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

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While teaching at a Catholic high school, a colleague tried to convert me. Of a protestant background, but 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 my colleague's arguments was that I was over-intellectualizing faith: instead, I should approach God “like a child,” you know, "childlike."  

Since my baptism about three years ago, whenever I have encountered [https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/11?25 Matthew 11:25], I am reminded of that conversation, and I have unsuccessfully squared it with my experience with Scripture and my own faith.

Until today.  

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 of "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>     

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.<ref>if you must, [[Catechism summaries]]</ref>) Far more useful was my [[Glossary of terms for catechism of the Catholic faith|Glossary of Terms]], with which I processed definitions, word origins, and concepts, and which now holds several hundred entries that have helped me to sort through my faith.  

Most helpful of all was to learn of St. Pope John Paul II’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, while not originating in him, was fully expressed by St. Thomas Aquinas who explored proofs of God in observation and logic. Aquinas understood, however, 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."  

Saints Aquinas and JPII empowered my quest to unite faith with reason -- only not in faith "like a child," but with my intellect as an adult.  

So convinced, [https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/11?25 Matthew 11:25] remained a mystery to me.  

Of course in the passage, "the wise and learned" are the priests and scribes of Israel who refused to believe Jesus was the Christ (see footnote to [https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/11?27 Mt. 11:25]). So in his prayer to the Father, Jesus contrasts them to the "childlike" who do accept him as the Son of God.  

Yet, it wasn't so easy for those believing "children," either. In a rational calculation of the strength of the wind, Peter faltered in belief and, but Jesus, 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 that first, fullest declaration of Jesus as God, by Thomas, who very adult-like had just 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 to them. Jesus concludes his prayer to the Father, 

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]),

 

 

=== Nicodemus, a smart, confused man ===