Blog:Salvation is for the "childlike"? Matthew 11:25: Difference between revisions

While teaching at a Catholic high school, a colleague tried to convert me. Not even baptized, I was one of those enlightened moderns who felt good about God and Jesus but not so much to be bothered by belief, and certainly not at the expense of "reason." One of her arguments was that I was over-intellectualizing faith: instead, I should approach God “like a child,” you know, "childlike."  

Today, a marvelous, truly wise, and truly learned Dominican priest unlocked what has been for years a troubling mystery for me.

My conversion was and still is an intellectual journey. I was catechized by thoughtful priests, deacons, and catechists who patiently explained even the silliest of questions such as, "Why do you say "Ah-men" instead fo "Aay-men"? Or, "How come you Catholics don't capitalize "He" in reference to God? Most helpful was the Sunday Missal, with the readings, responses and prayers, which led me – rather adult-like -- into the Liturgy.<ref>Reading the Missal during Mass both opened my mind and led to many a question for our poor Priest and Deacon who ever and joyfully answered my questions after Mass, even while standing in the January cold. </ref>  And I came through [[Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA)|RCIA]] and into the Church intellectually.      

And so, then as now, I feel that faith without reason, i.e. "childlike", is not a complete faith.  

It was in RCIA that I started this website, as I wanted to track and process all that we were learning. My very first entry here was a futile attempt to interpret and summarize the Catechism. (I learned quickly that with the Catechism no paraphrasing is needed.) Far more useful was my [[Glossary of terms for catechism of the Catholic faith|Glossary of Terms]], in which I processed definitions, word origins, and concepts, and which now holds several hundred entries that have helped me to sort out my faith.  

Most helpful was to learn of St. Pope John Paul’s “[[Two Wings of Truth: gifts of faith and reason|two wings]]” of faith and reason, the idea that our belief and overall faith is strengthened when bolstered by both faith (belief) and reason (intellect). The concept did not originate in but was fully expressed by St. Thomas Aquinas who had explored proofs of God in observation and logic. However, Aquinas understood that reason alone can neither fully comprehend nor find God, and so we need faith, which the Holy Spirit empowers us into -- both spiritually and intellectually.  Aquinas called these the "Gifts of Faith and Reason." John Paul II's "wings" helped me enormously, and empowered my quest to unite faith with reason. Not just faith, like a child, but with my intellect as an adult.  

Of course "the wise and learned" are the priests and scribes of Israel who refused to believe Jesus (see footnote to [https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/11?27 Mt. 11:25]). Jesus here contrasts them to the "childlike" who accepted him as the Christ.  

Yet, it wasn't so easy for those "children," either. In a rational calculation of the strength of the wind, Peter faltered his belief and nearly drowned ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/14?30 Mt 14:30]); many if not most of the disciples walked away in reasonable hygienic caution when Jesus offered them "his flesh to eat" ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/14?30 Jn 6:52]); Philip rationally calculated that it would take upward a year's salary to buy enough bread to feed all those people ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/6?7 Jn 6:7]). On and on until the first, fullest declaration of Jesus as God by Thomas, who very adult-like wanted a little more proof ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/20:28 Jn 20:28]).  

Clearly Jesus did not mean that the "wise and the learned" cannot know the Father. Instead, he said that the Father had "hidden these things" from them, while leaving it to the Son to reveal him.  Jesus concludes his prayer to the Father,   

  Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.  

(Note the perfect definition of the word "gracious" attached to the Father's "will" -- the source of all grace!)

Without straying into the theological implications of finding, or "un-covering,"<ref>"un-cover", "dis-cover", "in-vent" all mean to reveal what already exists, and not to create anew. Uncover and discover are obvious, but "invent" comes form ''in-'' (into) + ''venire'' (to come), i.e. come into something that already exists.</ref> what God "hides," a look at [https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/3?1 John 3] and the secret meeting with Nicodemus, we can see how God wants us to "uncover" (un-hide) himself through both reason and belief. Jesus tells him (literally),   

Impeccable logic -- and entirely nonsensical to the reasoned mind. So Jesus continues his literal explanation,   

  "The wind* blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.

A night, in a dark room, in a secret meeting, Jesus lays the ''literal'', the ''allegorical'', the ''moral'' and the ''anagogical'' upon poor Nicodemus<ref>see the [[Senses of Scripture]]</ref>,  

who, we learn later, does come to believe, and fully:

So "the wise and the learned" can discover God. They just have use both wings and wrap their minds around belief... that is, not let the limits of reason impede the mysterious.   

On Palm Sunday, as the "children outside the Temple sang, "Hosanna to the Son of David," the pharisees, "the wise and the learned," were "indignant," writes Matthew ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/21?15 Mt 21:15]).

 

 

Jesus replies to them,

''to silence enemy and avenger.''</blockquote>Even the "babes and infants" cry out the Lord's majesty! Of course they do -- they look upon the world in wonder and, to use one of my favorite terms from Scripture, "amazement."<ref>Here for occurrences in the NABRE of "amaze"(which includes amazed and amazement): [https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=amaze&version=NABRE BibleGateway - Keyword Search: amaze]</ref>  

 

 

 

 

 

"Childlike” our Priest explained, is to have a father – the Father.  Childlike is to respect, recognized, obey and love the Father. A "childlike" faith is humble, honest, and yearning for the Father. Such faith may be that of a child -- pure, unquestioning love for one's protector.

>> every time my dog shows his love for me, unreasoned and unconditional, I stumble upon the intellect’s obstructions to pure faith.

|without underlying agenda

| rowspan="11" |'''poor in spiritmourningmeekhungering and thirsting for righteousnessmercifulpeacemakersthe persecutedhated for loving Christrejoiceful in God'''

|without underlying agenda

The Lord wants us to reason -- but with faith and not blind in faith.

 

So much to think through here, and so much Scripture to process accordingly (Mary and Martha,

. I hope this has sparked a conversation within yourself. It's one we must carry on every days, especially every day when we recite the prayer Jesus taught us simpletons: