We previously noted that Jesus approved of His disciples when they returned from their mission. It’s not like we get to hear a long discourse indicating how much they’ve grown in their understanding. Nor does Jesus lay it all out for us. Nevertheless, He makes it clear in the previous reading as well as in the following passage, that His disciples have grown much.
21 At that very moment he rejoiced [in] the holy Spirit and said, “I give you praise, 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.
22 All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”
Verse 21 speaks to us about “these things” that have been revealed to the childlike. What has been revealed are the mysteries of the Kingdom of God. Previously, only Christ could authentically give us parables about the Kingdom of God – no one else could say “the Kingdom of God is like …” However, now, and forever more, His disciples will be able to preach to the Christian faithful “the Kingdom of heaven is like.” God has been gracious and has enlightened them to the point that they too will be able to teach about the Kingdom of God.
Additionally, verse 21 shows us that God exercises His divine prerogative – He shows favor to whoever He chooses. The fact that the “wise and the learned” have not received this gift also shows us that it is not by man’s merits that one becomes a disciple; it is by God’s grace.
Jesus is rejoicing because by the grace of God, the disciples have been shown, and have come to understand, the Son.
Our prayerful response can be to ask for the Grace to know the Son.
Related PostsScripture texts in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition© 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All Rights Reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
Thanks, Jim. I pray that we all are open to God’s grace; that we, like the Apostles before us, will come to know the Father; that we will come to understand the mysteries of His kingdom; that we will come to accept and understand the Son; that we will live life in the Spirit; that we will journey together as community to our Heavenly home. God bless.