Miraculous Power in the Early Church
This is a question with a good news/bad news kind of answer. The bad news is that no one really knows the answer; it's one of countless mysteries still unsolved by science. The good news is that all mysteries, both scientific and religious, will be known eventually - most of them probably in the next life.
This is true of the weightier issues, such as the reality of suffering, as well as the less "ticklish" mysteries. It was the mystery of suffering that bothered the psalmist: "All day long I have been plagued; I have been punished...When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me till I entered the sanctualy of God; then I understood" (Ps 73:14, 16-17). Job was given a similar mystical insight after complaining about the mystery of suffering: "I spoke of things I did not understand, ...but now my eyes have seen you..I despise myself and repent" (Jb 42:3, 5-6).
Paul had to confess that God's ways are inscrutable (Rom 11:33). What Paul calls "God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden" (1 Cor2:7) can be frustrating to the ever-curious human mind; not even all natural scientific mysteries can be solved, much less the supernatural ones. Perhaps this is God's clever way of making us humble. By realizing, that we lack the omniscience of God, we are humbled into submitting to him in reverence and awe.
This excerpt is from the book One-Minute Meditations for Busy People, by John H. Hampsch, C.M.F., originally published by Servant Publications. It and other of Fr. Hampsch's books and audio/video recordings can be purchased from Claretian Teaching Ministry, 20610 Manhattan Pl, #120, Torrance, CA 90501-1863. Phone 1-310-782-6408 or www.Catholicbooks.net