In today’s Gospel Jesus prays and gives praise to his heavenly Father with these words: “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth.” Jesus stands in wonder before his Father’s ways. With childlike simplicity God reveals himself as a God of love, mercy, and compassion: “for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.”
Where and how has God revealed himself? In salvation history God has revealed himself in different ways as we hear in Hebrews: “In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways to our ancestors through the prophets…” (Hebrews 1:1). In today’s first reading from Exodus God appears to Moses in the burning bush and reveals himself: “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob.”
As Hebrews goes in to state God now provides his definite revelation in his Son, Jesus Christ: “in these last days, he spoke to us through a son, whom he made heir of all things and through whom he created the universe…” (Hebrews 1:2). This is the message of today’s Gospel:
“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.”
Jesus, of course, wishes to reveal the Father to all people, no one is excluded. He goes out to tax collectors, prostitutes, and sinners. Jesus in his words and in his deeds reveals the Kingdom of God, the ways and will of the Father. God’s desire is that all accept this revelation but is takes humility and faith. The childlike are those who know that they do not have all the answers and are willing and able to put their trust not in themselves or their own power and goodness but to put their trust in God. Let us pray to God today with Jesus and praise God for the gift of faith:
“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.”
Image: “4-Jesus-praying-at-Gethsemane” by liyang127 is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.