"BECAUSE GOD HAS DANCED WITH US"

FEAST OF THE STO. NINO

Proper Feast in the Philippines

Is.9:1-6/ Ps.97/ Eph.1:3-6.15-18/ Mk.10: 13-16

As a Cebuano, I grew up with the Santo Niño. I could still vividly remember those days when my parents would bring me and my sister to the Basilica every Friday to line up for the hawok (kissing of the image). And such visit to the basilica would not be complete without me holding either a balloon or an ice cream on our way back home. Later on as a seminarian, I began to hear comments from theologians criticizing the Santo Niño devotion. For them, devotees of the little Child are taught with a wrong understanding about Christ. Jesus grew up and became a mature man. Hence, devotees must allow the Santo Niño to grow up. Thus, their faith must also mature. Yes, there is a grain of truth regarding their comments. However, I would still insist on the important role of this devotion not only in the lives of Cebuanos but also to all Filipinos. Every time we venerate the image of the Holy Child whether at the basilica, in churches, and in our small altars at home, we are reminded of two important qualities which most of us adults have forgotten along the way.

In our world today, we always wake up in fear. With the recent terrorist attacks in Australia, France, and Germany, people start to doubt one another’s presence. We are afraid that even our trusted friend can anytime become our worst enemy. Thus, every time we venerate the image of the Santo Niño, we are reminded of an important virtue named, childhood trust. Like a little child who simply trusts his mother’s hand, despite the crowd in the marketplace, the child Jesus also asks us to trust him. We have to completely trust our Lord because he is not just an ordinary human being but as Isaiah puts it in our first reading today, he is the “Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.” Jesus is the “Great Light” who extinguishes our darkest fears in life so that we can have life in abundance.

It is difficult to be joyful these days. The world has set the standard for happiness: a stable and high paying job, multiple bank accounts, travels around the world, a network of elite friends, and many more. Yet, the joyful face of the Santo Niño reminds us that everyone no matter how “nothing” we may be, we all have the reasons to be joyful. And St. Paul in our second reading today gives us the reasons on why we must be joyful despite the challenges in life. “He chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him. In love, he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his will.” We may be staying at the margins according to worldly criteria, but, God our Father has chosen us. In love, He has made us His adopted children through His Son, the Santo Niño. We are therefore never alone. We have been chosen. We have been loved by God who is love Himself.

The president of the CBCP, Archbishop Villegas, has asked every Filipino who will be attending the Papal Mass at Luneta on January 18, to bring with him/her an image of the Santo Niño. And together with the Pope we dance the Sinulog as our act of thanksgiving for gift of faith which we have received almost 500 years ago. And so, as we move our steps forward and backward with our hands holding the image of the Santo Niño, may we renew our trust in Him and experience real joy because God “has danced with us.” Amen!


NB. Photo courtesy of http://www.achilez.com/sinulog-2013/