But Jesus would not trust himself to them because he knew them all,
and did not need anyone to testify about human nature.
He himself understood it well.
John 2:24-25
Uh Hmmm.. That's how my dad would reply when I was young and told him my long winded stories about my day including every detail I could think of, as he sat and read the newspaper. It makes me laugh to remember that one time after I realized he was only half listening, I changed my story line, and made up a whimsical story about riding on a cloud on my pony and how I saw the moon up close and felt the heat of the sun. He stopped reading, and turned his attention to me, and we both laughed out loud. I said to him then: "No more uh hmmms" from you! I wasn't concerned about him not hearing me because he always sat in his favorite chair and I was familiar with his routine. When he sat there, I could get his attention. It's funny to me that when we pray, do we always sit in the same place? Do we call on God at the same time and pretty much in the same seat on Sundays? God is faithful, and God is constant for us. He hears our every prayer.
God doesn't "uh hhmmm" us, and He knows our every need and our human condition. This Gospel verse comes right after Jesus, in righteous anger, drove out the moneychangers from the temple. Yet, even in his wrath, Jesus, born Incarnate yet human in nature, knew the needs of those in his Father's house, and their human condition. God understands us too and as we pray it helps us to clarify and purify our intentions and be open to the Holy Spirit. Let's be sure we do not "Uh hmmm" God in our prayers by repeating them over and over without actively praying. Then we can move from asking God about our needs and we can ask God to strengthen us to build relationships with those in need, based on trust, and then hope and love.
