WOF 059: Bishop Barron on “Silence”

The much-anticipated “Silence”, based upon the Shusaku Endo novel of the same name, is a worthy addition to the Scorsese oeuvre. It is marked by gorgeous cinematography, outstanding performances from both lead and supporting actors, a gripping narrative, and enough thematic complexity to keep you discussing the film for the foreseeable future. In this episode of the Word on Fire Show, Bishop Barron discusses his insights about “Silence” [SPOILER ALERT]. The listener question comes from a young child who wonders where we were before God made us.

Topics Discussed

0:17 – Introduction, Bishop Barron’s Christmas vacation and silent retreat
3:35 – What is the premise of “Silence”?
4:55 – What was Bishop Barron’s reaction to reading the book for the first time?
5:45 – How would you react if your great spiritual hero abandoned the faith?
6:58 – What is the significance of the moment when the priests arrive in Japan
9:25 – How do we approach the question of whether or not we would keep our faith under persecution?
11:35 – What do we make of Fr. Rodriguez’s conclusion that it is ok to step on Jesus’ face?
14:45 – How do we approach the idea that we can do something wrong in order to create a greater good?
16:45 – Why has the Christian faith had such difficulty flourishing in Japan?
20:35 – What does Bishop Barron think about Martin Scorsese?
24:10 – Who is the hero of this film?
25:20 – Question from listener: How did we start before we were born?