Saturday, March 2, 2013

The Mystery of Our Faith



In the Fundamentalism in which I grew up, there was little room for mystery. I don’t remember ever hearing a minister or teacher say, “I don’t know; I do not have an answer for that.” If they did not know the answer, some were even capable of making up something. Everything had to be accounted for in some tangible way. This created an unacknowledged yearning that I could not identify.

During my first Eucharist in an Anglican church, I heard “Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.” It nestled itself in my mind and built a tent in my spirit. I struggled with understanding it.

Now, several years later, I have discovered that it was the idea of mystery that was missing in my understanding. It is coloring my perception of my life. Instead of beating my fists on Heaven’s doors for immediate explanations, I am learning to wait. The concept of mystery gives me ample room to walk around in my faith, and a place to ask questions that have no perceivable answers. 

-Susan Price

5 comments:

Unknown said...

Amen. And don't you find that there is real creativity in the tension of living unanswerable questions?

Rehoboth said...

Yes, David, I do find that. Thank you.

Unknown said...

"Walk around in my faith," I like that! Great reflection.

John Orzechowski said...

Thanks for sharing. Your description of waiting and living a faith that doesn't always (or often) have easy answers definitely resonates.

Anna Cotton said...

Susan, this reflection is a wonderful reminder of what's important--being able to wait in God while holding the questions. This seems particularly helpful to remember during this season of Lent. Thanks and blessings, Anna

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