Sunday, January
20, 2002
Feast of the Santo Niño
1st
Reading: Is 9:1-6
The people who walk in darkness have seen a great light. A light has dawned
on those who live in the land of the shadow of death. You have enlarged
the nation; you have increased their joy. They rejoice before you, as
people rejoice at harvest time as they rejoice in dividing the spoil.
For the yoke of their burden, the bar across their shoulders, the rod
of their oppressors, you have broken it as on the day of Midian. Every
warrior's boot that tramped in war, every cloak rolled in blood, will
be thrown out for burning, will serve as fuel for the fire. For a child
is born to us, a son is given us; the royal ornament is laid upon his
shoulder, and his name is proclaimed: "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty
God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." To the increase of his
powerful rule in peace, there will be no end. Vast will be his dominion,
he will reign on David's throne and over all his kingdom, to establish
and uphold it with justice and righteousness from this time onward and
forever. The zealous love of Yahweh Sabaoth will do this.
2nd Reading: Eph 1:3-6, 15-18
Blessed be God, the Father of Christ Jesus our Lord, who in Christ has
blessed us from heaven with every spiritual blessing. God chose us in
Christ before the creation of the world to be holy and without sin in
his presence.
From eternity he destined us in love to be his sons and daughters through
Christ Jesus, thus fulfilling his free and generous will. This goal suited
him: that his loving-kindness which he granted us in his Beloved might
finally receive all glory and praise.
I have been told of your faith and your affection towards all the believers,
so I always give thanks to God, remembering you in my prayers.
May the God of Christ Jesus our Lord, the Father of Glory, reveal himself
to you and give you a spirit of wisdom, that you may know him. May he
enlighten your inner vision, that you may appreciate the things we hope
for, since we were called by God.
May you know how great is the inheritance, the glory, God sets apart for
his saints.
Gospel:
Mt 18:1-5, 10
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked him, "Who is the
greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"
Then Jesus called a little child, set the child in the midst of the disciples,
and said, "I assure you that unless you change and become like little
children, you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes lowly
like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, and whoever
receives such a child in my name receives me.
See that you do not despise any of these little ones, for I tell you:
their angels in heaven continually see the face of my heavenly Father.
Commentary
The apostles return to Capernaum, the center of their missionary expeditions.
They have preached the Kingdom of God, performed miracles and expelled
demons. But they still lack the most important thing: to be humble. "Unless
you become like little children, you cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven."
Later Jesus passes from "children" to "the little ones"
(Mt 18:10), that is, simple people. They are little, because they do not
count for much in society, and because their faith is more all embracing
than that of people on a higher economic level. In the Philippines we
place the Santo Niño image in the center of our churches, houses,
offices and business establishments. What about putting in the center
of our religious, family and financial concerns the "little ones"?
We would not have a new religion but a new country.