Have you seen my Childhood?

January 16, 2011
FEAST OF THE SANTO NIÑO
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Is 9,1-6 . Eph 1,3-6.15-18
Mt 18,1-5.10
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Sa buong mundo, isa lang itong ordinaryong araw ng Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon, pero para sa mga Pinoy, isa itong espesyal na araw ng pagdiriwang. Sa araw na ito, ay ipinagdiriwang natin ang isang banal na bata, ang simula ng pananampalataya ng isang bansa, at ang simula ng pagngiti ng Diyos sa ating minamahal na bayan.

We go back to our roots today as we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Child Jesus. This is one special feast in the Philippines, and this one is prepared and celebrated the 'mardi gras' way. From the colorful street dancing in Tondo and Cebu, to the simple procession in the parishes. Truly, the Feast of Sto. Niño is the pinoy way of giving gratitude to Jesus, the Divine Child who was born for our sake.

But beyond the revelry which we already knew of this day, the Gospel cries out something unusual. We are called to give proper regard to the children and youth of today. More than being the hope of the future of our land, they are also considered the greatest ones in the Heavenly Kingdom.

Subukan nating tignan ang mga bata sa paligid natin. Maitatanong natin, Kung sila ang mga mahigit sa kaharian ng Diyos, bakit ganito ang turing natin sa kanila? Mula sa malawakang pang-aabuso sa kanila hanggang sa mga gawaing nagpapatanggal ng kanilang pagkabata, totoo ngang hindi na sila bata sa kanilang kalagayan dahil sa mga pagpapahirap na kanilang natatanggap sa ating mga nakakatanda.

I remember Michael Jackson's song, Childhood. He shows here his yearning for the joys of childhood, which was taken away from him when he began his singing career at age 5. This is also the suffering of the innumerable children and youth of our time. Because of lack of care, poverty, and selfish interests of the powerful ones, the little ones of the society is being degraded, and backlashed.

Of this Jesus reminds us, 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.  I'm very much sure that the mailbox of heaven is jampacked already with concerns regarding the problem of our children and youth. At sigurado rin ako na hindi magtatagal ay ipaghihiganti ng Diyos ang mga batang ito sa mga taong nanamantala sa kanilang kamusmusan, at kahinaan.

Bilang nakakatanda sa lipunan, tungkulin nating gabayan ang mga kabataan ng henerasyon natin, hindi sa kasamaan, kundi sa ikakabuti nila. Higit sa lahat, atin sanang maaalala na karapatan ng mga bata at kabataan ang kanilang malasap ang buhay ng isang bata, ng isang kabataan. Let them enjoy what it is to be a child, for in it they will learn more and in turn, they will be wise enough to share their experiences to the coming generation.

As we celebrate the feast of the Holy Child today let us pray for the children and youth of our country, and of the Church. May Jesus, the Santo Niño, continue to guide them through their juvenile challenges, that by having His protection, they may have one Holy and happy life. As for us adults, may we learn from the Child Jesus who never stayed as a child, but grew up and became a responsible Man of God. May we learn his humility, his simplicity, his obedience, and so be true Christians in the world of today.

Ngayon, sabay-sabay nating isigaw...

VIVA SANTO NIÑO!!!