Bài Tin Mừng hôm nay cho chúng ta một cơ hội để hội nhập, có thể nói, với cấu trúc khôn ngoan của Thiên Chúa, Người đang ở giữa chúng ta, Có lẽ Ngài sẽ không thích được làm quen với những bí ẩn kỳ lạ của cuộc sống? Có nhiều điều bí ẩn mà những nhà khoa học gia nổi tiếng vẫn không thể nào tìm ra được nguyên nhân. Tuy nhiên đứng trước những bí ẩn đó, chúng ta “không có gì mà có thể giấu kín được mãi (...); cũng không có một cái gì mà có thể dấu mãi được sự bí mật” (Mc 4:22). Đây là mầu nhiệm của Con Người, đấng đã tự gọi mình là "Con Thiên Chúa", bởi vì Ngài đã nói về chính mình: “Mọi sự đều đã được Cha Ta trao phó cho Ta” (Mt 11:27) Bản chất Con người của Chúa Giêsu, qua sự hợp nhất trong Chúa Ba Ngôi đã được Ngôi Lời của Thiên Chúa đảm nhận: chính là Ngài, nói cách ngắn gọn, Ngôi Hai Thiên Chúa Ba Ngôi đã có trước khi mà bóng tối chưa có và do đó, ban đêm còn sáng hơn giữa ban ngày.
Một câu tục ngữ của Ả Rập có câu: “Nếu trong bầu trời đen tối, một kiến đen trèo lên trên một bức tường màu đen, Thiên Chúa nhìn thấy nó”. Không có gì có thể giữ được bí mật trước mặt Thiên Chúa. Cho dù có những điều thật là bí ẩn đối với chúng ta, nhưng không có gì là bí ẩn với Thiên Chúa vì trước mặt Ngài, tất cả những quá khứ, hiện tại và tương lai đều được mở rộng và được tỏ bày.
Chúng ta có thể khá hài lòng, vì Chúa nói hôm nay: "Lạy Cha là Chúa trời đất, Con xin ngợi khen Cha, vì Cha đã giấu các điều ấy với hạng khôn ngoan thông thái, mà đã mạc khải ra cho những kẻ bé mọn.” (Mt 11:25). Thật vậy, bởi vì không ai có thể biết hết được những điều bí ẩn, thậm chí cũng không thể đưa chúng ra khỏi bóng tối, cho dù đã phải dầy công nghiên cứu, hay phải dùng đến sự khôn ngoan.
Today, the Gospel offers us the opportunity to accede, so to speak, to the very structure of the divine wisdom. Who, amongst us, would not love to become acquainted with the unfathomable mysteries of life? There are enigmas the world's best team of investigators would not even dream of detecting. There is One however before which «there is nothing hidden, (...); nor is anything secret» (Mk 4:22). This is the mystery of who calls himself the “Son of man ”, inasmuch He says about himself: «All things have been handed over to me by my Father» (Mt 11:27). His human nature —through the hypostatic union— has been assumed by the Person of the Word of God: He is, in short, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, before which darkness does not exist and for which, night is more luminous than broad daylight.
An Arab proverb says: «If a pitch black night a black ant climbs over a black wall, God sees it». There are neither secrets nor mysteries for God. There are mysteries for us, but not for God, before whom, past, present and future are open and dug into, to the last comma.
Quite pleased, the Lord says today: «Father, Lord of heaven and earth, I praise you, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned and revealed them to simple people» (Mt 11:25). Indeed, because no one could pretend to know these or similar hidden secrets, not even by bringing them out of the darkness through exhaustive studies, or as the wisdom should. A little old aged woman, without any school experience, will always be more aware about the deep secrets of life than the pretentious scientist that has spent an awful lot of money at reputed universities. Certain science can be achieved through inner faith, humility and poorness. Clement of Alexandria very well wrote: «Night is favourable for mysteries; it is then when our soul —attentive and humble— turns on itself while pondering over its condition; it is then when it finds God».
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.” Matthew 11:25
This passage is in stark contrast to the passage just before it in which Jesus chastised the towns of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum for not repenting and believing in Him. And as soon as Jesus issued those rebukes, He turned His eyes to Heaven and offered praise to the Father for revealing the hidden mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven to those who were “childlike.”
