In order to understand today’s Gospel, we need to remind ourselves of its context. In Luke 10, Jesus sent out seventy-two disciples two by two ahead of Him to every town and place where he was about to go. At the end of this mission, they returned to their Master overjoyed: “Even the demons submit to us in your name!” (Luke 10:17). Jesus teaches them that the key reason for their joy, is not because demons submit to them, but because their names are written in heaven.
Immediately
after this, we have today’s verses. Jesus turns to the Father in prayer in a
public outburst of joy and praise. Luke tells us that “At that time, Jesus
full of joy rejoiced in the Holy Spirit’”. The Greek verb ēgalliasato translated
as “rejoiced” means exultant, leaping joy. It is the same word used when Mother
Mary sings the Magnificat. This is a jubilant thanksgiving erupting from the
core of who Jesus is.
Why this sudden
burst of Joy? Because the Father has
revealed divine truth about who He is through Jesus. He has revealed the secret
of victory over the ancient serpent. He has revealed the secret of His Kingdom.
Jesus says: “I praise you Faither, Lord of Heaven and Earth, because you
have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little
children.” (nēpiois). The word nēpiois doesn’t mean “young”.
Rather, it refers to the simple, the humble, those without pretense, those who
know they need God.
Advent
season is the opportunity to learn become like this little one, open, trusting
in God the Father, in His promise. And as we know, God’s promise of salvation
is realized in a unique way, in the child of Nazareth, whose birth we will celebrate
in Christmas.
Jesus
continued his prayer saying, “All things have
been handed over to me by my Father.” The Son knows the Father as no one
else does and the Father knows the Son in a unique manner. The knowledge of the
God revealed in Jesus is the fruit of intellectual effort. It comes from
relationship, a personal encounter in which the heart of God is revealed to us.
This is the reason why Jesus said in John 14: 23, “If “Anyone who loves me
will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them
and make our home with them.”
God’s
delight is in people who listen. God takes delight in a human heart that is
open to His mystery.
Like the prophets
and kings, we are living in a time of longing. The kingdom of God comes in
tenderness, is revealed to the little ones. In this season of Advent, Am I approaching
God like a “wise”, “learned”, expert” or like a child, with a child-like heart?
Am I so busy with doing things and forget to stay with Jesus in silent
meditation? We can prepare our hearts
for this coming event through three steps:
Humility: The centering gesture in Luke is childlike openness. It is
about a child who depends on his father for bread and protection. Advent asks
us to put away proud self-sufficiency. The proud are not disposed to receive
revelation. The humble are open to receiving God’s word; they listen, trust in
God, and empty themselves of the need to prove. They allow God to be God in their
lives.
Joy: Jesus rejoices in the Spirit. Advent is a time of
expectant joy. This joy is steady confidence. It does not ignore pain or
sufferings in the world. But wait with hope. Jesus teaches us the power of
prayer of praise, being grateful to God always. Praising God opens our heart to
receive miracles.
Attentiveness
to revelation: The Father reveals the
truth to those who are watchful. Divine revelation often comes in small things.
It may come through reading a short Scripture verse, through a friend’s word,
through a quiet thought in the night. Let us not dismiss these occasions.
Addressing
His disciples Jesus says: “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.” The
disciples are told they witness what prophets and kings longed to see but did
not. The saw the presence of the Kingdom
of God in the person of Jesus. Like them we can have the same experience if we
learn to approach God with humility and child-like heart.
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