FEAST OF SANTO NIÑO C

GIFT-GIVING CONTINUES...

 HOLY CHILD JESUS OF ATOCHA

We often say that we celebrate Santo Nino for cultural reasons because in the Philippines we love our children… and there’s just so many of them around us! We also say this feast is based on spiritual reasons since the Lord himself calls us to become like little children. Let us now reflect on the theological reason why this day is important to Filipinos, to the church, and to all believers in humanity’s exalted vocation and dignity.

While the Christmas season is officially over, it cannot be denied that its spirit still lingers. More than this, the message of Christmas, which spills over into a succession of feasts leading up to epiphany, continues to reverberate in our hearts as break-in through the new year.

The deeper meaning (theological message) of the Feast of the Santo Nino is the same as that of Christmas: the admirable exchange (in latin, admirabile commercium) has taken place. Simply put, this is the real gift-giving that the Incarnation of Jesus brought about. The Son of God gave himself to us as a human being. We in turn, have now the strength and the courage to offer our selves to God and to share in his goodness, peace, joy and love. 

Since Jesus has given us his very self,we too, can now give back to God our own selves! God has become human so that humanity can become like God!

Isn’t this just amazing? Still, the truth is very deep and the language of theology cannot simplify it enough for us to understand. Thankfully, the image of the Santo Nino offers us an illustration, an image, and a concrete example to appreciate the admirable exchange between God and his children.

When we look at the Santo Nino on our altars, don’t we see our very selves in him? Little, needy, weak, nothing. The vulnerable child is the epitome of human weakness. God has become what we are to show the depth of his love. But it does not there. When we pray before the Santo Nino he reminds us that though we are little, we are not just lowly creatures on earth. We are now in fact, children of our loving heavenly Father. Jesus entered the human family so that human beings can enter the heart of God in turn.

As we pray before an image of our Santo Nino, let us express our gratitude for the God who assumed our human nature to share our very lives. Let us also not forget to offer him our deepest selves so that in turn, he can touch our weaknesses with the divine blessing and empowerment.

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