Homilies

FEAST OF THE STO. NIÑO: REMAINING CHILDREN BEFORE GOD'S EYES

IN THE PHILIPPINES, the Sunday following the Feast of the Lord’s Baptism has been celebrated as the Feast of the Sto. Niño. The devotion to the Sto. Niño in the country has become popular. One can easily notice an image or icon of the Sto. Niño displayed in places for business, offices, and at home. However, this devotion has also raised some questions, like theological questions. Some laugh at this popular devotion because Jesus, accordingly, has never remained a “child.” He grew, he preached, he died, and he rose from the dead. For these people, they say that Filipinos have missed an important point.

Well, we may have missed the point but we have to realize that there is a point in the “childhood” of Jesus that we should not miss. Equally, there are points or traits in children that we should not miss. This is the heart of the Gospel. Jesus says, “Whoever does not accept the kingdom like a child will not enter it.”

Children during Mark’s time were insignificant, powerless, and dependent. This may not be the picture of children that we see today. I pity some parents nowadays because their children have become a problem to them. The children are uncontrollable and disobedient. They are problematic, in other words. 

However, children, good or bad, have qualities which are worth emulating. The good characteristic that subsists in children is dependence, that is, dependence from parents. Some children may be bad, but never would they think that they can live all by themselves. They would always cling to their parents because they know they cannot live without them.

In our world characterized by competition, striving for excellence, and power, all these could lead us to become arrogant and proud. Some unnecessary wars have been a product of arrogance and hunger for power. Furthermore, in our arrogance and pride, we would feel we no longer need other people. And worse, we don’t have any need of God. Since power is within our reach, then we can no longer be dependent on others. I heard one successful lady saying, “I am a self-made person. I never asked any help from my family, my friends, and even from God.”

Because of the resources, because of power, we can no longer think of dependence. Instead, we tend to become private, individualistic, independent, and free. For us Christians, the resources and powers we may have should not lead us to think of absolute independence and freedom. Despite the power and resources we have, we should remain dependent on God. 

Thus, the Feast of the Sto. Nino is a reminder for us Christians that it is God’s will that we should remain children, niños, or niñas before the eyes of God. Although, we grow in age, our values should remain like that of a child. In fact, a holy Child was born in order to remind us of our “dependence” on God. Likewise, the children in our midst are a constant reminder for us that the worldly values run counter to the values of the kingdom. Despite the resources that we have, we must always feel the need of the providence of God. Despite the power that we have, we will always remain powerless and nothing before the eyes of God. We are all God’s children and our attitudes before God should be like those of children.

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