July 13, 2011
Wednesday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
By Colleen O'Sullivan
An angel of the Lord appeared to (Moses) in fire flaming out of a bush. As he looked on, he was surprised to see that the bush, though on fire, was not consumed. So Moses decided, “I must go over to look at this remarkable sight, and see why the bush is not burned.” When the Lord saw him coming over to look at it more closely, God called out to him from the bush, “Moses! Moses!” He answered, “Here I am.” God said, “Come no nearer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground. I am the God of your father,” he continued, “the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob.” (Exodus 3:2-6a)
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)
Piety
Lord, help me to shed the trappings of adulthood – the self-reliance, the cynicism, the loss of joyful wonder - that keep me from childlike faith in you.
Study
In yesterday’s Gospel reading, Jesus berated the people of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum. He had performed many signs in their towns, but they refused to believe in or accept him. In today’s passage, Jesus talks about those who are his followers. His followers aren’t the learned or the religious “experts” of the day, the Pharisees or the Scribes; his followers, he says, are the childlike.
Working for a trade association, where lobbying is one of the principal activities, I am exposed to very un-childlike behavior every day. A tremendous amount of energy goes into what spin to put on issues, which senator or congressman to use to best get our agenda accomplished, etc., etc. This may be the only way to do business in Washington, but it gets wearing and disillusioning at times. So, over the years I have found myself sometimes going after work to visit one of my best friends, who has three children who consider me their honorary “aunt.” I don’t go so much to talk to my friend as to listen to and interact with her children, who are very childlike, in the sense that Jesus uses that expression.
Little children aren’t like us adults. They don’t come into the world jaded and cynical. They aren’t puffed up with pride on how self-reliant they are. They are totally dependent on their parents and not the least bit ashamed of it. They trust that Mommy and Daddy are there and will kiss and bandage away any hurt. They don’t worry about their next meal or what they’re going to wear tomorrow.
I love to watch their eyes, how they dance with glee or get big with wonder at some new discovery. They are so funny sometimes in their innocence. I remember the five-year-old asking some birds and bees questions one day and being given age-appropriate answers by her mother. She thought about what was said for maybe five or ten minutes and then came back and asked, “So, what was God thinking? Was he making a joke?” I guess she didn’t like what she had heard!
The other thing I love about small children is their sincerity. One night we were all lying on the floor watching cartoons projected on the ceiling. The 2½ year old was snuggled up to me. Out of the blue, he offered to share his most precious possession with me, his tattered blankie. Because he seldom ever went anywhere without it, I knew that he was giving me a gift from his heart.
Moses must have had some childlike qualities. He was full of wonder at the sight of a burning bush not being consumed by the flames. He was inquisitive enough to walk right up to it. He was receptive to the voice of God coming from within the bush, commissioning him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.
Action
What “wise and learned” attitudes do you need to set aside to have that childlike faith Jesus talks about in today’s Gospel reading?
