I recently attended a funeral of a man who was an influential figure in his local
community. Several people offered tributes to his incredible impact on their lives. But the most powerful part of the service arrived when the man’s son stood up and shared some of the deeply personal and intimate memories he and his father shared. It was a heartwarming moment. This great man, who gave himself in service to so many, had not lost his close and intimate love for his children.
This passage in Matthew shows Jesus coming to a similar realisation about God, who he affectionately referred to as his Father. There were things about God that, for some reason, only Jesus seemed to know and only he could reveal.
Jesus and God “know” each other in an intimate way. We, in turn, come to the knowledge of each through divine revelation.
As Jesus met people and revealed God’s Kingdom of love, healing, forgiveness and new life, he noticed that many people, including the religious leaders and his followers, did not have the same understanding of God. Therefore, he shared his tributes to God the Father and invited
others to learn about God by getting to know him first.
Jesus invites us to know God by getting to know Jesus intimately. We do this not by studying books about him but by living in his
presence, listening for his voice, and learning from him - as a child would from a loving parent.
What images come to mind when you think of God the Father and Jesus the Son? Are they similar or starkly
different?
What tributes could you offer to God based on your relationship with God?
How can you better draw near to Jesus as Jesus drew near to God?
Reflections by Joe Taylor
