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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[[File:Louis_Maurice_Boutet_de_Monvel,_The_Trial_of_Joan_of_Arc_(Joan_of_Arc_series_-_VI),_c._late_1909-early_1910,_NGA_195567.jpg|alt=Joan of Arc facing left addressing assessors, scribes. She has soldiers behind her|border|850x850px]] | [[File:Louis_Maurice_Boutet_de_Monvel,_The_Trial_of_Joan_of_Arc_(Joan_of_Arc_series_-_VI),_c._late_1909-early_1910,_NGA_195567.jpg|alt=Joan of Arc facing left addressing assessors, scribes. She has soldiers behind her|border|850x850px]] | ||
''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." ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/11?25 Mt 11:25])'' | ||
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." | 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." | ||
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''to silence enemy and avenger.''</blockquote>Even the "babes and infants" cry out the Lord's majesty! Of course they do -- they look upon the world in wonder and, to use one of my favorite terms from Scripture, "amazement."<ref>Here for occurrences in the NABRE of "amaze"(which includes amazed and amazement): [https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=amaze&version=NABRE BibleGateway - Keyword Search: amaze]</ref> | ''to silence enemy and avenger.''</blockquote>Even the "babes and infants" cry out the Lord's majesty! Of course they do -- they look upon the world in wonder and, to use one of my favorite terms from Scripture, "amazement."<ref>Here for occurrences in the NABRE of "amaze"(which includes amazed and amazement): [https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=amaze&version=NABRE BibleGateway - Keyword Search: amaze]</ref> | ||
I see that in Matthew | I see from the experts that in Matthew 11, the Greek taken in English as “to the childlike” can also be seen as “to the innocent,”<ref>[https://netbible.org/bible/Matthew+11 Matthew 11 | Lumina (netbible.org)]</ref> which fits the 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 accepts belief is like the child who adores and obeys the Father. | ||
== Child of the Father == | == Child of the Father == | ||
"Childlike” our Priest explained, is to have a father – the Father. Childlike is to respect, recognize, 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 it is not necessarily that of a child. Until today, every time my dog has shown his simple, love for me, love that is unreasoned and unconditional, I stumbled upon my intellect’s obstructions to pure faith. | "Childlike” our Priest explained, is to have a father – the Father. Childlike is to respect, recognize, 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 it is not necessarily that of a child. Until today, every time my dog has shown his simple, love for me, love that is unreasoned and unconditional, I stumbled upon my intellect’s obstructions to pure faith. | ||
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=== What childlike is and is not === | === What childlike is and is not === | ||
I feel so much better now about Matthew | I feel so much better now about Matthew 11. Indeed, I believe -- think? -- that in writing his post I have learned much while bolstering my faith. I pray so. So let us here flush out some meaning, so that we can more fully understand. | ||
The simplistic view says, | The simplistic view says, | ||