Feast of Sto. NiÑo: The Child Jesus

We arrived at St. Peter Parish Church, Tungkong Manga around 8:30 when the second mass was about to end. In preparation for the next mass, we took seats at the front most pew just a few more steps before the altar. While waiting, I knelt on the hassock to give thanks for the past week and ask for forgiveness as well. As always, these hassocks serve two great functions for some people. While these thick firm cushions are designed for kneeling, many use it as footrest. I don’t know if the second way of using it disrespects the church. Well whether it creates an issue or not, anyway, it’s not my concern for now.

Today is the Feast of Sto. Niño: The Child Jesus. Am not sure though how long the celebration has became part of the Filipino (Christian) tradition, but the extent by which it has influenced our faith is very evident. Devotees came rushing from behind towards the altar as the presiding priest drew closer to a set of Sto. Niño emblems. With great hopes and faith, they brought with them their own graven images of the Child Jesus. After receiving some blessings and prayer, each placed their respective figures in front together with some others from the preceding mass. There was a variety of Sto. Niños; each differed from a number of aspects. Even with similar charming and hopeful face, there was definitely not a single emblem superficially comparable. From an inch or two to a life-size toddler, each was dressed distinctly. I heard that the color suggests some sort of luck for whatever field/discipline the owner of the emblem is into. Green is for money and business, etc.

For whatsoever way of presenting these revered icons of our God, what should be taken into great consideration is how we can put into practice the message it brings. The homily examined the qualities of a child in general. Like children, we should not keep things to ourselves, may it be tangible or not, verbal or material, emotions and the like. Always feel free to be ourselves (though, I thought that at some point, it may not be applicable), well just as long as exercising it won’t harm others. He mentioned that children are so expressive; limited by no constraints, they will cry whenever they feel the need to express something. They are indeed spontaneous; one quality we find hard to be (I think, hehe). On some point however, there will always be a right place and time to be somewhat unwary or impulsive. They are simple and thoughtless; unacquainted of the future but by what the spur-of-the-moment suggests. They are trustworthy and constant. All in all, these are the traits we used to have. Sadly, admit it or not, as we explore the world, or maybe as part of the human nature, we tend to lose a certain degree of these qualities. Maybe, when we ponder on these things again, we will be reminded how we intensely manifested the image of God. It seems very alarming for now, but unconsciously, as this year passes, and another feast comes, we will be again in this state of asking ourselves how we turned off from the course of living the qualities of a child. Devotion without practice and commitment is always useless.