Jesus came to reveal the Father to all 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 meals and in various situations (Mt 19:4; 21:31, 37; Lk 15:3ff, 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).
Constantly strive to become like little children before the Lord (Mt 18:3). Beg God for an innocent heart to guard against the temptation to harden our hearts to the point that we close ourselves to Jesus' revelation of the Father. Study the Scriptures regularly, even daily. "Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 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. Henry was a ruler of an empire who lived a life of unquestioned personal holiness. He let his light "shine before men so that they" could "see goodness in (his) acts and give praise to" God (Mt 5:16). |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College