searching for a former mentor who was rumored to have apostasized. They spend several months hiding in a hut on the side of the hill. None of the dreams of sharing Christ, finding out about their friend, or really doing anything valuable transpire. Finally they venture out, are able to bless those Christ-followers who must hide all traces of their belief. Then they are betrayed by a Judas type of person (the very Christian who helped them into the country). The two themes that are still running laps in my head are, 1) How do I treat the Judas types in my life (the way this character was portrayed will get to you), and 2) What are the motives behind the life I live in sharing Jesus. In the end the priest must watch as others suffer to the deepest levels because he, God's willing martyr, is unwilling to apostasize. My oldest son and I are still dialoguing and exploring our own motives through the characters of this book. Do you love ethics? Yes - then this is a must read.