Editing Fast Fridays: 30 Minutes for God (section)

== Friday, Aug 2: "Childlike" (Matthew 11:25) ==
Continuing with the idea of "Our Father" as well as Matthew 11 and Luke 10, we will discuss the what it means to be "childlike" -- i.e. to have a father. Here for my blog post on Matthew 11:25: [[Blog:Salvation is for the "childlike"? Matthew 11:25]]



When approaching Scripture, we quickly encounter the limits of reason. For example, Matthew 11:25 has confounded me:<blockquote>''At that time Jesus said in reply, “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."'' [https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/11?25 (Mt 11:25])</blockquote>Without trying to be ironic, it makes no sense to me that only the "childlike" can see God. Well, if it says it, it says it, and we just have to go with it -- we can call these the "mysteries". However, we mustn't surrender reason. Stay at it, try to understand, for the more powerful our reason, the stronger our faith.

=== Using the Two Wings of Truth: Reason and Faith ===
See [[Two Wings of Truth: gifts of faith and reason]]<blockquote>''Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth; and God has placed in the human heart a desire to know the truth—in a word, to know himself—so that, by knowing and loving God, men and women may also come to the fullness of truth about themselves - Saint Pope John Paul II''</blockquote>

=== DNA / Reproduction ===

* DNA teaches us the nature and purpose of reproduction: maintaining the health of the species; self-correction of mutation; encoding inherent knowledge and/or behaviors
** Socrates on reincarnation: [https://www.thoughtco.com/slave-boy-experiment-in-platos-meno-2670668 The Slave Boy Experiment in Plato's 'Meno' (thoughtco.com)]
*** he understood innate knowledge ("all learning is recollection")
*** but could not explain it other than through reincarnation
** DNA carries knowledge across generations

=== "childlike" ===
* What "childlike" faith is: trusting, loving, in awe of, obedient
* What "childlike" faith is not: unthinking, simplistic, unlearned, unwise

The way to understand Matthew 11:25 is that "childlike" doesn't mean simplistic, unthinking, it means having a father. The implications of accepting a father are huge!  See my post on [[Blog:Salvation is for the "childlike"? Matthew 11:25|Salvation is for the "childlike"? Matthew 11:25]] for some views of what it means to accept the Father.

Note: Christ is Son of God; we are God's adopted children

* does that make sense? 
* let your Wing of Faith fly on that one! 

=== Prodigal children ===
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right;"
|+
!Childlike
|-
|believing
|-
|trusting
|-
|adoring
|-
|faithful
|}
Tempted by the snake, Adam and Eve gave up our inheritance as children of God, so, like the Prodigal Son, we must come back groveling to the Father.

* Prodigal son: 
** he wanted the inheritance now
** he looked at the now and not at the eternal
** he partied it up: me, me, me
** destitution broke his pride and he returned in humility