“I bless you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for hiding these things from the learned and clever and revealing them to little children.” I spent a long time reflecting on this verse and how it intersected and enlightened my life.

I am the father of three children who are now happy and successful young men and women. I remember the early years with them so well. Their mom and dad could do no wrong. They trusted us and felt completely loved and safe with us. They listened carefully to the stories I told them each night before they went to bed. After the story was over, they slept securely after a hug and a kiss.

On the other hand, when I was a member of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament, I came to trust three learned men. I lived with them and had them as professors. They were Francis Costa, Gene LaVerdiere and Joseph Nearon. Each of them “knew their stuff.” However, each of them had a powerful pastoral sense, finding ways in which their teaching could bring their students closer to God, and they each did it with love.

The “bug in the ointment” is the word “clever.” Jesus spoke to those who learned in the Law, some of whom used their knowledge to overburden the people of that time with more than 600 laws. Jesus did not see that as a valid way of showing the people the great love and mercy of the Father.

We are all called to bring the love of the Father, manifested in Jesus, to all those in our lives. It could be mothers or fathers, grandparents, social workers, teachers, religious educators, mentors, or priests. We each eat the Body and drink the Blood; let us be the body and blood in our daily lives.

Let Us Pray:

God of all creation, you sent Jesus into our world to convince us that God was a God of infinite mercy, love, and forgiveness. May we receive the word of Jesus as “little ones” with absolute faith and trust and then manifest what we have received to all “the little ones” around us seeking love, acceptance, and belonging. Amen.