What is the distinction between a mystery and a puzzle? Sometimes it would seem that we use these words interchangeably, but in reality, they refer to a fundamentally different way of understanding how we think about a question. They reflect a different approach to the issues of faith and reason. While both involve elements of the unknown, they differ in their scope and accessibility to human understanding, to how we choose to seek after an answer and, in truth the nature of the thing we are questioning.

Mystery, is often a word that conjures images akin to Sherlock Holmes, Murder She Wrote, classic who dun’ its. The term mystery novel seems a misnomer, as any watcher of daytime TV would know, they are often quick to be solved, lacking any serious depth. Mystery, in its truest sense, refers to profound truths that surpass human comprehension and require divine revelation and faith for deeper understanding. St John Paul II said “We cannot fully grasp the mystery of God, but we must do our best to respond to His revelation and love.” This underscores the idea that embracing faith is the starting point for delving into a true mystery, of which perhaps the greatest is the very nature of God.

We do not explore a mystery because we know the answer is simple and quick to be had. Rather, a mystery is pursued because the very act of investigating it makes one grow in appreciation of it. Like a hike, one does not go for the destination alone but for the experience of making the sojourn. A mystery like the love of God, a love so potent it creates its own Being, is beyond all-knowing and yet infinitely available to us; this is what a mystery is, that is why we attempt to dwell in it.

On the other hand, a puzzle is characterized by its solvability through the use of human reason and effort alone. It involves gathering and analyzing information to reach a logical conclusion. Unlike mysteries, puzzles have a single definitive conclusion that will be arrived at, given enough time, knowledge, and determination. St Thomas Aquinas recognized the importance of a puzzle, aligning faith with reason and avoiding the confusion of divine mysteries with matters that can be rationally resolved. While St Aquinas acknowledges the veil of mystery that surrounds God, he also spent his life solving the puzzles regarding the implications of what we know. A few examples of this rational pounding away can be his “Five Proofs,” “The Problem of Evil,” and the “Natural Law.”

While some aspects of faith may be puzzling and require intellectual exploration, others remain mysteries beyond human grasp. In his encyclical Fides et Ratio, Pope Saint John Paul II affirmed the complementarity of faith and reason: “Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth.” He acknowledged that reason can lead us to explore certain aspects of our faith, but there are divine truths that surpass the capabilities of human intellect.

The difference between a mystery and a puzzle lies in the accessibility of understanding. Mysteries require faith and divine revelation for deeper comprehension, while puzzles can be unraveled through human reason and effort. Catholic thinkers have emphasized the importance of faith in approaching the mysteries of the faith while acknowledging the role of reason in exploring other aspects of theology. This dynamic interplay between faith and reason enriches our understanding of how to even think about a question.