Inspired by Matthew 11:25-27
Wednesday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
©️2021 Gloria M. Chang
At that time Jesus said in reply, “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. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.
Matthew 11:25-27
Little Ones of the Kingdom
Jesus praises the Father for revealing divine mysteries not to the proud or erudite, but to the “childlike”—those with hearts as open and trusting as infants, described by the Greek word népios. These little ones, simple and pure, receive God’s truth with unassuming faith. Echoing Psalm 8:2, where babes and infants proclaim God’s majesty and silence his foes, this passage celebrates the humble who embrace divine wisdom with joy.
Thank you, Father, for opening our eyes—
Wee little ones, neither clever nor wise.
Traditional Chinese Translation
《向嬰孩顯明的奧祕》
天父，感謝你，開我們的眼睛—
我們這些小子，既不聰明也不通達。
Dear GMC, thank you for your insightful reflection. It brings back fond memories of what a spiritual director once told me: the aim is to be childlike, not childish.
Childlike wonder and awe,
Gifts not just for the young.
Middle age or older ones,
Tell of miracles they saw.
The heart of Christ within us is ageless,
Forever young, eternally fadeless.