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
It never ceases to amaze me that often the briefest of scriptures reveals the broadest knowledge. Today’s scripture is no different.
In just three sentences, Jesus reveals to each of us not only how we can know God but the attitude and perspective we need to acquire that knowledge.
If we were to list what we consider to be of value in our lives, we would probably discover that relationships would come toward the top of our list. We value relationships. We could not get through life without the people who are important to us. In this morning’s gospel reading, Jesus speaks about the relationship which is most important to him, his relationship with his heavenly Father. He speaks of this relationship in terms of a mutual knowing, ‘no one knows the Son except the Father, just as no one knows the Father except the Son’. There is a very profound and unique intimacy to this relationship. Yet, there is nothing closed about this special relationship; it is open to us as well.
Jesus speaks of himself as choosing to reveal the Father to others and he speaks of the Father as revealing these things to children. As God drew Moses to himself through the burning bush, the Father and the Son seek to draw us into their mutual love, so that we can reflect that love to others. For this to happen, we need the openness and receptivity of the child, rather than the self-assurance of the learned. Too often maturity and the ways of the world harden people’s hearts. Some become so full of their own intelligence and understanding that they are closed to the great wisdom from God that Jesus has come to reveal.
It’s openness that allows us to know our dependence on God, our need of God, our poverty before God. Insofar as we imbibe this fundamental attitude, Jesus will be able to reveal to us everything that has been entrusted to him by God the Father.
We have to ‘open our hearts” to be willing to ask the Lord to teach us. We need to “open our hearts” so that God can teach us to love. We need to “open our hearts” so that our love is shown through the way we live out the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Prayer of The Day
“Lord, give me the child-like simplicity and purity of faith to gaze upon your face with joy and confidence in your all-merciful love. Remove every doubt, fear, and proud thought which would hinder me from receiving your word with trust and humble submission.”
Daily Note
Knowing Jesus Christ as the Son, is also knowing the Father, because he is the one who reveals the Father.The Son has so much power – power over sin and death. As it said in today’s gospel, all things have been handed over to him by the Father. Knowing him, we can be rest assured that we are in good hands and he will take full and good control of our lives.
