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To the Mom Who Feels Like She’s Failing at the One Thing She Was Sure God Called Her To…

  Let’s be honest. Some days you feel like the circus clown… Only the clowns have more help and better costumes. Your “classroom” is the kitchen table. Your students? One’s crying, one’s hiding, one’s asking you a question that sounds like it came straight out of a college exam. Meanwhile, the baby’s screaming, the dog just threw up on the rug, and the toddler… well… let’s just say the peanut butter was NOT supposed to be art supplies. And you? You’re standing there with cold coffee, wondering how in the world you ended up in charge of someone’s entire education. "Maybe I’m in over my head." "Maybe I’m wrecking their future." "Maybe they’d be better off with a real teacher." You’ve seen those Instagram-perfect homeschool moms… Neat handwriting on the whiteboard, shelves arranged by color, kids smiling like they just won the lottery for Most Well-Behaved Family. You’ve tried to copy them. You’ve stayed up past midnight rearranging books, printing lesson ...
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143. Q. Can we learn all truths by our reason alone?

Have you ever felt confused or lost, trying to figure out the mysteries of life? Maybe you’ve wondered why things happen the way they do or tried to understand the deeper meaning of our existence. We, as human beings, have a natural desire to know and understand everything. It’s part of who we are. But sometimes, even with our best efforts, we can’t figure out all the answers on our own. This is because not all truths can be learned by our reason alone.

In the Baltimore Catechism, there is a simple yet profound teaching that helps us understand this idea:

143. Q. Can we learn all truths by our reason alone?
A. We cannot learn all truths by our reason alone, for some truths are beyond the power of our reason and must be taught to us by God.

Let’s explore what this means in a way that is easy to understand, inspiring, and encouraging.

The Gift and Limit of Human Reason

Our reason, or our ability to think and understand, is a precious gift from God. It allows us to learn, solve problems, make decisions, and grow in knowledge. We use our reason every day, whether it’s deciding what to eat, solving a math problem, or figuring out the best way to help a friend. But there’s a limit to what our reason can do.

Why Can’t We Learn Everything by Reason Alone?

  1. Human Reason Has Limits: Just like we can’t see through walls or hear a whisper from miles away, our reason has its own limits. We can understand many things, but not everything. For example, we can learn a lot about the universe, how plants grow, or how our bodies work, but we can’t fully understand things like why we exist, what happens after death, or the exact nature of God’s love for us.

  2. Some Truths Are Divine Mysteries: There are some truths that are so deep and wonderful that they go beyond what our human minds can grasp. These are called divine mysteries. For example, the concept of the Holy Trinity—that God is three persons in one—is something we can’t fully understand with our minds alone. We know it because God has revealed it to us, but it remains a mystery that is beyond our complete understanding.

  3. We Need God’s Help: Just like a child needs their parents to explain certain things, we need God to reveal these deeper truths to us. God, in His infinite wisdom and love, teaches us these truths through the Bible, the teachings of the Church, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Why Does God Reveal These Truths to Us?

God reveals these deeper truths to us because He loves us and wants us to know Him more fully. Just like a parent who wants to share everything with their child, God wants to share His love, wisdom, and truth with us. These divine truths help us to:

  1. Grow Closer to God: By learning about these mysteries, we grow in our relationship with God. We start to see how amazing and loving He is, and this helps us to trust Him more, even when life is confusing or difficult.

  2. Live with Hope and Purpose: Understanding that there are greater truths beyond what we can see helps us to live with hope. For example, knowing that God has a plan for our lives and that there is a beautiful life waiting for us after death gives us strength and courage to face life’s challenges.

  3. Find Peace in Uncertainty: When we realize that we don’t have to understand everything on our own, it brings a sense of peace. We can trust that God knows what He’s doing and that He will guide us in the right direction, even when we don’t have all the answers.

How Does God Teach Us These Truths?

God teaches us these truths in several ways:

  1. Through the Bible: The Bible is God’s word, and it contains the teachings and stories that reveal His truth to us. When we read the Bible, we learn about God’s love, His commandments, and the salvation He offers us through Jesus Christ.

  2. Through the Church: The Church, guided by the Holy Spirit, helps to explain and teach these truths to us. The teachings of the Church, the sacraments, and the wisdom of the saints all help us to understand God’s truths more deeply.

  3. Through Prayer and the Holy Spirit: When we pray, we open our hearts to God’s guidance. The Holy Spirit, who is God’s presence within us, helps to enlighten our minds and hearts, showing us the way and helping us to understand God’s will for us.

What Should We Do When We Don’t Understand?

There will be times when we feel confused or struggle to understand something about our faith or life in general. Here’s what we can do:

  1. Trust in God: Remember that God loves you and has a plan for you. Even when you don’t understand everything, trust that God knows what’s best and is guiding you.

  2. Pray for Understanding: Ask God to help you understand what you’re struggling with. It’s okay to have questions, and God welcomes us to come to Him with our doubts and concerns.

  3. Seek Guidance: Talk to a priest, a wise friend, or read more about the teachings of the Church. Sometimes, others can help explain things in a way that makes more sense.

  4. Be Patient: Understanding takes time. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t get it all right away. Keep learning, praying, and trusting in God, and He will help you grow in your faith and understanding.

Embracing the Mystery

It’s okay not to have all the answers. In fact, embracing the mystery of God’s truth can be a beautiful part of our faith journey. It’s like looking at a vast, star-filled sky. We may not know every detail about the stars, but we can still admire their beauty and feel awe for the One who created them. Similarly, we can stand in awe of God’s infinite wisdom and love, even if we don’t understand it all.

Conclusion: Trusting God’s Wisdom

In our journey of faith, it’s important to remember that we can’t learn all truths by our reason alone. There are some things only God can teach us, and that’s okay. It’s not a sign of weakness or failure; it’s simply part of being human. God, in His love, reveals these deeper truths to us so that we can know Him better and live with hope, purpose, and peace.

So, let’s embrace the gift of reason and use it to learn and grow as much as we can. But let’s also trust God with the mysteries that are beyond our understanding. After all, our faith is not just about what we know, but about trusting the One who knows everything.

Let’s continue to seek God, trust in His wisdom, and rejoice in the beautiful truths He reveals to us, knowing that He is always guiding us, even when we don’t have all the answers.

Call to Action

If you feel inspired by this message, take a moment to thank God for the gift of reason and for the beautiful mysteries He reveals to us. Share this message with someone who might be struggling with their faith or feeling confused. Let’s help each other grow in trust and understanding, knowing that God is always with us, teaching us, and guiding us on our journey of faith.

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