FEAST of the SANTO NIŇO

(January 19, 2025)

 Points for Reflection

• In the Gospel of Matthew (18:1-5.10), Jesus tells his disciples: “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Then he took a child and said – “unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

• With that, the Lord is trying to give us qualities that make the child the symbol of greatness for those who belong to the kingdom.

• Let us take note of some of these qualities as preconditions for greatness and requirements for membership in his kingdom: 1) The child’s humility and simplicity; 2) The child’s dependence; and, 3) The child’s trust.

• Jesus made these qualities as preconditions for membership in his kingdom when He said, “Whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child, will not enter it” (Mk 10:15; Lk 18:17).

• The child’s HUMILITY is the pattern of the Christian’s behavior toward his fellow men and the child’s DEPENDENCE and TRUST are the patterns of a Christian’s attitude towards God. As we celebrate the Feast of the Santo Nino, let us all do our best to have the qualities of a child so that the kingdom will be ours, too.