Psalm 80 / Romans 4:1-12 / John 7:14-36

We begin with the Psalm, addressed to the One who is enthroned between the cherubim. This is the One who is so unknowable that we cannot name his name and his image can't be fashioned — the mysterious Lord in the mercy seat.

And then we come to Jesus. He speaks with authority, having no earthly authority. He teaches without having been taught. He heals on the Sabbath and stands accused. He tells people to judge him with good judgment and not by appearances. To have faith in the will of God is to recognize that the works he does are true because the One who sent him is true. He says they know where he is from, but not where he is going.

Mystery is the key to Christianity and its central relationship with the mysterious Lord who is both unknowable and at the same time the God who's been made human. The only way to know that unknowable God is to participate in mystery through faith, love and trust. The Eucharist is the prime example. We approach it in whatever way we can, and it works in us both consciously and at levels we don't know. Jesus did not simply give us a prescription of do's and don'ts for a social order. Rather, he seeks our faith, a relationship of love and trust. This is the way to discern the good, the true and the beautiful. We must grow through relationship to "know" him just as we do with other persons.

— Janine Economides