WE really have
to be most thankful that even up to now we
as a people still have a great devotion to the Sto. Nino.
Instead of
waning through the years, this popular piety we have
toward the Child
Jesus has grown.
Yes, there are
still things that should be made right and
purified, (I suppose we will never run out of them), but
we cannot
deny that this devotion has helped us greatly in a world
and in times
that are increasingly secularized and paganised. Think of
the many
so-called liberal people in the world who have considered
faith,
religion and piety as obsolete.
Thanks to God
the image of Christ as both a child and king
has truly so captured the Filipino heart (especially the
Cebuano
heart) that whatever situation we may find ourselves in,
whether good
or bad humanly speaking, we still keep our Christian
faith and try our
best to live by it.
Let’s hope that
this devotion continues to develop and to
spread more widely, especially among the young ones who
are most
vulnerable to the faith-killing and piety-numbing ways of
the world
today. In this, we have to use both the human and supernatural
means
of prayer and sacrifice, and to involve as many people
and
institutions as possible.
That the Sto.
Nino is both child and king somehow reminds
us that we need to be like a child to attain our ultimate
kingly goal
of human maturity and Christian perfection. As we grow
older, more
exposed to the world and gaining a lot of experience, we
need to be
more like a child, deepening and enriching our spiritual
childhood in
Christ.
Let’s always
remember what Christ himself said: “Unless
you change and become like little children, you will
never enter the
kingdom of heaven.” (Mt 18,3)
Yes, children
and heaven are almost synonymous to each
other. No wonder we feel like we are in heaven every time
we see
children around. Every time a baby is born, we are very
happy because
we somehow know that he just did not come out of his
mother’s womb,
but rather from the very hands of God who created him
before the
parents procreated him.
In spite of the
many limitations of children, what makes
them always desirable is their pure, innocent heart,
incapable of
malice, ambition, pride and haughtiness. They are a
source of many
other good things.
Their heart is
always trusting in the Lord always, just
like a little kid is always confident with his father.
Faith and hope
easily grow and acquire strength when nurtured in a
child's heart.
It's this attitude that leads them to go on and move on
no matter
what, for life to them could only be an adventure of
discoveries.
It's this kind
of heart that makes them transparent,
sincere and simple, not afraid to be known as they truly
are. They may
still lack the subtlety of prudence and discretion, and
be prone to
spontaneity, but they hardly mind these deficiencies.
They are only
interested in doing what they think is good
and enjoyable. Suggestions and corrections do not
humiliate them.
Rather, they welcome these suggestions and corrections.
Children are
humble, teachable, flexible and docile. You
can tell them anything, and they always tend to believe
and obey.
Attainments, achievements and successes do not spoil
them. Neither do
difficulties, temptations and failures crush them and
plunge them to
sadness or bitterness.
They are easy
to motivate, to be consoled, to be
optimistic. Falls and mistakes are easily forgotten. They
only leave a
mark that becomes a source of precious lessons for them
to learn. They
are quick to heal when wounded.
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