Praise of the Father
LUKE 10:21-24
JESUS rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I give you praise, 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. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”
Turning to the disciples in private he said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”
REFLECTION GIVE YOU PRAISE, FATHER. The weeks before Christmas are some of the happiest days in the entire year. This is the period of vacation, reunion with family and former schoolmates. Many people, especially the youth, eagerly look forward to Misa de Gallo. It is also the time for weddings and for Filipinos returning home from abroad. For the salaried employees and laborers, the Christmas bonus is a big delight, while the kids look forward to receive their aguinaldos.
In the Gospel, Luke presents Jesus to be very happy because of two things. First, he rejoices for his deep and intimate relationship with the Father. Everything that Jesus says and does is the outcome of his being Son of the heavenly Father. Second, Jesus is delighted because his disciples have seen and understood the mysteries that his Father has revealed to him. This has become possible because the disciples have remained humble of heart like children prepared to learn new things from their teacher.
In the First Reading, a descendant of Jesse will take delight in fulfilling God’s will. Isaiah obviously refers to Jesus as this descendant whose coming reign will bring God’s justice to humankind. Peace will reign, and he will defeat Satan, symbolized by the serpent, who will be unable to harm the least and most helpless of God’s creatures, here symbolized by the baby playing by the cobra’s den.
What brings you deep peace and abiding joy?