I changed the title of this reflection from “Wisdom and Mystery” to Mystery and Wisdom!" I’m not sure why I did that. What should come first? Do we first contemplate the mystery and then apply wisdom to try see what it means to us? Or do we engage whatever wisdom gained from life’s experiences and insights, then seek what meaning there is to the mystery?
From Sirach (1: 1,5,9), all Wisdom is: “from the Lord and with him it remains forever. It is he who created her; he poured her out upon all his works, upon all the living according to his gift. Wisdom was created before all other things. The source of wisdom is God’s word and her ways are the eternal commandments.”
Mystery is what remains unexplained or unknown; or any truth unknowable except from divine revelation. Paul in Romans 11:33; 13:12 exclaims the wonderful reality about the mystery of God: “O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgements and how inscrutable are his ways! For now, we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I am fully known.”
I don’t consider myself wise. I was always and still am curious about many things, looking for answers; lately about how life’s events, life’s twists and turns happened and continue to happen. When I consider the basic things, I believe there is still mystery of how the universe happened; how life began, along with theory and explanation. The reality is most of what we know, the sacred as well as the secular, is provisional and incomplete. Yet, I believe there are truths that are absolute about which we can neither make greater or less. I also believe it is good to have mystery in one’s life. Mystery harbors wonder and curiosity.
Our Christian faith is replete with mystery. Wisdom is God’s gift that invites us, on our faith journey, to continue to probe, in faith, the divine mystery of God. Yet there is mystery that can become known, and mystery beyond our ken. And there is mystery worthy of our faith. Such mystery I believe lies beyond the reach of faith but gives clarity to our complete trust in God’s purposes.
I believe Wisdom wants us to grow into the heart of this mystery we call God; and just contemplate with thanksgiving this wonderful gift of being fully known and fully knowing finally in our next life what we dreamed of, waited and hoped for. “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1Corinthians 2:9
Wisdom is divinely appointed to act in the world. I believe she invites us to a way of life that is in harmony with the created order and with God's redemptive work in the world through Christ Jesus.
A sign of wisdom is acknowledging the reality we are not God, and God is pure and ultimate Mystery. In our faith journey, in surrender, we humbly acknowledge we do not and cannot know this on our own. This surrender is at the heart of our Christian journey. Concern and anxiety about the problems we encounter in our lives shouldn’t deter us from the journey. We will find God eternally faithful and steadfast in his love for us.
From Sirach (1: 1,5,9), all Wisdom is: “from the Lord and with him it remains forever. It is he who created her; he poured her out upon all his works, upon all the living according to his gift. Wisdom was created before all other things. The source of wisdom is God’s word and her ways are the eternal commandments.”
Mystery is what remains unexplained or unknown; or any truth unknowable except from divine revelation. Paul in Romans 11:33; 13:12 exclaims the wonderful reality about the mystery of God: “O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgements and how inscrutable are his ways! For now, we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I am fully known.”
I don’t consider myself wise. I was always and still am curious about many things, looking for answers; lately about how life’s events, life’s twists and turns happened and continue to happen. When I consider the basic things, I believe there is still mystery of how the universe happened; how life began, along with theory and explanation. The reality is most of what we know, the sacred as well as the secular, is provisional and incomplete. Yet, I believe there are truths that are absolute about which we can neither make greater or less. I also believe it is good to have mystery in one’s life. Mystery harbors wonder and curiosity.
Our Christian faith is replete with mystery. Wisdom is God’s gift that invites us, on our faith journey, to continue to probe, in faith, the divine mystery of God. Yet there is mystery that can become known, and mystery beyond our ken. And there is mystery worthy of our faith. Such mystery I believe lies beyond the reach of faith but gives clarity to our complete trust in God’s purposes.
I believe Wisdom wants us to grow into the heart of this mystery we call God; and just contemplate with thanksgiving this wonderful gift of being fully known and fully knowing finally in our next life what we dreamed of, waited and hoped for. “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1Corinthians 2:9
Wisdom is divinely appointed to act in the world. I believe she invites us to a way of life that is in harmony with the created order and with God's redemptive work in the world through Christ Jesus.
A sign of wisdom is acknowledging the reality we are not God, and God is pure and ultimate Mystery. In our faith journey, in surrender, we humbly acknowledge we do not and cannot know this on our own. This surrender is at the heart of our Christian journey. Concern and anxiety about the problems we encounter in our lives shouldn’t deter us from the journey. We will find God eternally faithful and steadfast in his love for us.
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