“We live in a time when everybody seems to know everything. You notice this especially on social media. Someone posts about politics, and suddenly, everyone is a political expert. Someone talks about health, and everyone becomes a doctor. Someone shares a problem in the Church, and everyone becomes a theologian, canon lawyer, and bishop.

Of course, there is nothing wrong with knowing. There is nothing wrong with studying and becoming educated. We need wise and intelligent people.

But in today’s Gospel, Jesus says something that should make us pause: “You have hidden these things from the wise and the learned and revealed them to the little ones.”

What does Jesus mean?

I don’t think Jesus is against intelligent people. The problem is not that we know much. The problem is when we begin to think we already know everything. Because when we think we know everything, we stop listening.

We stop listening to other people.

We don’t like to be corrected. We become impatient with those who disagree with us. And sometimes, without realizing it, we also stop listening to God.

Brothers and sisters, the “little ones” Jesus speaks about are not necessarily children. They are people who have a humble and open heart. They are people who are still willing to say: “Lord, I don’t know everything. Please teach me.”

And perhaps this is a prayer we need to pray more often: “Lord, teach me.”

When you are about to make an important decision: Lord, teach me.

When you are angry with somebody and you feel you already know his or her intentions: Lord, teach me.

Before you judge another person: Lord, teach me.

Before you post or comment in anger on social media—pause and pray: Lord, teach me.

Even when you are very sure that you are right, perhaps you can still ask: “Lord, is there something I am not seeing?”

You see, brothers and sisters, we don’t have to know everything. We just need to remain teachable.

The cup is already full

There is a simple story about a professor who visited a wise old man. The professor was highly educated, and from the moment he arrived, he kept talking. He explained his ideas, his theories, his opinions. He hardly allowed the old man to speak.

The old man simply prepared tea.

He poured tea into the professor’s cup. The cup became full, but the old man continued pouring. The tea overflowed onto the table.

The professor said, “Stop! Can’t you see? The cup is already full. Nothing more can go in!”

The old man smiled and said: “Exactly.”

Final Words

Sometimes, brothers and sisters, we are like that cup.

We are so full of our opinions. So full of our judgments. So full of what we think we already know. There is no more room to listen. Perhaps today, Jesus is inviting us to empty our cup a little.

Listen more. Judge less. Be open to correction. And above all, remain open to God. Let us never become too old, too educated, too powerful, or too important to say: “Lord, I may not know everything. I may not see everything clearly. Please teach me.”

Because very often, God reveals His heart not to the person who proudly says, “I know,” but to the humble person who quietly says: “Lord, I am listening. Teach me.”