Cycle B - Year II:  

21 January 2018: Feast of the Sto. Nino 

(Liturgical Color: White)

Readings:

First Reading:        Isaiah 9:1-6

Second Reading:   Ephesians 1:3-6, 15-18

Gospel:Please Read  Mark 10:13-16

The Sto. Nino: the Child Who is God!

Why did God choose to be a Child? It is an interesting question. Let us reflect on this Sunday's Gospel to search for the answer.

The Church celebrates the Feast of the Sto. Nino this Sunday. Filipinos revere the image of the Holy Child or the Sto. Nino throughout the country. The devotion to the Holy Child is said to be the oldest and one of the most popular in the Philippines, recalling the birth of the Catholic faith  in our country in 1521. The Holy See granted us special permission to celebrate the Feast of the Sto. Nino on third Sunday of January, which falls on the 21st this year 2018.

The Feast of the Holy Child is a celebration of the incarnation of Jesus Christ. That is, God came to us as a child to show us how to become children of God, and how we must entrust our lives to our heavenly Father. God chose to make Himself visible in Jesus as an appealing child in order to draw us to Himself. Jesus Himself loves the little children as today's Gospel narrates. He sees in their eyes the reflection of the freshness and holiness of God's kingdom.

Do we show kindness to the youth we encounter in the neighborhood, home, and Church? Do we pray for them that they may grow in the knowledge  and wisdom of our Lord Jesus Christ?

Going back to the Gospel narratives, perhaps the disciples want to shield Jesus from the nuisance or noisy children. But Jesus delighted in the children, and He wanted to demonstrate by His actions of welcoming the children instead that God's love has ample room for everyone. Because no one is unimportant to God. He comes to each person individually that He might touch them with His healing love and power. In fact, Jesus said that anyone who "does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it."

In sum, instead of using complicated language Jesus shows His followers a child as a model and standard by which we can measure ourselves if we are growing in virtue and grace for God's kingdom.

For a child is without ambition, pride and self-importance, and thus our model of humility before God. In such a transparent humble soul without deceit or guile we are able to see our Lord Jesus Christ Himself.

"Children" here  can be taken in a wider sense to include all those who approach Jesus with a completely open,unprejudiced mind. And also those who have a low status in our society. Such people are often more ready to hear the message of the kingdom and to take an active part in it.

The devotion to the Sto. Nino instills the virtue of simplicity, obedience and trust in God. Such is the lesson for the Gospel reading for this Sunday. It brings to our attention the mystery of childhood. We are called to become like children, having the open and trusting disposition to accept the Lord's gifts with gratitude and without reservations, ever humble and careful not to despise others, so that we may enter the kingdom of heaven.

Today is also our Village Fiesta since our Patron is the Sto. Nino. We started our celebration with a nine-day novena in the evening in our community chapel from January 12 to 20. On the Feast Day our celebration starts with a procession of the Sto. Nino around the village and Thanksgiving Mass at 8:30 in the morning.

Happy Feast Day of the Sto. Nino! Viva Pit Senyor! And thank you for a moment with God.

Ad Jesum per Mariam!