I thank you father, Lord of heaven and earth (Mt 11:25-30)

I thank you father, Lord of heaven and earth (Mt 11:25-30)

 Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, after reading today’s gospel passage we should feel a lot of comfort in our life. Jesus is speaking here on behalf of us, thanking God the father and giving us a great courage. However, If only we go into the background of this passage we will be able to know really its deep inner meaning and feel the greatness of the real Guru, our Lord Jesus Christ.  

Jesus gives thanks to God the father for revealing the eternal truth about salvation to the little ones. It is amazing.  Who are these little ones? If we go through the gospel of Mathew, undoubtedly, we can say they are none other than his disciples! We read, “If anyone of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great mill stone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depths of the sea” (Mt 18:6), “Take care that you do not despise one of these little ones; for, I tell you in heaven their angels continually see the face of my father in heaven” (Mt 18:10), “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me” (Mt 25:40).      

Let us come to the passage. Chapter 10 of Mathew speaks about the calling, instructing and sending of the 12 apostles with heavenly powers. Chapter 11 proclaims the great witness of John the Baptist. Gospel of St. John says,”to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God.” Then these little ones are of course, you and I who believe in him and received him as our Lord and God. Why should Jesus thank God the father for revealing this to the little ones? We know that he himself was instrument in God the father’s hand. Yes, it is here we find the greatness of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is on this point we meditate today.

Once I had a casual visit to a neighboring parish. An elderly priest was with me. As we entered the church compound some guys who were sitting and chatting near the office came to us and greeted Jay Jesu. I was noticing how these guys were happy to see that old priest and sharing their life to him. All of them were well employed it seemed. On our way back the elderly priest was sharing with me about those people, their early poor life situations and thanking God for his being instrumental for them. When they got a chance most of them studied well and got good jobs. May be a very simple thing it is. My dear brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, many a time, remember, you and I were instrumental of God for our children, family members, students, friends, fellow beings etc. We have seen them growing, flourishing faster in their life. What was our attitude towards their growth? Are we comfortable with them? Could we give thanks to God of our own accord seeing their honest response to the grace they received? Or rather, are we calculating the days of their coming back and praising and flattering us?

Once, disciples of Jesus came around him explaining in great joy all those things that had happened during their mission work. In Luke we see Jesus filled with Holy Spirit thanking God the father and in Mark we find Jesus inviting them to a lonely place to be with him and to hear them sharing. Today in this Holy Eucharist let us ask for the grace we need to thank God for all the graces we received in and through us. Jesus has no hands today to help our brethren other than ours, he has no eyes today to see the tears of our brethren other than ours he has no ears today to hear the cries of our brethren other than ours. May God help us to be instrumental in his hands and lead always a grateful life! Amen.