Reflection for Wednesday, July 19, 2006: 15th week in Ordinary Time.
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Authors
Whitney, Tamora
Issue Date
2006-07-19
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Essay
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en_US
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Abstract
"Although you have hidden these things |from the wise and the learned |you have revealed them to the childlike."|As an educated, learned, and I certainly hope, wise person, I probably tend to over-think things. I know I tend to over-think these reflections. When I get the assignment, I look up the readings. Then I think about what they mean, and how the first reading and the psalm and the gospel all relate to each other. Sometimes I look up the verses just before or after the readings for the day. Sometimes I look up exegeses, but then I worry that it might be 'cheating,' and to tell you the truth they're not always that helpful. When I first got this assignment and read that first reading, I thought, "oh no, what do I do with that? And how does it fit with the gospel?"|And then I thought, all my thinking and re-thinking and trying to fit things together completely goes against what Jesus says in the gospel. The real gist is hidden from the learned: the people who tend to think too much, who want equations and syllogisms and everything tied up in a neat package. The children are the ones with the innocence and the pure faith. The learned want proofs and signs and definitive answers. They aren't satisfied with faith and belief and trust. But those with a childlike innocence can have a pure and simple faith in Jesus, and know, like he tells us, that he is all we need to know. He can reveal the father to us, if we believe and trust and have faith. But too many people want the proofs. Sure, you can learn a lot from proofs and definitive examples. Most of the people I know got where they are through education. I'm an educator; I know there is good in education and learning. But there is also something in trust, in a pure and innocent belief that can't be taught and can't be learned. It has to be taken on faith.
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University Ministry, Creighton University.
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These reflections may not be sold or used commercially without permission. Personal or parish use is permitted.
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Lectionary number: 391