Be Like Children and Be With Children
Introduction
- This Sunday is the feast of Sto. Nino, a special feast of the Philippines. It is a privilege given to the Philippine by the Vatican, to celebrate the feast of the child Jesus on the 2nd Sunday of Ordinary time.
- Why do we like children? There can be many reasons for our special love towards children, such as their simplicity, humbleness, innocence, feeling of ‘my child’, helplessness, etc. Child Jesus is different from other children in one aspect. He is not powerless, but the most powerful – the son of God. It is clear from the incident in the temple (Lk 2:39-52). Therefore when we pray to that ‘Child Jesus’ we can be sure that He will grand our petitions.
Content
- The message of this feast may be summarized in two sentences; Be like children and be with children.
- Be like children
o There is a belief that the small children can see angels and the heavenly beings. That may be the reason why the babies smile even without any external stimulation, especially in their sleep. It is because they are so pure in their heart that no malice has entered in.
o When we grow we lose the purity. Our heart and mind fill with impure things such as envy, jealousy, lust, revenge, crookedness, and many other vices.
o Jesus told, “Whoever does not accept the Kingdom of God like a child will not enter it” (Mt 10:15). Therefore in order to enter into God’s Kingdom we should be like children.
- Be with children
o Children are entrusted to our care. It is the duty of the adult to bring them up in proper manner.
o By looking at the people who were bringing children to Jesus, he said, “Let the children come to me and do not hinder them” (Mk 10:14). Our duty is to bring children to Jesus, both physically (by bring them to the church) and mentally (by motivating them to pray).
o Jesus warns (Mt 18:10), ‘see that you do not look down on one of these little ones, for I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my father in heaven’. In Mk 9:42 Jesus reminds us, ‘if anyone causes one of these little ones to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea…’.
o We have to bring children to Jesus through our words and deeds, through our good examples. Remember that children are very good observers. They learn the things by keen observing how elders are doing.
Conclusion
- Let us be good children of our heavenly Father by being like children and by being with the children.
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