Experiencing God - Our Refuge180

"I bless you Father, Lord of heaven and earth for hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them to mere children."
Gospel of Luke

We live in a culture that has become restless in its search for meaning and purpose.  It seems, for many, that their minds are running in every direction at once, turning to this and that in their desperate search.  And for what?  What are they looking for?  For an unnamed something that will satisfy their longing for some stability and security? 

We pass from one thing to another, hoping that the next experience will contain whatever it is that we are looking for.  Thus, we not only fail to discover this higher purpose for life, but get caught up in those experiences that fail to satisfy the longing of the heart.

Jesus' heart is directed towards God, whom He calls Father.  "I bless you Father, Lord of heaven and earth for hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them to mere children."  What are these things that have been revealed to mere children? 

It is a mind and heart consumed by God's love, God's compassion.  It is a mind and heart that finds its strength, its security, its purpose, not in the external things of the world, but in the inner strength, security, and purpose that comes from faith in God.

This Gospel is a reflection of Isaiah 55.  "Everyone who thirsts, come to the water.  You that have no money, come buy and eat.  Come buy wine and milk without money, without price.  Why spend your money for that which is not bread, or labor for that which does not satisfy.  Listen, so that you may life."

Jesus knew the answer to mankind's dilemma, mankind's desperate search.  He gave us His life to share with us the way, but many still fail to listen.  We fail to see that only one thing will satisfy our human longing, and that one thing is to find refuge in God. 

Refuge in God means the act of turning towards Him for assistance. To turn our hearts and minds to God, to discover shelter from the confusion of life's external phenomena, requires that we become like little children.  This does not mean becoming childish.  It means we learn the art of trust, the art of surrender.  It means we let go of our own self-assurance and accept the assurance that comes through faith.  

This is what remains hidden from the learned and the clever; the simplicity and humility that comes from being mere children.