Daily Reflection – 7/17/19
Sacred Scripture
At that time Jesus exclaimed: “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him. (Matthew 11: 25-27)
Reflection
Lord, return to me the joy of my childhood! Recreate in me a pure heart. Teach me your ways and protect my innocence.” It took Jesus, childlike, meek and humble of heart, innocent (not naïve) and wise, to reveal the mysteries of who we are and what we are here for. Who are we? A gift from God. What are we here for? Reflect God in our lives. What must I do? Follow the Will of God.
Knowledge of the Father is the ultimate good man can possess because it corresponds to the deepest longing in the human heart for happiness. Thomas Aquinas tells us that happiness lies in knowing that we possess the good we seek. We call the full knowledge of the good possessed “heaven,” which is our ultimate goal in life.
One of the greatest truths of the Christian faith is that we can know the living God. Our knowledge of God is not simply limited to knowing something about God, but we can know God personally. The essence of Christianity, and what makes it distinct from Judaism and other religions, is the knowledge of God as our Father. Jesus makes it possible for each of us to personally know God as our Father. To see Jesus is to see what God is like. In Jesus we see the perfect love of God — a God who cares intensely and who yearns over men and women, loving them to the point of laying down his life for them upon the Cross. Jesus is the revelation of God — a God who loves us completely, unconditionally and perfectly.
One of the greatest truths of the Christian faith is that we can know the living God. Our knowledge of God is not simply limited to knowing something about God, but we can know God personally.
Jesus also promises that God the Father will hear our prayers when we pray in his name. That is why Jesus taught his followers to pray with confidence, Our Father who art in heaven … give us this day our daily bread. Do you pray to your Father in heaven with joy and confidence in his love and care for you?
Prayer of The Day
Dear Lord, grant me the grace to possess the wisdom and knowledge that come from union with you while maintaining the childlike dispositions that you ask. Help me to depend on you as a loving child.
Daily Note
To whom would Jesus not wish to reveal the Father? Has anyone ever lived for whom Jesus did not desire to know the Father and be in heaven? Jesus’ actions – his preaching, his sacrifices and death on the cross – demonstrate that he wants to reveal the Father to everyone. However, he also chooses to need you and me to help him achieve this goal. Do I really desire everyone to know the Father and reach heaven? My actions will answer that question for me.
