Daily Reflection – 12/2/2025
Sacred Scripture
At that very moment he rejoiced [in] the Holy Spirit and said, “I give you praise, 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 who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.” Turning to the disciples in private he said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.” (Luke 10:21-24)
Reflection
In this passage from the Gospel of Luke, we are given a beautiful glimpse into the heart of Jesus. He is filled with joy and thanks His Father for revealing divine wisdom not to the proud or learned, but to the childlike. This is a moment of sweetness, joy, and tenderness—a moment that invites us to discover how we, too, can know and experience God in our daily lives.
Think of a small child playing with a set of blocks. His mind is innocent and open, free from any filters or preconceived notions of what is right or wrong. He builds whatever his imagination dreams up, seeing a world of endless possibilities. With focused determination and a quiet joy, he plays without pretense and with simple trust, never doubting that he is safe and cared for as he builds.
That is the very essence of what Jesus celebrated. He rejoiced that the Father had “hidden these things from the wise and the learned (and) revealed them to the childlike.” Jesus felt close to those who possessed a simplicity of heart, for it is the childlike—like small children playing freely—who are able to truly see the kingdom of God right in front of them. They see purely, without pretense, and acknowledge their complete dependence and trust in someone greater, wiser, and more trustworthy.
Simplicity of heart naturally goes hand in hand with humility. While pride separates us from God and is often at the root of our struggles, humility creates the fertile ground where God’s grace can take root and grow. When we are humble, we turn our hearts toward the truth, making space for God to work in us. A humble heart recognizes its dependence on God, acknowledges the need for His help, and opens itself to prayer and a deeper, more genuine relationship with Him.
Let’s return to the model of a child again. Think of a child who stumbles, scrapes his knee, and instinctively runs to his mother for comfort. He does not try to hide his hurt or pretend to be unaffected; instead, he trusts completely in his mother’s loving embrace. In this same way, when we remember our own smallness compared to God’s immense, loving goodness, we allow ourselves to bring our hurts, failures, and imperfections to Him. If we let Him, God will tenderly wipe away our tears and heal the wounds caused by our mistakes. It is in this honest surrender—placing ourselves in God’s gentle and forgiving hands—that we truly begin to know the depth of His love.
In His own life, Jesus shows us what it means to love God with a pure and undivided heart, and to extend that love freely to others. Through His compassion, His tenderness, and His willingness to lay down His life for us, He reveals the depth of God’s care for each of us. In following Jesus, we discover a model of complete trust and joyful surrender, teaching us how to enter into the sweet, joyful, and tender relationship God desires to share with us.
While our culture often praises strength, independence, and self-reliance, the path to God calls for something different. It is the heart that is dependent, open, and trusting—like that of a child—that can truly come to know God and receive the fullness of His love. In embracing this posture of humility and trust, we discover the sweetness, joy, and tender relationship with God that our souls deeply long for.
Prayer of The Day
“Lord Jesus, 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
Children have a deeper sense of wonder, openness and trust. When the Father reveals Himself to children, I think He is saying that the truth, the Good News and mission is simple, uncomplicated and accessible to all of us.
It seems the younger we are, the more comfortable we are being our natural selves. As we mature, we put up mental walls to protect ourselves. We change our behavior to please others in the hope that it saves us from strife.
If we could all try to be as natural as a child more often, perhaps we could clear the barriers and receive more of God’s grace.
