Fr Ed Homily 7-15-20

These Things

I have always marveled at people who can offer spontaneous prayer. The Spirit must certainly be working through them. Ever wonder what kind of prayer Jesus would say? We are invited into Jesus’ prayer to the Father in today’s gospel. It is almost as if we are eavesdropping on what Jesus is praying to the Father, but in a good way. I like this analogy, eavesdropping. Remember when you have tried to eavesdrop. Sometimes you hear all the words, sometimes you just get phrases and you must fill in the blanks. Sometimes the words you hear just do not make sense. The reason they do not make sense is because you are listening to a conversation/prayer between two individuals. They have a common knowledge or understanding to which we just do not know or understand. The words Jesus is using today indicates there is an understanding between Father and Son that we just do not know.

Jesus mentions the words these things. Just what are these things he speaks of? This is one of those hidden meanings between the Father and the Son. We can only speculate. Jesus tells us that only the childlike can know, not the wise and the learned. So, let us think of this in childlike terms. First, a child accepts things at face value. The child is not thinking of hidden agendas or that someone is trying to deceive him. They place their trust in the teacher. Second, there is a genuine curiosity. We inherently want to learn. We want to know more. And we seek to understand. Third, we do not have racist or sexist ideologies. We are all seen as human beings. True, we need to learn how to work with one another. And to play fair. But that is part of being a child. These things add up to be faith in God. Then the Son can bring us to know the Father.

May the Lord bless you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen