A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 11:25-27)
At that 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.”
In today’s Gospel, Jesus gives praise to the Father. The spontaneity of his thanksgiving expresses the joy Jesus feels in seeing that what the Father withholds from the wise and the learned what he reveals to the childlike. In acknowledging his Father’s will, Jesus reveals the unique and intimate relationship between himself and the Father. He says that he alone fully knows the Father, and the Father has entrusted all things to him. The Son, in turn, has the authority to reveal the Father to whomever he chooses. To remain childlike in faith is to be open to receiving what Jesus reveals.
God, help me today to exercise childlike faith in your will. The way of assuming I am wise and learned obscures what Jesus has to reveal to me. Give me the grace to stay open to you and supple in recognizing your word and receiving it. By Jesus’ action of opening the way to a relationship with you, I have the means to remain childlike in coming to you and trusting you with all of my needs. Help me also let go of worry that is useless and keeps me from experiencing childlike joy in the gift of this day.
Thank you, Lord, for revealing your presence today in the Eucharist. From the responsorial psalm: “Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all my being, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.”
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.