What Do We Mean by the Word "Mystery?"

In the secular world, a “mystery” is something that baffles or eludes understanding, something that lies undisclosed. And the usual attitude of the world toward mystery is to solve it, get to the bottom of, or uncover it. Mysteries must be overcome! The riddle, or “who-done-it” must be solved!

In the Christian and especially the Catholic world, “mystery” is something a bit different. Here, mystery refers to the fact that there are hidden dimensions in things, people, and situations that extend beyond their visible, physical dimensions.

One of the best definitions I have read of “mystery” is by the theologian and philosopher John Le Croix. Fr. Francis Martin introduced it to me some years ago in one of his recorded conferences. Le Croix says,

Mystery is that which opens temporality and gives it depth. It introduces a vertical dimension and makes of it a time of revelation, of unveiling.

Suppose you and I are at a party, and Smith comes in the door and goes straightaway to Jones and warmly shakes his hand with both of his hands. And I say, “Wow, look at that.” Puzzled, you ask, “What’s the big deal, they shook hands. So what?” And then I tell you, “Smith and Jones have been enemies for thirty years.”

And thus there is a hidden and richer meaning than meets the eye. This is mystery, something hidden, something that is accessible to those who know and are initiated into the mystery and come to grasp some dimension of it; it is the deeper reality of things.

In terms of faith there is also a higher meaning to mystery. Le Croix added the following to the definition above: It [mystery] introduces a vertical dimension, and makes of it a time of revelation, of unveiling.

Hence we come to appreciate something of God in all He does and has made. Creation is not just dumbly there. It has a deeper meaning and reality. It reveals its Creator and the glory of Him who made it. The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands (Psalm 19:1).

In the book of Sirach, after a long list of the marvels of creation, is this magnificent line: Beyond these, many things lie hid; only a few of God’s works have we seen (Sirach 43:34).

Indeed, there is a sacramentality to all creation. Nothing is simply and dumbly itself; it points beyond and above, to Him who made it. The physical is but a manifestation of something and Someone higher.

In the reductionist world in which we live, such thinking is increasingly lost. Thus we poke and prod in order to “solve” the mysteries before us. And when have largely discovered something’s physical properties we think we have exhausted its meaning. We have not. In a disenchanted age, we need to rediscover the glory of enchantment, of mystery. There is more than meets the eye. Things are deeper, richer, and higher than we can ever fully imagine.

Scripture, which is a prophetic interpretation of reality, starts us on our great journey by initiating us into many of the mysteries of God and His creation. But even Scripture does not exhaust the mystery of all things; it merely sets us on the journey ever deeper, ever higher. Mysteries unfold; they are not crudely solved.

For the Christian, then, mystery is not something to be solved or overcome so much as to be savored and reverenced. To every person we know and everything we encounter goes up the cry, O magnum et admirabile mysterium (O great and wondrous mystery)! Now you’re becoming a mystic.

In the Christian and especially the Catholic world, “mystery” is something a bit different. Here, mystery refers to the fact that there are hidden dimensions in things, people, and situations that extend beyond their visible, physical dimensions.

I have just returned from participating in a training conference for a room full of Guatemalan pastors who have little theological training. My group was there to give them ideas on how to preach better and how to interpret scripture.

Initially, their mindset was asking questions expecting a "yes" or "no" answer. One of my presentations was a very brief overview of Systematic Theology in order to introduce them to a book we were leaving each of them. During the overview I took the time to explain that (1) we serve an infinite God and (2) we are finite creatures. (3) The only things we know about God are the things He reveals to us in Scripture. Thus, if we were to think we fully understood His purposes or His ways, we would be totally deluded.

Isaiah 55:8 My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are My ways your ways.

Thus, the primary "mysteries" of the Christian faith are the things we "think" we would like to know which God chooses to not reveal to us. Indeed, if anyone thinks they fully understand God, then is it clearly NOT our creator God who is far beyond our capacity to understand.

Notice that the definition cited at the beginning of this post fails to mention the mysteries of our Creator.

Jesus speaks of the “Faith of a mustard seed being able to move mountains.” There is very much power in knowledge.

If a person has the ability to heal, they also have the ability to harm or kill as Jesus did when He cursed the fig tree.

Thus the power is withheld from people who are not ready. If I still have the ability to get angry rather than radiate Love, I am not ready for the knowledge or the power.

When the power of the Holy Spirit first came upon me, I thought it was great. But when I realized how powerful it was, I got on my knees and begged God to take the power away before I hurt someone. After much back and forth in contemplative prayer, I agreed to allow some of it under one condition. That condition was that God take my physical life if I were headed in a direction that would harm someone. I was afraid of His power working through me it was so great.

The mystery is the understanding of how God works through us. As long as we are weak, anything done through us is God doing it. But God tests us. The power is also there when we are disconnected. It’s as though we are a battery and still have power when disconnected.

This opens the door for us to use the power for our will rather than God’s will and opens the door to trouble.

Jesus warned us not to give our “Pearl’s to the swine lest they turn and devour us.” I observe it here on this forum when I share some of God’s Mysteries. That’s why I keep it very simple.

I trust God. That as long as I am weak, He will guide me, protect me, and use me to do His will. I have observed more miracles than I could ever imagine. I am in awe at God’s Power. To experience His greatness is instant humility.

I don’t want to be here on earth as I would much sooner be home with Our Father. However, God is coming here on earth as Jesus’s model prayer tells us, i.e. “ On earth as it is in Heaven. “

He and Jesus are already here as we exist within Them. This is the greatest mystery. How to fully experience God and Jesus while still here on earth. It is very difficult to straddle the fence between the two worlds, but the fence is getting smaller and the Light brighter.

This is why satan is now making his move and preparing for battle. Thanks to Jesus, we already know the outcome, and it will be wonderful.

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What Do We Mean by the Word “Mystery?”