Jesus disarmed the world by His simplicity—do you think it’s possible that we could do the same? Or have we become so “sophisticated” that we miss what’s most important?
In St. Matthew’s Gospel, the only prayer that Jesus taught His friends to pray is the Our Father:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
He continues: “If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.”
Jesus was so simple—and He made things so simple! The question for us all today is: Why do we make things so complicated?
Over and over again in my daily reflections I focus my attention on the First Principals, leaving the “heavy lifting” to God. Remember the acronym “MARC,” meaning Mass, Adoration, Rosary, and Confession. We have forgotten that the Transcendental is contained in these First Principals. This is why I am Catholic and will always be Catholic!
The transcendental is what will save us. From who? From our very selves! No “plan,” no PowerPoint presentation, no ideas, no ideology, no agenda can do what these First Principals can do.
Saints over the centuries have grounded their lives in these First Principals; as a result, their natural gifts were magnified by grace, and they shook the foundations of the world. Do you think you are somehow excluded from being used by God?
This is what Jesus shows us in His teaching on how to pray: Keep it simple!
In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
I am a co-host of a radio show that interviews Catholic authors and intellectuals, including Dr. Peter Kreeft. Dr. Kreeft is a brilliant man and a prolific writer, authoring over 100 books. He ended his most recent book with this short sentence—“Less is more”—and we discussed that idea in detail in our conversation.
Dr. Kreeft expanded the statement by saying that Politics and Scholarship will not save the world. We have to focus on the most basic things, on the very heart of Jesus Christ. From the Sacred Heart, we will not only find unity, but we will be transformed, and in doing so we will transform the world.
As a person involved in Catholic media, I sometimes step back and ask myself how we as a Catholic people have made things so complicated. We seem to forget that Jesus was a carpenter, that His first friends were fishermen. These men understood what it means to “get down to basics.” And look at what God did through these humble fishermen!
In the Catholic Church, both historically speaking as well as in the present day, some of the most brilliant minds can be found spanning the four corners of the globe, yet we still seem to “miss the point.” Jesus condensed all the Jewish laws (of which there are many) into two: Love God above all things, and Love your neighbor as yourself. Further, Jesus gave us only one prayer: the Our Father. See how beautifully simple He was?
This is how we must strive to be: simple like a child. Stick to First Principals and allow the Holy Spirit to transform your soul—because He will! And then allow God to work through you. We each have natural gifts, which can and will be magnified by grace.
My youngest daughter, Maria, was born on October 1st, the Feast Day of St. Therese of Lisieux, the Little Flower. St. Therese was declared a Doctor of the Church and is known for the one and only book she wrote, called The Little Way. In it, she illustrates a simple and pure faith, a path to God through childlike trust.
When speaking with Dr. Peter Kreeft, I brought up St. Therese and her book. We both agreed and laughed at how, when we first read her book, we both didn’t “get it”—it was too simple—and maybe that is the point!
St. Therese’s “Little Way” is just another example of the wisdom taught to us by Christ and the saints. Stop making what is simple complicated. The “Little Way” is the most direct way to God. It’s the answer to all our problems.
Once again Jesus teaches us, He “breaks it all down,” and focuses our attention on what is most important. As Catholics living in the 21st century, it’s very easy to “get lost in the weeds.” We have become so sophisticated that we seem to miss the point. This is why we need reminders, and Jesus knew this. That’s why Our Lord has given us people like St. Therese of Lisieux and the example of her “Little Way.”
After my recent conversation with Dr. Kreeft, I think I need to re-read St. Therese’s spiritual classic. Hopefully now I will “get it,” and get more out of it.
The great authors of literature are very similar to the authors of the four Gospels and the saints. They take complex subject matter, condensed it, and make it understandable. This is what Jesus did. His brilliance was found in not only what He taught, but by the way He taught it. Should we not strive to do the same?
The great Dr. Peter Kreeft, after writing over 100 books, condensed all his ideas into three words: “Less is More.” Maybe this is why God came to us as a humble carpenter, disarming the world by His simplicity.
Do you think it’s possible that we do the same? Or have we become so sophisticated that we miss what is most important?
Editor’s Note: Originally published on Joe Reciniello’s blog, Oh…Francesco, on June 19, 2025.
Image from Meisterdrucke
