Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

You have hidden these things from the wise and the learned, and you have revealed them to little ones. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. - Matthew 11:25b-26

You have hidden these things from the wise and revealed them to little ones. The revealing is the Father's gracious will - not a consolation prize for those who lack the learning, but the deliberate choice of the one who knows that the learned often bring their learning as a filter that prevents the receiving.

The meek king comes on a donkey. The peace is proclaimed rather than conquered. The burden is light. All of these are hidden from the sophisticated eye and available to the one who simply receives what comes. The little one is not the unintelligent - it is the person who has not yet closed themselves to receiving.

Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. The invitation is given to the woman who has been carrying weight that does not belong to the easy yoke - the weight of performing, achieving, managing, being adequate. The rest is not a reward for the carrying. It is given when the carrying is brought to the one who receives it.

What are the things you have been approaching as the learned and wise rather than as the little one - bringing your understanding as a filter rather than your openness as a receiving? Name it. And come to the Lord with the burden as the little one: not analyzing the rest but asking for it.

Lord, let me be the little one who receives what the learned miss. Come to me - I am laboring and burdened. I will give you rest. I receive that. Precious Blood of Jesus, save us. Amen.