Pit Senyor Sto. Nino

Pit Senyor Sto. Nino

Mt 18: 1 – 5, 10

Feast of the Sto. Nino

Introduction

Today is the feast of the Sto. Nino. Today’s reading reflects Jesus’ attitude toward children. Jesus considers children as the greatest in the Kingdom of God and demands that we change our ways and become like little children ourselves.

The Gospel

18 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” ² He called a child, whom he put among them, ³ and said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. ⁵ Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.

¹⁰ “Take care that you do not despise one of these little ones; for, I tell you, in heaven their angels continually see the face of my Father in heaven.

Reflection

Today is the feast of the Sto. Nino. This is a feast that is particularly special in the Philippines. This feast celebrates the popular and beloved icon of the child Jesus wearing a crown and holding a scepter and an orb with his hands. More importantly, it is this icon that symbolizes the beginning of Christianity in our land from the time Ferdinand Magellan first brought it to our shores and gave it as a gift to the natives who kept and treasured it until the return of the Spaniards years later.  

Our nation’s love for the Sto. Nino reflects Jesus’ own love for children.  Our reading today reflects this special care and attention Jesus has for them. But more than simply loving and giving them his special attention, Jesus holds children as models and considers them as the greatest in the kingdom of God. He even tells his followers to change and become like little children if ever they wish  to enter the kingdom of God. 

Apparently, the command to become like little children seems puzzling especially when one is already of age and advanced in years. But what the Lord would have meant in saying this was for his hearers to assume and adopt the attitude of little children who undeniably are so trusting and full of   confidence especially when their parents are around. Such childlike attitude is perhaps what Jesus demands from us especially in our relationship with God. 

While it is true that all of us have been children once upon a time, much of our childlike attitude has now gone. Over time, we have adopted a much more reserved, critical and perhaps even doubting attitude towards others and even perhaps towards life and faith. Unfortunately, these complicated adult attitudes pervade much of how we look at the world and others. We have adopted and have grown with these attitudes primarily because of our self- preservation instincts and our determination to survive in a world that is both competitive and manipulative.  

 Easily, those who continue to live with childlike attitudes become victims of the harsh reality around them and do not seem to make it successfully in the world. In a world where prestige, honor and power are deeply regarded and sought after, becoming like a child would seem to be the complete antithesis of all that the world stands for. 

Against this reality, Jesus continues to insist that we must become like little children; children who simply entrust everything to the Father’s care; children who believe that the Father knows best and ultimately works for what is good for us. To become like little children demands such childlike attitudes of trust and confidence in God who designs everything in our life for our good. To become like little children then, demands humility as a necessary virtue, for it is only in humility when we can accept our total dependence on God whom we believe loves us dearly and would do anything for our welfare and salvation. It is no wonder then that becoming like a child is a requisite to enter the Kingdom of God. 

But the whole rationale for becoming like little children is Jesus himself. Jesus submitted himself totally to the Father’s care and dedicated himself to doing the Father’s will. He followed the Father’s wishes and designs. Even when he made the ultimate sacrifice of giving up his life, he entrusted everything to the Father’s care, ultimately surrendering his spirit until the end to the Father who loved him dearly. 

Similarly, we are called to become like Jesus himself who never in his life wavered in his belief that the Father knew best even when he was confronted with the most painful and grueling reality of being betrayed and abandoned, mocked, jeered and derided, and dying a horrible and shameful death. Only one with a childlike attitude and deep humility would have accepted all these as part of God’s loving plan. 

On this feast of the Sto. Nino, let us ask for the grace of becoming like a child and the grace of learning to trust the Lord and following his designs for us, come what may.

Prayer

Jesus, I am no longer a child. Notwithstanding this, you still want me to relate to  you and the Father like a child does to its parents. Teach me Lord to believe in your plans for me; to believe that everything you ever want for me is good and beautiful. Most of all, teach me to entrust and surrender my life to you so that like a child in its mother’s arms, I may be content and at peace. Amen.

“ The wolf shall live with the lamb,
    the leopard shall lie down with the kid,
the calf and the lion and the fatling together,
    and a little child shall lead them.” – Isaiah 11: 6