CHILDLIKE HEART - 1/15/23 (Feast of Santo Niño)

For Dioceses in the Philippines

Gospel

Matthew 18:1-5,10

At that time the disciples approached Jesus and said, “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?”

He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.

Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.  

See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.” 

Reflection:

A blessed feast of Santo Niño!  The image of Santo Niño is very important to us Filipinos. Not only because it is found almost everywhere - in simple tindahan or sari-sari stores, in bakeries, other establishments and even on vehicles. It is because this is where our faith started. It is a mark of our faith when the Catholic Church first came to our shores in 1521. The first image of the Holy Child was given to the first Filipinos who were baptized the same year. What can we learn from this image? Is it because the image of the Infant Jesus looks pleasing to the eyes, easily dressed in various clothing of vivid colors? It is also wrong if we treat the image as something that will bring us luck because luck does not exist in our true faith.

What exists are only blessings from the Lord which He bestows endlessly on those who love and obey Him. So, what it is that we must learn from this special devotion of ours? It is the heart of the child - the humility and obedience of Christ seen in the Child Jesus. Easier said than done but if we so desire, nothing is impossible. It is by Christ’s humility and obedience to the Father that we were saved. If we are also humble and patient to others, aren’t we doing our part in loving one another? If we bear one another’s wrongs and easily forgive others, aren’t we being child-like and Christ-like? May we remember to be child-like in the eyes of God in all circumstances so that we may also remember that we have a Father in heaven who waits for us His children in the sacraments and in His home – the Church. We must know the joy of running to Him in joy or in pain, and even in ordinary days as a little child runs to his father. Amen. +

Let's ponder on it. Amen. +

May the Loving and Almighty God bless us all, and may He protect us from temptation and evil now and forever. Amen. +

Reflections by FMMJ

Translations to English by CJT

Full readings:

https://gospelreadings.blogspot.com/2022/12/january-15-2023-feast-of-sto-nino-year-a.html?m=1