"Today we tend to use the word 'mystery' differently than in Christian antiquity, to which the Church is heir. . . . [o]ur modern culture tends to think of a mystery as something to be solved. And thus the failure to resolve it is considered a negative outcome. In the typical mystery novel, some event (usually a crime) takes place and it is the job of the hero to discover the perpetrator of the crime or the cause of the problem. And if he does not do so he is considered a failure. And frankly, if word got out that, in a certain mystery movie, the mystery was not solved, there would be poor reviews and low attendance. Imagine if, in the TV series House, M.D., Dr. House routinely failed to 'solve' the medical mystery - ratings would drop rather quickly.
"But in the ancient Christian tradition, mystery is something to be accepted and even appreciated. Mystery is that which opens up the temporal meaning of an event and gives it depth. It also introduces a vertical dimension to an event and thus makes it a time of revelation, of unveiling. (Fr. Francis Martin says more about this in the video below.) In this sense, mystery is something we are meant to discover, thereby appreciating the depth and richness of both things and people. Because of this, mystery should be savored, respected, and appreciated."
"In a recent commentary, Monsignor Charles Pope (pastor of Holy Comforter-Saint Cyprian Parish, Washington, DC) reflected on the Christian understanding of mystery as something that is revealed, but much of which lies hidden, and on the Christian view that some or even most of what lies hidden ought to be respected as hidden and appreciated rather than solved.
To access Msgr. Pope’s complete post, please visit:
Msgr. Charles Pope: Mysteries Should be Appreciated and Lived More Than “Solved” (29 JUL 14)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment