URC Daily Devotion 27th January 2025

At that same hour Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, ‘I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.’ Then turning to the disciples, Jesus said to them privately, ‘Blessed are the eyes that see what you see!  For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.’

Reflection

Is “rejoiced in the Holy Spirit” Biblical code for “had a big belly laugh”?  Isn’t it funny when children show up the grownups with their innocent questions or observations?  Cute even.  Entertaining.  Smile indulgently and move on, back to the serious stuff that only the educated and experienced adults could possibly understand….

And miss that God’s gracious will is to play hide and seek with children and anyone still childlike enough to ask, seek and knock on closed lids and doors in a spirit of curiosity.   What an encouragement to keep open minded, open hearted and open handed – to always assume there is more of God to see and hear, to find and have opened to us, to share tentatively with others.  How blessed.  How joyful.  How hard for stuck in our ways  and worn down grownups.  Thank God for children to show us the way.

Prayer

Peek-a-boo God
You have blessed us with eyes and ears,
with questions and curiosity.
Help us as your children
to be active askers, seekers and barrier removers;
to keep expecting to find more of you in hidden and unexpected places.
That we might make you laugh with joy
and we and others might join in with that playful, contagious laughter.
Amen