“Because I said so.” Kids are flummoxed by this response. So much so that many of us, having heard it as children, swore that we would never say it to our own kids. Then, life humbles us, and there we are: Why no fork in the light socket? Because I said so. Why shouldn’t I jump out of this tree? Because I said so. Why can’t I ride my bike to the park at midnight and meet my friends? Because I said so.
We become parents, and we get it. “Because I said so” is shorthand for so much more: Because I see things you don’t. Because I understand the ramifications and consequences in a way you can’t yet. Because I have learned from life experience, and I don’t want you to hurt from the same mistakes I made. Because I love you, and I want to protect you. Because I can’t convey all that to you right now because you aren’t able yet to understand what I’m saying.
“Because I said so” really means “you’re going to need to trust me on this one.” In moments of petulance, the child challenges that authority, “Why? Why? But I wanna.” And then learns the hard way why Mom or Dad has “said so.” In moments of humility, though, the child trusts. “You know better; I give.” Then as the child ages and gathers his or her own wisdom and experience, the parent’s wisdom tends to crystallize. Oh, THAT’s why.
In the Gospel today, the Pharisees are flummoxed. Jesus is revealing to them the Messiah, and still they ask, “Who are you?” Jesus replies, “What I told you from the beginning.” He has said who He is; He has shown who He is. He is the Son of Man speaking as the Father taught Him. And still they ask.
Of course Jesus understands their confusion. He knows, “You belong to what is below, I belong to what is above. You belong to this world, but I do not belong to this world.” He sees things the Pharisees don’t. He understands the ramifications and consequences in a way they can’t yet. He speaks for the Eternal God who knows the folly of all mankind, and He doesn’t want those before him to be hurt from the same mistakes made across time. Because He loves them, and He wants to protect them. Because He can’t convey all that to them right in the moment because they aren’t yet able to understand what He’s saying.
“You’re going to need to trust me on this one,” He seems to say. Why should they believe this guy? Why should we? Because He said so.
“Porque te lo he dicho”. A los niños les desconcierta esta respuesta. Nos ha molestado tanto que muchos de nosotros, al oírla de pequeños, nos hemos comprometido a nunca decírselo a nuestros propios hijos. Pero la vida nos da una lección de humildad, y ahí estamos: ¿Por qué no se puede meter un tenedor al enchufe? Porque te lo he dicho. ¿Por qué no puedo brincar de este árbol? Porque te lo he dicho. ¿Por qué no puedo ir en bici al parque a la medianoche a encontrarme con mis amigos? Porque te lo he dicho.
Cuando nos convertimos en padres llegamos a entenderlo. “Porque te lo he dicho” es una forma abreviada de decir mucho más: Porque veo cosas que tú no ves. Porque entiendo las repercusiones y las consecuencias de una forma que tú aún no puedes comprender. Porque he aprendido de la experiencia y no quiero que sufras por los mismos errores que yo cometí. Porque te amo y quiero protegerte. Porque no puedo transmitirte todo eso ahora mismo porque aún no eres capaz de entender lo que te digo.
“Porque te lo he dicho” en realidad significa “confía en mí sobre esto”. En momentos de berrinche, el niño cuestiona esa autoridad: “¿Por qué? ¿Por qué? ¡Pero yo quiero…!” Y entonces aprende, a las malas, por qué mamá o papá “lo ha dicho”. Sin embargo, en momentos de humildad, el niño confía: “Tú sabes más; te doy mi consentimiento”. Luego, a medida que el niño crece y adquiere su propia sabiduría y experiencia, la sabiduría de los padres tiende a quedar claro. ¡Ah, con razón!
En el Evangelio de hoy, los fariseos están perplejos. Jesús les está revelando al Mesías, y aun así preguntan: “¿Quién eres tú?” Jesús responde: “Precisamente eso que les estoy diciendo”. Él ha dicho quién es; ha demostrado quién es. Es el Hijo del Hombre hablando como el Padre le enseñó. Y aun así preguntan.
Por supuesto que Jesús comprende su confusión. Él sabe: “Ustedes son de aquí abajo y yo soy de allá arriba; ustedes son de este mundo, yo no soy de este mundo”. Él ve cosas que los fariseos no ven. Comprende las ramificaciones y consecuencias de una manera que ellos aún no pueden. Habla en nombre del Dios Eterno, quien conoce la necedad de toda la humanidad y no quiere que quienes le precedieron sufran por los mismos errores cometidos a lo largo del tiempo. Porque los ama y quiere protegerlos. Porque no puede transmitirles todo eso en ese momento, ya que aún no son capaces de comprender lo que les dice.
“Van a tener que confiar en mí en esto”, parece decir. ¿Por qué deben creer a este hombre? ¿Por qué debemos creerle nosotros? Porque nos lo ha dicho.
Pamela Kavanaugh is a grateful wife, mother, and grandmother who has dedicated her professional life to Catholic education. Though she has done her very best to teach her students well in the subjects of language and religion, she knows that she has learned more than she has taught. She lives, teaches, and writes in southwest suburban Chicago.
Feature Image Credit: Kelly Sikkema, unsplash.com/photos/a-book-with-the-words-in-god-we-trust-on-it-BqTjbSmkgY0
The views and opinions expressed in the Inspiration Daily blog are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Diocesan, the Diocesan staff, or other contributors to this blog.
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Merridith Frediani loves words and is delighted by good sentences. She also loves Lake Michigan, dahlias, the first sip of hot coffee in the morning, millennials, and playing Sheepshead with her husband and three kids. She writes for Catholic Mom, new.diocesan.com/, and her local Catholic Herald. Her first book Draw Close to Jesus: A Woman’s Guide to Adoration is available at Our Sunday Visitor and Amazon. You can learn more at 
