14th December 2025
There are times when I’m teaching – particularly adult catechesis – when I say that I’m going to have to ‘play the mystery card’ in answer to a question. It’s not about saying nothing or telling the enquirer not to ask that question (a surprising number of people who have left Christianity seem to say that they were told what to think and not to ask questions) but it is about recognising that my answers are limited because we are limited beings in relation to God. Yes, I can talk about propositional truths and can defend them but Christianity is not about us ‘working God out’ because it is much more about us being confronted with God’s message – which is addressed to us personally – to you singular – to you in a group (plural). It is about hearing God’s “I love you” and then all the other words – messages – that come afterwards.
Discuss or teach the Trinity, Jesus being truly human and truly God, how the infinite God can dwell in finite Jesus, how the Holy Spirit works in our world, Baptism, Holy Communion, discipleship in practical terms, faith, doubt, forgiveness, the Christmas story, the Easter story and I am not so much revealing secret knowledge but rather presenting people with the realities of who Jesus is and what following him means and thus there emerges mystery. My words can only go so far before human logic, human experience, science, biology, mathematics speaks up and says, “Um, no, that’s not possible”. And then we have a tension between words – whom do we believe? This is not about so called ‘blind faith’ or even science verses faith but about who is speaking and is it consistent and coherent? It is about recognising that if I can ‘fit’ God into my brain, if I can ‘understand’ and rationally defend and ‘prove’ God then God isn’t God! (I am!)
People encounter God when he reveals himself. People encounter God’s message when he reveals it. Mary encountered Gabriel and God’s message and consented. Joseph encountered dreams from God and obeyed. Herod acted to kill toddler Jesus when he encountered God’s message via the prophet Micah. The religious leaders were astounded when they encountered the boy Jesus in the temple. Jesus’ public ministry was one of encountering people – he was there in front of them and they were either drawn to him or they rejected him, pushed him away. If this happened when Jesus was seen and heard – even on the cross – how much easier is it for people to keep him ‘at a distance’ when he encounters people through words, water, bread and wine?!
And yet each day – still today – and each tomorrow – more and more people will follow Jesus as their Lord and Saviour; as their contact person with our Triune God; as someone revealed and loved but still a mystery. One can grow in mystery. Why does someone love me that much? Love you that much? Our human nature wants to put God in the dock, God under a microscope, and for God to be understandable and domesticated. The story of Jesus and his message to you can be heard and understood but never fully explained because there is a mystery here – God and his grace; grace upon grace. We’ll never fully comprehend it but we certainly can receive it; receive the only true God and live.
GS