TUESDAY, APRIL 12

“Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face.” (1 Corinthians 13:12, NIV)

The English translation of the first part of this verse is different in nearly all of the Bibles that I have checked; the key word in Greek seems to be “ainigmati” which means “obscureness,” and has been translated darkly, dimly, baffling, puzzling, indistinctly, imperfectly, cloudy, like a riddle. The next part, “face to face,” is nearly the same in every Bible. This verse seems to me to mean that we don’t fully understand the meaning of everything in this part of our journey but that we shall know fully in eternity.

Elsewhere in this Lenten Booklet are questions that children of the PW Mom’s Circle would ask if they could talk with God. I believe that adults also have questions they would ask. One is. “Why are there always wars and why are there always poor?” (Define wars and poor.)

Another question is, “Do we really have free will, or do we just think we have free will?” Shakespeare’s Jaques says, “All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players.” (As You Like It, 2.7.139-140), but Descartes says, “The will is by its nature so free that it can never be constrained.” (Passions of the Soul, I, art. 41)

I’m sure there are many other unanswered questions, the most common possibly being, “Why?” But in the end we will know the answers. In the meantime, we have to have faith that “all things work together for good for those who love God.” (Romans 8:28)

Prayer: Loving God, whoever you are and wherever you may be, we thank you for being with us as we walk on this journey. Thank you for the many blessings you have given us like family, friends, and the beauty and bounty of nature. Praise and glory to you forever. In Christ’s name. Amen.

Irv Poston