Feast of the Sto. Niño

“Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 18:3

       I received a lot of greetings during my last birthday. It came in different forms such as phone calls, birthday cards, texts, e-mails, social media and other creative ways. I was overwhelmed by all the greetings. I never realized that the best greeting was yet to come.

       It was already mid-evening when I received a text message. I was resting in my room and was ready to call it a day. The message came from my 11-year-old godson, Nicky. He used his mother’s phone to send his birthday greeting for me. I replied with, “Thanks. Please pray for me.”

       I assumed that it was the end of our chat. Suddenly, I got a call from his mother. She said Nicky wanted to talk to me. Then I heard my godson say, “Lord Jesus, I pray for Ninong Alvin. May you bless him always and keep him healthy. Guide him all the time. Amen. Happy birthday again, Ninong! Bye!”

       That was the best birthday greeting I received that day! It was a simple and sincere prayer, yet it made my day extra special. May we all pray like this child whose prayer was simple yet full of love. Alvin Fabella (alvinfabella@yahoo.com)

Reflection:Find time to pray for the concerns of others before you pray for your personal needs.

Lord, embrace the person in need of Your love and assurance right now. Amen.

St. Paul the Hermit, pray for us.

The devotion to the Sto. Niño is one of the most popular devotions in the Philippines. This is a good devotion but we must be careful that we do not lose focus on Jesus. One of the distractions that the devil uses is to keep our faith immature and prevent us from living as adult Christians. A strong devotional life is fine as long as it encourages us to make a difference.

1 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone. 2 You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing, as they rejoice before you as at the harvest, as men make merry when dividing spoils. 3 For the yoke that burdened them, the pole on their shoulder, and the rod of their taskmaster you have smashed, as on the day of Midian. 4 For every boot that tramped in battle, every cloak rolled in blood, will be burned as fuel for flames. 5 For a child is born to us, a son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace. 6 His dominion is vast and forever peaceful, from David’s throne, and over his kingdom, which he confirms and sustains by judgment and justice, both now and forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this!

R: All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation by our God.

1 Sing a new song to the Lord who has done marvelous deeds; whose right hand and holy arm have won the victory for him, his holy arm. (R) 2 The Lord has made his victory known; triumph for the nations to see. 3 He has remembered faithful love toward the house of Israel. (R) All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God. 4 Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth; break into song; sing praise. (R) 5 Sing praise to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and melodious song. 6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn shout with joy to the King, the Lord. (R)

The magnificence and glory of the Father’s gift of His Son to us is the focus of the first three chapters of the Letter to the Ephesians. As we remember the gift of the Christ at Christmas, we are called to a deep reverence and awe for His unfolding mission. His ministry began with His baptism and we are, thus, called to enter into the same ministry.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, 4 as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him. In love 5 he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his will, 6 for the praise of the glory of his grace that he granted us in the beloved. 15 Therefore, I, too, hearing of your faith in the Lord Jesus and of your love for all the holy ones, 16 do not cease giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him. 18 May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones.

The feast of the Sto. Niño reflects the humility of Jesus when He became man like us. Let us witness to this truth by trusting God just as a child trusts his parents. This child-like faith enables us to be missionary disciples who do what God asks us to do.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.

1 At that time the disciples approached Jesus and said, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom or heaven?” 2 He called a child over, placed it in their midst, 3 and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me. 10 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.

think: What child-like qualities do you need to recapture to grow in your faith?

Read the Bible in one year  Matthew 22-24

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

thank You, Lord, for: ______________________________________________________

STRIKE THREE!

Today is the feast of the Sto. Niño (Holy Child), a feast peculiar to the local Church in the Philippines. Devotees all over will be  dancing the Sinulog, a dance composed of two steps forward and one step backward, executed to a distinct rhythm of drums.

       That is a good life principle. If you fall once, stand up twice. It reminds us of the childlike virtue of determination. Notice how children will not be deterred when they have set their hearts on a particular goal.

       Little Mike has always dreamt of being a major league baseball star. Nothing will stop him from realizing his dream. Every day, he would go to the park to practice his batting skills. One morning, as was his wont, he took to the park with several balls in a basket, determined that it would only be a matter of time before he gets to be the best. Taking his position, he took a ball and shouted, “I’m the greatest hitter in the world!” He tossed the ball in the air, swung at it and missed. “Strike one,” he said to himself. He encouraged himself a second time, “I’m the greatest hitter in the world!” Then he took another ball, tossed it in the air, swung at it, and missed again. “Strike two,” he reminded himself. He reassured himself a third time shouting, “I’m the greatest hitter in the world!” And so with greater concentration, he took another ball, tossed it in the air, and swung at it. But he missed again. With a somber voice, shoulders drooped and head bowed down, he said, “Strike three.” Suddenly, after some moments, his face lit up and he shouted, “I’m the greatest pitcher in the world!”

       That is the optimism of a child of God — no failure, no setback, no defeat will overcome his spirit. There is no need to be frustrated that we are still far from the state of perfection. What really matters in life, as with God, is that we labor in the road to perfection. If you slide one step backwards, rebound two steps forward! Fr. Joel Jason

----------- REFLECTION QUESTION -----------

What do you whisper to yourself when you have reached strike three?

Meet me, Lord, wherever I am on the road to perfection. Amen.