Homily for July 18, 2018.
“Jesus declared, ‘I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes; yea, Father, for such was thy gracious will.’” Matthew 11:25-26.
Today’s Gospel passage contains a prayer that Jesus addressed to the Father. And it is a prayer of thanksgiving. Compared to Jesus’ tone in yesterday’s Gospel passage when he was upbraiding the towns for their refusal to repent, Jesus seems to be in a joyful mood today. Jesus gives thanks to God for hiding the mysteries of His Kingdom from the wise and understanding and revealing them instead to infants.
Ordinarily, one should assume that only the wise should be able to understand the things of God but at a second thought, we realize that there are so many persons with doctorate degrees about God but still do not know Him. To know God at all, one must have faith like an infant.
No wonder, in Luke 18:16-17 Jesus says: “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” In other words, infants are not necessarily persons under the age of three or four but all those who are able to approach God like children.
One unique characteristic of infants and little children is that they easily believe anything you tell them. In other words, they are willing to learn and would hardly claim to know more than their teacher. To be an infant in God’s eyes is to humble oneself completely before God.
As we hear the Prophet Isaiah say in our first reading today, “can the axe exult itself over the one who uses it?” or “will the saw consider itself greater than the man who cuts with it?” Indeed, pride goes before a fall. We are nothing but mere instruments in the hands of God. Without this humility, we cannot understand the mysteries of the kingdom of God.
Our psalmist today sings: “The Lord will not abandon his people.” This very statement is one that requires a childlike faith to accept, believe and work with. Knowing that God will not leave his children forsaken should embolden your faith even when your life circumstances seem to betray this fact.
Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, give me the mind of a child in my approach to you. Amen.
*Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Wednesday of the 15th Week in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Isaiah 10:5-16, Psalm 94:5-15, Matthew 11:25-27).*
Fr. Abu
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