Mystery and Clarity

Our Lord has given us just enough information about Him in order for us to worship Him. He has made clear to us information enough to save us. The rest is seen dimly, accepted and not fully understood, and worshipped -- even where understanding ends and acceptance of the Mystery begins. This is no more true than with respect to Christmas.

The Incarnation of our Lord is filled with mystery and such mystery often causes us to raise questions -- questions that are not answered by God because the answers are not necessary for us to know. It is enough for us to know the what without the how or even why.

Mary is chosen as the Virgin who will be the Mother of God. But why? Was it something within her that singled her out or, as she herself chooses to answer, only grace that regarded her of low estate and raised her up with the honor of being the Mother of our Lord? What about all those loose ends in the story -- Joseph and the engagement and what did that mean exactly and who was he and what about the census/registration and the journey and the inn without room that left a stable with a manger and the shepherds who came and the angels who sang? I mean anyone who looks at the words of the Gospels is filled with questions more than answers...

What does it mean that Jesus is God incarnate? How can God take on mortal flesh and blood and what kind of being is such a marriage of human and divine and was Jesus a genus child or an ordinary mortal with respect to learning and growing and why is there so little information about His growth and maturity? Again, more questions than answers.

But enough... enough to know that Jesus is the fulfillment of the prophetic word... that He is who is claimed to be... that we are bidden to worship Him as did the shepherds and angels... that we can trust in Him for all things needful for this body and life and for the forgiveness, life, and salvation that ushers is heaven and its eternal reality...

It is enough... satis est... But hardly enough for the skeptics... yet more than enough for those who come to kneel at the manger... As we approach Advent again we are left with our questions and with the few words that God gives as answers... enough to worship the majesty, behold the mystery, and trust in the miracle... It is enough...

So often we try to turn Christianity into some highly systematic and reasonable faith that provides thoughtful and deliberate answers to all the questions we might have. Perhaps that is why I was never as fond of systematics as I was of historical theology or liturgical theology. It is enough to worship the mystery and trust in that mystery... for today and its urgencies and for eternity and its promise... It is enough... satis est...

We journey through Advent to the celebration of the Incarnation of our Lord in the hopes that we will learn what God has given... is enough... to believe, to worship, to be saved...