Sunday’s Gospel:

Hidden From the Wise, Revealed to Little Children

Father in the Son: You have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the kingdom

Let the Children Come to Me, Saint Bernard Church (Burkettsville, OH) via Wikimedia Commons.

Be childlike — not childish. God “revealed to little ones the mysteries of the kingdom,” (Matthew 11:25, NAB).

Childish means immature while “childlike” means retaining a pure sense of humility and wonder allowing you to quickly see the miracles all around you.

That foundational passage of Christianity differentiates our religion from others. It’s one reason the smallest child quickly knows God is pure love, someone who sees all, knowing and understanding everything.

Christianity is as simple or as deep and complicated as you need it to be, a God who connects with the deepest thinkers and the simplest, smallest creatures, who “get” him even quicker than the rest of us.

How often do we ruminate, making something more complicated than it needs to be? How often do we tune out, dismiss or “fill in the blanks” adding words never said?

The Pharissees meant well. Their ancestors forgot or ignored laws so the Pharisees micro-managed insisting every single rule be obeyed to the letter of the law. Jesus said “Stop,” you’re missing a bigger picture that is clearer to the little ones.

Following someone is more than knowing rules: It’s sensing the spirit and bigger picture of the greater love and truth that leads to those rules.

Animals wore a “yoke,” a heavy wooden bar around their necks to make sure they followed their masters each step of the way, something instinctive like a dog knowing every change in a leash.

Jesus concluded Sunday’s Gospel saying the yoke of following him is easy and light because it’s rooted in love:

You can ask dozens of questions to learn rules but why ask why? The childlike simply trust, follow, and listen intently.

Let’s revisit those vital words from Sunday’s Gospel.

The Gospel of the Lord: Matthew 11:25–30

Jesus praises the Father, telling him he knows “you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children,” (Matthew 11:25, NIV).

Think about that: What would you tell the littlest ones in your family and hide from the wisest authorities and experts? Jesus emphasizes the point, saying he knows the Father is “pleased” to do it this way.

Yes, God has a fantastic sense of humor. He’s gentle, humble and gives you rest if you simply let go of your pride and restless worrying.

Little children understand the simplest things and get lost if you make things too complex. But we get so fixated on complex details, we lose sight of the simpler, bigger picture.

Zoom out, look at the bigger picture. The steps are simpler, like at the wedding of Cana when the mother of Jesus said “Do whatever he tells you,” (John 2:5, NIV).

“All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:27–30, NIV)

The Old Testament prepares us for the New Testament

More than 450 years before Christ, the prophet Zechariah saw the future:

See, your king shall come to you; a just savior is he, meek, and riding on an ass, on a colt, the foal of an ass. He shall banish the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem; the warrior’s bow shall be banished, and he shall proclaim peace to the nations. His dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth. (Zechariah 9:9–10, NAB)

Psalm 145:1–14, NAB reminds us: “The LORD is good to all and compassionate toward all his works. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God. Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,and let your faithful ones bless you. Let them discourse of the gloery of your kingdom and speak of your might.”

How do we apply this Gospel to our own world?

Have you seen this viral video of a little girl telling her baby brother why he didn’t need to be afraid? She told knew “God is inside of you… He can protect you.” She knew — and he understood.

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Our heaviest burdens often involve our spiritual selves. But many faiths suggest simpler paths that can be easily understood by anyone.

Confucius said knowing the few things you know also meant knowing what you don’t know. Buddha summed everything up with four truths: To live is to suffer, selfish desire causes suffering, ending your selfish desire ends your suffering, and you can end selfish desire by ending desire in your life.

Christianity can be even simpler: Be childlike, fall on your knees, pray with all your heart (Children tend to be more open-hearted and imaginative) and call on the Holy Spirit to “come” upon you and lead your way.

You aren’t “in the flesh,” because “you are in the spirit, if only the Spirit of God dwells in you. Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.” (Romans 8:9–10, NAB)

If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also, through his Spirit that dwells in you.

Consequently, brothers and sisters, we are not debtors to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. (Romans 8:11–13, NAB)

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