The praise of the Father

AT the time Jesus exclaimed: “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. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. 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.”

REFLECTION YOU HAVE REVEALED THEM TO THE CHILDLIKE. In the context of prayer, Jesus praises his Father for having revealed (unveiled) to the childlike and simple disciples what he has hidden (veiled) from the experienced, academically prepared intellectuals. Jesus acknowledges his Father as only doing his will in this way.

It is God’s grace for the disciples to know God’s secrets. They are the privileged few. They are able to enter into the realm of God because they are teachable. Since they are not schooled like the Pharisees and scribes, they can easily absorb Jesus’ teachings without arguing or debating. Their minds are simple. They are not suspicious of his new teachings. They have nothing to lose anyway. They totally stand in awe at his every word and action.

The childlike disciples are God’s gift to his Son Jesus. That is why Jesus is thankful in prayer. In the Jewish mentality, to praise and to thank mean the same. The Jews use the same word yadah for praising or thanking God. Jesus sees his inner circle as the Father’s support to him in his difficult mission to save the world. With his simple disciples, he feels he is not all alone in his efforts. His burden is made lighter.

Are you childlike? Do you see your co-workers as support from God? Thank God for them.