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

** DRAFT **

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.

While teaching at a Catholic high school, the Religion Department chair ever tried to convert me. (I was not even baptized.) One of her arguments was that I was over-intellectualizing belief in God. Instead, I should approach God “like a child” (or, she might have used “childlike”). Since my baptism about three years ago, whenever I have encountered Mt 11:25, I am reminded of that conversation, and I try unsuccessfully to square it with my experience with Scripture.

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

"the wise and the learned"

My conversion has been an intellectual journey. I was catechized by thoughtful priests and by the Sunday Missal, which helped me to understand – rather adult-like -- the Liturgy.  I came through RCIA intellectually. I still have felt that faith without reason, i.e. childlike faith, is not a complete faith, although every time my dog shows his love for me, unreasoned and unconditional, I fall back upon the intellect’s obstructions to pure faith. Nevertheless, St. Pope John Paul’s “two wings” of faith and reason have helped enormously, but until today Matthew 11:25 has remained a mystery.

"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.

But Jesus did not say the "wise and the learned" cannot know the Father. His prayer to the Father in Matthew 11 concludes (Mt 11:27),

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."

Of course "the wise and learned" are the priests and scribes of Israel who refuse to believe in Christ (see footnote to Mt. 11:25), and they presented here in contrast to the "childlike", which are those who accept Jesus as the Christ.

Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. 

(-- perfect use of the word "grace," btw, attached to the Father's "will"! -- the source of all grace!)

Jesus The "wise" and 'learned"

I see that the Greek taken as “to the childlike” can also be seen as “to the innocent,” which fits context just as well as a contrast to “the wise and the learned.”  But that’s not the point!  Intellect that is humble is childlike. Intellect that yearns to find God is childlike. Intellect that submits to the Father is both childlike and innocent. Intellect that believes is like the child who adores and obeys his father

But Jesus wants us to know the Father by believing in the Son. Of course – like the child of a father.

Intellectual purity requires "childlike" honesty.. Think about your latest outrage at hypocrisy -- what? how dare you hold others to what you dno't yourself?

It's not chldlike.