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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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. | 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. | While teaching at a Catholic high school, the Religion Department chair ever tried to convert me. I was 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." So one of her arguments was that I was over-intellectualizing faith. Instead, I should approach God “like a child” (or, she might have used “childlike”). | ||
Until today. Today, a marvelous, truly wise, and truly learned Dominican priest unlocked what has been for years a troubling mystery for me. | 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 unsuccessfully 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. | |||
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 [[Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA)|RCIA]] intellectually. I still feel that faith without reason, i.e. childlike faith, is not a complete faith. St. Pope John Paul’s “[[Two Wings of Truth: gifts of faith and reason|two wings]]” of faith and reason have helped enormously, but until today [https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/11?25 Matthew 11:25], has remained a mystery. | |||
== "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 in Christ (see footnote to [https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/11?27 Mt. 11:25] in the USCCB NABRE), and they are presented here in contrast to the "childlike", who accepted Jesus as the Christ -- and "childlike". | |||
Yet, it wasn't so easy for those "children," either, Peter lost faith 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 say the "wise and the learned" cannot know the Father. His prayer to the Father in Matthew 11 concludes ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/11?27 Mt 11:27]), | Jesus did not say the "wise and the learned" cannot know the Father. He said that the Father had "hidden these things" from them. | ||
His prayer to the Father in Matthew 11 concludes ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/11?27 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." | 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." | ||
Thus, Jesus could reveal the Father to "anyone." | |||
Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. | Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. | ||
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>> every time my dog shows his love for me, unreasoned and unconditional, I stumble upon the intellect’s obstructions to pure faith. | |||
But Jesus wants us to know the Father by believing in the Son. Of course – like the child of a father. | But Jesus wants us to know the Father by believing in the Son. Of course – like the child of a father. | ||