From The Mystery of the Cross, by the late Cardinal Basil Hume of England:
"What are the Articles of Faith to you and me? They are pointers to the mystery, they are starting points for endless exploration, right down the ages, and that exploration is never completed, either by the Church itself, or by us individually. One of the problems in the Church today is that there are people who think that doctrine does not evolve. But I was encouraged when I read these words by a Greek Orthodox theologian:
We see that it is not the task of Christianity to provide easy answers to every question, but to make us progressively aware of a mystery. God is not so much the object of our knowledge as the cause of our wonder."
Yes! Faith means believing without proof but it also allows us to ask questions and hope and use our imagination and trust that God has us in the palm of his hand. There is no answer available to us because nobody on earth knows for sure. Expecting to find the answer in this life will only lead to frustration and misery for some. We have to be as children.
ReplyDeleteI really liked Cardinal Hume! He seemed a really lovely man.
This little book was on the sale table at the library, and when I saw his name I snatched it up.
DeleteYes, and wonder is so much part of childlike-ness. :)