Past the Mystery

By: Rick Hernandez

I remember my catechism classes from long ago. I remember our lovely teacher saying, “God the Father sent His beloved Son so that He would die for us, that by Him dying we would live. He saved us.” That was a simple statement of faith for us. “He sent His son to die for us...” And I remember opening my eyes when thinking that someone great had given His life for us, for me… That statement stayed with me for a long time. As a child, I accepted it without too much conscious thought, for what did I know of life and death or resurrection and eternal life. My teacher, whom I loved and trusted, told me that, and at the time, that was good enough for me.
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As I grew, I started to explore that simple statement with more mature eyes. What does it mean for our Lord Jesus to die for us? Why did He HAVE to die? I could not understand, for understanding the Paschal Mystery is only possible as a gift of the Spirit, an authentic Grace. In my “conversations” with our Lord, I would always ask: “Would it not have been better if you had stayed here? You could have directly guided us through so many tough times. Nobody would have doubted You in the flesh, available, showing us how to live as we were meant to live. Would that not have been easier?” But the answers to those questions were not to be answered then. Not yet, for how would we accept this beautiful mystery if not for our trust in the One who loves us?

“I did not tell you this from the beginning, because I was with you. But now I am going to the one who sent me, and not one of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I told you this, grief has filled your hearts.  But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.” (John 6:4-1)

​Our teacher, our trusted One, our loved One! He tells us He had to go… but only because we were to receive someone great who would give us a path to communion with Him. Part of the Trinity within us. Someone great, yes, but I did not know the Spirit. I just wanted Jesus here, present in the flesh. So how could I be okay with what is a mystery? But really, Christ knows our hearts better than we do.

“I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming.  He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. Everything that the Father has is mine; for this reason, I told you that he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. (John 6:12-15)

​In our union with the Holy Spirit, given in perfect love for our good, we are given guidance, companionship, unity, and clarity… That much is declared to us in the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord! These help us to lift the veil of mystery and allow us to approach the Divine. The gifts of the Spirit help us love our brothers as Christ loves us.

'Jesus then said to those Jews who believed in him, “If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.' (John 8:31-32)

We are set free. Like the Wild Goose (a name often used to refer to the Holy Spirit), we get to come and go wherever we are prompted by the Spirit in us. This, too, can be called a mystery! How are we changed when we follow the Holy Spirit and commune with Christ Eucharistic. It is beautiful to see how we are transformed when we learn to dial our hearts to the frequency of God the Father. The Trinity is with us.

‘As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you, and your joy may be complete. This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.’ (John 15:9-13)

​This is why Christ Jesus could not stay. I get why He had to go now, yet I still long for His hand to touch mine… Let us hold on and wait a little longer. There will be time for a face to face if we persevere on our way to Heaven. For now, He is present for us in the Eucharist and we have the Holy Spirit within us. We can commune with the Holy Trinity. We are not orphans. What a Grace this is for us!

“ I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. In a little while, the world will no longer see me, but you will see me because I live, and you will live. On that day, you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him.” (John 14:18-21)

Let us pray: Thank you, Lord, for your sacrifice of love for all of us. Help us to see beyond the mystery, so that we may be strengthened in our Hope, Faith, and Love. May we get to see the light of Your face. Amen.

Rick Hernandez

Rick Hernandez is a commonsense Catholic, Lay Associate of the Blessed Sacrament, and a Director for Elisheba House. He lives in Trinity, Florida, with his wife Ivonne and their children. He also writes for the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament's Daily Eucharistic Reflections and for Catholicmom.com