One of the greatest threats to a pure and childlike faith is intellectual pride. Those who consider themselves as “wise and learned” are often tempted to rely upon their own reasoning abilities to come to conclusions and beliefs in life. The problem is that even though the matters of our faith are fully reasonable, they go beyond the conclusions that human reason alone can achieve. We cannot figure out God by ourselves. We need the gift of faith for that, and the gift of faith begins with a spiritual communication from God through which He reveals to us Who He is and what is true. Only the childlike, meaning, those who are humble, are able to hear this form of communication from God and respond.
This passage also reveals to us that Jesus passionately rejoices in this form of humble faith. He gives “praise” to the Father in Heaven for witnessing such faith, because Jesus knows that this form of faith originates from the Father.
In your life, it is important that you regularly ponder whether you are more like the wise and learned or like those who are childlike. Though God is an infinite and incomprehensible mystery, He must be known. And the only way we can come to know God is if He reveals Himself to us. And the only way God will reveal Himself to us is if we remain humble and childlike.
As we come to childlike faith, we must also imitate the praise that Jesus offered the Father for the faith that He witnessed in the lives of His followers. We, too, must turn our eyes to those who clearly manifest this pure knowledge of God by the gift of faith. As we see this faith lived, we must rejoice and offer praise to the Father. And this act of praise must be given not only when we see faith alive in others, it must also be given when we see the gift of faith grow within our own soul. We must foster a holy awe of what God does within us, and we must rejoice in that experience.
Reflect, today, upon Jesus giving praise to the Father as He witnesses the faith born in the hearts of His followers. When Jesus looks at you, what does He do? Does He issue chastisements? Or does His Sacred Heart rejoice and give praise for what He sees. Give joy to the Heart of Christ by humbling yourself to the point that you, too, are counted among the childlike who truly know and love God.
My rejoicing Lord, You are attentive to the workings of grace in every human heart. As You see the Voice of the Father speaking to Your children, You rejoice at such a sight. Dear Lord, I pray that my own heart will be the cause of Your joy and Your praise of the Father in Heaven. Please speak to me and help me to believe with all my heart. Jesus, I trust in You.
Opening Prayer: Lord God, I praise you for who you are and thank you for what you have done. You are the Lord who humbles the prideful and exalts the lowly. You are the Creator of all things and perfectly bring your eternal plan to fulfillment. I love you and renew my faith and trust in you.
1. The Sufferings of Israel: Yesterday, the First Reading was taken from Isaiah 7 and we learned about the Syro-Ephraimite conflict around the year 735 B.C. When King Ahaz of Judah formed an alliance with Assyria, against the advice of the prophet Isaiah, Isaiah withdrew and formed a community of disciples (Isaiah 8:16-22). Today, we read from Chapter 9 of Isaiah, in which the prophet speaks about the Assyrian oppression of the northern lands of Israel. The lands of Zebulon, Naphtali, and Galilee all suffered under Assyrian oppression. Isaiah says that although the northern kingdom of Israel walks and dwells in darkness, one day these same lands will see a great light. Isaiah promises that God will raise up a descendant of David, who will reign without end and establish peace and justice forevermore (Isaiah 9:7). At the same time, Israel is being punished for her idolatry and for oppressing the poor. Isaiah records four afflictions that have been brought upon Israel. First, because of their pride, the Lord has stirred up enemies against the people of Israel to humble her (Isaiah 9:8-12). Second, because the people of Israel did not seek the Lord, the Lord cut off Israel’s elders and false prophets, who, instead of leading the people to the Lord, have led them astray (Isaiah 9:13-17). Third, because of the wicked who committed injustice, brothers will turn against one another: Manasseh turn against Ephraim and Ephraim against Manasseh and both (Israel) will plot against the southern kingdom of Judah (Isaiah 9:18-21). Fourth, those who made unjust laws and decrees and oppressed the poor will not be able to flee on the day of punishment (Isaiah 10:1-4). How can I be more just and merciful in my dealings with others?
Introductory Prayer: Almighty and ever-living God, I seek new strength from the courage of Christ, our shepherd. I believe in you, I hope in you, and I seek to love you with all my heart, all my soul, all my mind, and all my strength. I want to be led one day to join the saints in heaven, where your Son Jesus Christ lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.
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