January 16, 2011 - Feast of the Sto. Nino

Isaiah 9:1-6 (New International Version, ©2010)

Isaiah 9

 ^{1 [a]}Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—
 ² The people walking in darkness
   have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
   a light has dawned.
³ You have enlarged the nation
   and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you
   as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice
   when dividing the plunder.
⁴ For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,
   you have shattered
the yoke that burdens them,
   the bar across their shoulders,
   the rod of their oppressor.
⁵ Every warrior’s boot used in battle
   and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,
   will be fuel for the fire.
⁶ For to us a child is born,
   to us a son is given,
   and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
   Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
   Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
His dominion is vast and forever peaceful,
   from David's throne, and over his kingdom
   which he confirms and sustains by judgment and justice, 
   both now and forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this!




Resposorial Psalm:

Response: All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
1. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done wondrous deeds;
    his right hand has won victory for him, his holy arm.
Response: All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

2. The Lord has made his salvation known; in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
    He has remembered his kindness and faithfulness toward the house of Israel.
Response: All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
3. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation by our God.
    Sing joyfully to the Lord all you lands; break into song; sing praise.
Response: All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
4. Sing praise to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and melodious song.
    With trumpets and the sound of the horn, sing joyfully before the King, the Lord.
Response: All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.




Ephesians 1:3-6, 15-18

 ³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. ⁴ For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love ⁵ he^[a] predestined us for adoption to sonship^[b] through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— ⁶ to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

 ¹⁵ For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, ¹⁶ I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. ¹⁷ I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit^[a] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. ¹⁸ I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,

Gospel – Mt 18: 1-5, 10
1 In that hour, the disciples drew near to Jesus, saying, “Whom do you consider to be greater in the kingdom of heaven?”
2 And Jesus, calling to himself a little child, placed him in their midst.
3 And he said: “Amen I say to you, unless you change and become
like little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
4 Therefore, whoever will have humbled himself like this little child, such a one is greater in the kingdom of heaven.
5 And whoever shall accept one such little child in my name, accepts me.10
See to it that you do not despise even one of these little ones. For I
say to you, that their Angels in heaven continually look upon the face
of my Father, who is in heaven.

REFLECTION


Today the Philippine Church celebrates not only the feast of the Sto. Nino but the feast of the most important doctrine that Jesus has taught. "Unless you become like little children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven." This is the special doctrine that the image of the Sto. Nino reminds all of us. We all want to go to heaven. Here is our clue. What does it mean to become like little children?  Little children are totally dependent on their fathers. They know they cannot survive on their own.  They know that everything they have was given by the father. That is why they will never separate themselves from the father. This kind of attitude and dependence is what God the Father wants from us. This humble dependence is what makes the Father happy. Do we have the attitude of a child?  Do we know that our work, our families, our properties, even our life is God's grace for us?  Let us turn to him and be his little children once again.