Feast of Sto. Niño
Isaiah 9:1-6
Ephesians 1:3-6.15-18
Mark 10:13-16

1. Text/Context

• What is happening in the gospel today is that many children were brought to Jesus that he might touch them
• And the disciples tried to stop the children from going near to Jesus. And as the evangelist Mark tells us that people were bringing the children to Jesus so that he might touch them
• It was not even the wish of the children to go near Jesus. It was the parents who brought their children to Jesus probably to be healed of their sickness or simply just to be blessed
• We cannot blame the disciples on how they reacted because the disciples knew very well that in a Jewish society the children have no rights at all
• But when Jesus saw this that the children were prevented to go near him he became indignant and said to them
• Let the children come to me, do not prevent them for the KOG belongs to such as these
• Whoever does not accept the KOG like a child will not enter it
• Then he embraced the children and blessed them

1. Human Situation

• Now as Christians, we ask why is it that Jesus is saying that if we do not accept the KOG like a child we will not be able to enter into it
• What are the characteristics of a child?
• A child is a picture of innocence kay dili pa mature ang ilang panghuna-huna and therefore they are exempted from committing a sin by virtue of their innocence
• A child is an example of innocence and because of that the children are holy bisan pa ug maldito ug maldita kaayo ang mga bata kay tungod sa kalinghod sa ilang huna-huna walay mantsa ang ilang mga kalag because they do not yet know what is right or wrong
• They do not know yet the rules of morality because of their innocence
• I remember in my research before there was this saint who was privileged by the Lord to see the vision of hell and she saw all the torments of the fires of hell of all people damned forever in eternal punishment young and old alike
• But, she did not see any children in hell. Later on, she asked the Lord why? And the Lord answered they are all in heaven because of their innocence
• So, in this feast of the Sto. Niño we can see that the innocence of children is exemplified by the little boy Jesus
• A child is an example of a true, honest, human being with all the unblemished intentions and motivations
• A child is also an example of the value of a full trust and confidence in God
• These are the things that we need to emulate from the children as adult Christians
• In the 1^st reading James tells us to pray for one another
• And would you believe the Blessed Mother herself said in one of her apparitions that the prayers of the children are miraculous especially in great moments of danger
• In our greatest moment of need tell the children to intercede for us, tell them to pray because God has designs of mercy to the innocent and pure
• Balaan kaayo ang mga kabataan mao nga makadungog kita sa mga katigulangan nga mga anghel ang mga kabataan
• I am not a father of a child because I am a priest and I don’t have the privilege of getting married but I witnessed from my little brothers and sisters when they were still infants that they smile even when they are sleeping because the angels are playing with them
• The children are the holy souls on earth. Why? Because Jesus said so: Let the children come to me, do not prevent them for the KOG belongs to them
• No wonder, that in the history of the devotions to the Sto. Niño, many miracles are enjoyed by the devotees
• Not only that the little boy the Sto. Niño is Jesus himself when he was young, but because we also enjoy the intercession of the innocent children all over the world
• Here in the Philippines we have 2 great iconic figures when it comes to the devotion to the Sto. Niño
• We have the famous Sto. Niño de Cebu dating back more than 500 years nga gihatag ni Fernando Magallanes kang Hara Amihan the wife of Rajah Humabon. Gibunyagan siya ug gitagaan ug pahalipay nga estatwa ni Sto. Niño and after baptism she received the name Reyna Juana
• And here in Davao itself we have the Infant Jesus of Prague, the Sto. Niño de Praga from the Czech Republic or Czechoslovakia

1. Challenge

• We are reminded today that as an adult Christians we need to emulate the childlike virtues of a child
• And the greater challenge is that we must protect our innocent children
• Dako kaayong sala kon itulak nato sa pagkaalaot ang mga inosente
• Mao nga si Jesus iyang gitawag nga mga little ones and Jesus is very protective of his little ones
• Niingon siya nga ang tawo motulak sa mga inosente huktan ug bato ang liog ug itambog sa dagat
• That is why the challenge that we have in the celebration of the Feast of the Sto. Niño is really to protect the children
• Atong amumahon from the moment of conception
• The greatest crime that is committed against humanity is the crime against the innocent, against the unborn, against the innocent children: abortion, abandonment, child abuse, malnutrition etc.
• In our ordinary life as Christians, we can make practical applications of protecting the children
• Discourage somebody whom you know has a plan of abortion. Give assistance to your friends or relatives who find it very difficult to raise a child because of poverty
• And lastly, protect them from child abuse because there so many children who are abused all over the world
• There are many other ways to help a child and the most basic is to start from your very own household. As parents, give love to your children by providing them an atmosphere of love and peace para modagko sila nga mga maayong Kristiyano
• We must remember before we can even enter the KOG the children are already there
• Nag-una na ang mga bata sa GsD usa pa ta makaabot didto