Blog:Salvation is for the "childlike"? Matthew 11:25: Difference between revisions
Blog:Salvation is for the "childlike"? Matthew 11:25 (view source)
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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. | 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. | 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 the Catechism | 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 expressed by Thomas Aquinas who | 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. | ||
So | So convinced, [https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/11?25 Matthew 11:25] remained a mystery to me. | ||
== "the wise and the learned" == | == "the wise and the learned" == | ||
Of course "the wise and learned" are the priests and scribes of Israel who refuse to believe | , for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned... | ||
Of course "the wise and learned" are the priests and scribes of Israel who refuse to believe Jesus (see footnote to [https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/11?27 Mt. 11:25] in the USCCB NABRE). Jesus here contrasts them to the "childlike", who accepted Jesus as the Christ -- and like a child. | |||
Yet, it wasn't so easy for those "children," either, Peter | Yet, it wasn't so easy for those "children," either. In fear, Peter faltered in his belief and nearly drowned; many if not most of the disciples walked away when Jesus told them to "eat him." On and on until the first, fullest declaration of Jesus as God by Thomas, who very adult-like wanted a little more proof. | ||
Jesus did not | 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. Without straying into the theological implications of finding what God "hides," if a look at John 3 and the secret meeting with Nicodemus, we can see how God wants us to "uncover" (un-hide) himself through belief: | ||
“Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” | |||
Nicodemus replies rather "reason"-ably: | |||
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." | “How can a person once grown old be born again? Surely he cannot reenter his mother’s womb and be born again, can he?” | ||
Jesus goes on to explain -- using reason -- that, | |||
What is born of flesh is flesh and what is born of spirit is spirit. | |||
and | |||
"If I tell you about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?" | |||
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. | |||
Thus bringing us to the logical conclusion that reason cannot know him, only faith: | |||
Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. | |||
You just have to believe, Jesus instructs him. So in the dark room, in a secret meeting, Jesus lays the literal, allegorical, moral and anagogical upon poor Nicodemus, | |||
"But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God." ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/3:21 Jn 3:21]) | |||
who, we learn later, does come to believe, and fully: | |||
Nicodemus, '''the one who had first come to him at night''', also came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes weighing about one hundred pounds. ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/19:39 Jn 19:39]) | |||
So "the wise and the learned" can discover God. Jesus concludes his prayer to the Father in Matthew 11, | |||
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." ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/11?27 Mt 11:27]), | |||
Thus, Jesus could reveal the Father to "anyone." | Thus, Jesus could reveal the Father to "anyone." | ||
Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. | 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!) | |||
> asdf | |||
Jesus The "wise" and 'learned" | Jesus The "wise" and 'learned" | ||