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The Hidden Mysteries of God
While they were all amazed at his every deed, Jesus said to his
disciples, “Pay attention to what I am telling you. The Son of Man
is to be handed over to men.” But they did not understand this
saying; its meaning was hidden from them so that they should not
understand it, and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.
Luke 9:43b–45
After Jesus revealed His coming Passion, Death, and Resurrection to
the Twelve for the first time, eight days passed. Then He took
Peter, James, and John up a high mountain, where He was
transfigured before them. That extraordinary glimpse of His divine
glory may well have been a source of consolation, dispelling some
of the sorrow and confusion they had carried since hearing the
unsettling news that their Master would suffer and die.
Upon descending the mountain, Jesus and the three Apostles rejoined
the remaining disciples and were met by a large crowd. A man in the
crowd presented Jesus with his son who was possessed by a demon.
Jesus delivered the boy, and in response, “all were astonished by
the majesty of God” (Luke 9:43a). It is immediately in this context
of public amazement and admiration that Jesus once again turns to
His disciples and predicts His Passion for the second time, as we
read in today’s Gospel.
Jesus’ first prediction, recorded earlier in Luke 9, comes across
as more reserved and instructional. But in this second
pronouncement, there is a new tone that is more urgent and
emphatic: “Pay attention to what I am telling you…” His words carry
weight, demanding serious reflection. And yet, despite His
directness and solemnity, the Gospel tells us: “they did not
understand this saying; its meaning was hidden from them so that
they should not understand it…” Even more, they were afraid to
question Him.
Why was the meaning hidden from them? The answer lies in the
mystery of what theologians call “divine pedagogy.” God often
reveals His truths gradually, preparing the soul to receive what it
cannot yet bear. The Passion of Christ is not only a historical
event but a spiritual reality that we must accept with faith.
Without the light of the Cross and Resurrection, the notion of a
suffering Messiah remained incomprehensible to the Apostles. God
permitted the veil over their understanding not as a punishment,
but as a protection lest they fall into despair or distortion of
the truth. Only after the Resurrection and Pentecost would their
hearts be fully opened to grasp the necessity and glory of Christ’s
suffering.
In our own journey of faith, we too encounter truths that seem
hidden or are difficult to grasp. We may wonder why God allows
confusion, trials, or periods of spiritual obscurity. When that
happens, we can learn much from Jesus’ interaction with the Twelve
in this passage.
God, in His perfect wisdom, will at times withhold certain
understandings from us until we are spiritually ready to receive
them. When this happens, we are often tempted to doubt or even
despair. But what is the proper response? We find it in the example
of the Apostles’ confusion. They did not understand and were afraid
to ask Jesus what He meant—perhaps because they feared the answer.
What they needed at that moment was humility, prayer, and
perseverance, grounded in trust. In truth, the moments of confusion
that God permits are always for our good because they strengthen
our faith in Him even when we do not yet understand.
Reflect today on these hidden moments in your own life. Are there
aspects of God’s will you do not yet understand? Are there things
that fill you with fear and tempt you to despair? Do not be afraid
to approach Jesus with your questions, even if answers do not come
immediately. Trust that in His perfect time, all will be revealed
and that the Cross always precedes the light of the
Resurrection.
Most mysterious Lord, the truth of who You are and what You do
in my life is beyond my comprehension. When I am confused by life’s
circumstances, please fill me with confidence in You and trust in
Your providence. I know that You know all things and that You will
my good. May I trust You in the midst of confusion and press
forward with humility, knowing that, in the end, everything will
come to light and be made known. Jesus, I trust in You.
Image: Ilyas Basim Khuri Bazzi Rahib, CC BY-SA 3.0, via
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