First Reading: Eccl 11:9-12:8; Psalm: 90. R. v. 1; Gospel: Lk 9:43b-45

THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD

BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP

Jesus said to his disciples, “Let these words sink into your ears; for the Son of man is to be delivered into the hands of men.” Although his disciples listened but they did not understand this saying. It is one thing to listen and another thing to understand. What Jesus revealed in that statement was beyond the understanding of his disciples at that moment. For who would ever conceive that God would subject himself to the hands of men. This is uncommon. It is a mystery. And this was why they could not perceive what Jesus said.

The disciples would later understand this saying after the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. So the reality of Jesus’ passion was the revelation to this mystery. In the passion of Christ, the unimaginable happened and a new understanding of God dawned on the disciples. Their knowledge of Jesus as God dissociated from human suffering changed. Because they saw a God who suffered and felt the pain they felt; a God who identified with them in all things but sin. This was a new reality that was unbelievably true.

God continues to unravel the mysteries of himself to us through the Holy Spirit. One mystery about God is that we cannot know him enough to exhaust the knowledge of him. Our knowledge of God is so limited and our brain is so tiny to contain even a piece of who God really is. Although in Jesus is the fullness of God’s revelation, we cannot comprehend in entirety all that is revealed in Jesus. Jesus promised that when the Spirit of truth comes, he will lead us into all truth (Jn 16:13). The Holy Spirit continues to reveal to us the mysteries of God. But we can only understand what is enough for us to understand.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY

Lord Jesus, may we grow daily in the knowledge of you. Amen.