THE FEAST of the Sto. Niño is a reminder for Catholics to possess a childlike behavior such as humility, UST parish priest Fr. Paul Talavera, O.P. said Sunday, Jan. 15.
In his homily, Talavera said devotees should focus on the qualities imbued by the Sto. Niño, the holy image of the Child Jesus.
“‘Wag lang tayong mapako doon sa imahen ng Sto. Niño. Bagkus, nawa’y ‘yung imahen na ito ay laging nagpapaalala sa atin […] kung paanong tayo ay kailangan maging bata sa harap ng Diyos – buong pagpapakumbaba at pagpapasalamat sa kanya,” he said.
This, as some have become enamored by the wooden image to the point of idolatry, Talavera said.
“[D]apat maayos o nasa wasto ‘yung pagkakaintindi na itong imahen na ito ay representasyon lamang ni Hesus, ni Kristo na sa ganon to the point that sometimes even we did not have that image, we still have that relationship with God,” the parish priest reiterated.
Talavera further likened the Catholic flock to the childlike Sto. Niño, who needs the care of a parent – in this case, Jesus.
“‘Yung batang yan, nakaasa ‘yan lagi sa magulang. Hindi ‘yan mabubuhay kung wala ang pagmamahal ng kaniyang nanay at tatay, kung hindi siya pakakainin, kung hindi siya aalagaan. Tayong lahat ay bata sa ganong estado kung tayo ay umaasa sa ating Panginoon,” he said.
The Feast of Sto. Niño de Cebu coincides with the celebration of the Holy Childhood Sunday, a commemoration for the youth.
The image of the child Jesus, the oldest Christian relic in the country, marked the acceptance of Christianity in the Philippines. Given by Spanish explorer Ferdinand Magellan to Rajah Humabon and Hara Amihan of Cebu in 1521, the Sto. Niño has weathered battles, fire and bombings. A.M. Cruz and N.A. Rodriguez
