meet my father
"No one knows the Son but the Father, and no one knows the Father but the Son — and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal Him." —Matthew 11:27
Jesus came to reveal the Father to the people on this earth. He even taught us to pray first of all, "Father" (Mt 6:9). Jesus reveals the Father to anyone He wishes (Mt 11:27). Is there anyone to whom Jesus does not wish to reveal the Father? Since Jesus wants to reveal the Father to us, it obviously takes a hard heart and a closed mind to shut out Jesus' revelation of the Father.
Jesus didn't try to reveal the Father to Herod (Lk 23:9), which indicates that Herod had completely closed his heart and mind to God. However, He did attempt to reveal the Father to the Sanhedrin as they tried and condemned Him (Lk 22:69). He also tried to reveal the Father to Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes, and elders at various meals and in various situations (Mt 19:4; 21:31, 37; Lk 15:3, 22; 20:37). Since Jesus wanted so badly to reveal His Father to them, it's understandable that He was grieved when they had closed their minds against Him (Mk 3:5).
We must constantly strive to become like little children before the Lord (Mt 18:3). We need an innocent heart to guard against the temptation to harden our hearts to the point that we have closed ourselves to Jesus' revelation of the Father. We must also study the Scriptures regularly, even daily. "Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ" (Catechism, 133) and of His revelation of the Father. "Oh, that today you would hear His voice: harden not your hearts" (Ps 95:7).
Prayer: Father, "hallowed be Your name" (Mt 6:9).
Promise: "The Lord will not cast off His people." —Ps 94:14
Praise: St. Camillus served the sick and dying and became patron of hospitals. He was said to forget all pleasures, enticements, and interests of this world when he saw a sick person in need.
Reference: (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
Rescript: †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, December 29, 2012
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