Discussion Questions, Storytelling, Sharing

  • Monks and nuns of all traditions have been called caretakers and preservers of God's mysteries. Who else performs that function today?
  • So much has been made of the mystery of evil. Who or what has taught you about the mystery of good? For instance, how was this mystery revealed in the movie Schindler's List?
  • Talk about what religious educators and spiritual teachers can do to insure that young people have a proper respect for the limits of reason and the bounties of mystery.

Imagery Exercise

This exercise on being in the presence of the Mystery was designed by Colette Aboulker-Muscat. It gives you practice living with paradox.

Close your eyes and breathe out three times.

See yourself standing and kneeling at the same time.

Breathe out one time. Sense and feel your silent cry going out of yourself.

Breathe out one time. See and feel yourself dancing and standing still at the same time.

When you are finished, open your eyes.

Journal Exercises

  • Reflect upon the things you just can't explain in your daily life, especially ones that you are having difficulty leaving alone. Describe the mystery but don't try to add an explanation.
  • Write about an experience that opened your eyes to the fact that we can never really know the heart of another person, even those who are closest to us. Express the feelings that come up when you accept this idea.