Gospel: Luke 2:41-52
Each year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for
the feast of Passover, and when he was twelve years old, they went up according
to festival custom. After they had completed its days, as they were returning,
the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it.
Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for
him among their relatives and acquaintances, but not finding him, they returned
to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple,
sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them
questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his
answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to
him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been
looking for you with great anxiety.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking
for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” But they did not
understand what he said to them. He went down with them and came to Nazareth,
and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart.
And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor before God and man.
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Reflection:
Today here in the Philippines we celebrate the
Feast of the Sto. Nino (The Child Jesus) this is a special event celebrated by
the church here in the Philippines duly authorized by the Vatican. There’s
festive mode in almost all of the churches here especially those whose Parish
church is named after the Sto. Nino. However, the Philippines being a third world country is also poor and there’s a
whole lot of suffering and hungry people specially children.
Just this morning
around our neighborhood there were two very poor children one was around seven
years old and the other was around ten. I assumed they were brothers they were both
scavenging.
They were carrying two half-empty sacks with plastics, bottles,
steels and other things that they could salvage/recycle to sell then buy for
their food. At a distance I saw that the two were being harassed and insulted
by children residing in our community. Then, suddenly the two poor children
were being bullied and manhandled already. So, I went to them to intervene and
I let go of the two poor children.
I also know of a family with five children the father has a stable job the mother has none. The children are so thin because they are neglected. The father drinks with friends often and the mother doesn’t know how to budget their money. And she also has her own set of wayward friends. Therefore, who suffers? It’s their children again.
These are but two sad stories of suffering children. There’s a lot more out there I’m sure and who is to blame for this? It’s their irresponsible parents! So, where’s the influence of the Sto. Nino? Here lies the problem of our superficial faith, faith that is not imbibed and lived. We celebrate this special feast festively but many parents don’t properly take care of their poor, neglected and hungry children.
In the gospel Mary and Joseph are both exemplar of righteous and responsible parents. Upon taking notice that Jesus was not with them on their way home. They went back and never stopped searching for Jesus until they found Him in the temple in the company of teachers. He was listening to them. The child Jesus was also well taught of proper values by the Blessed Mother and Saint Joseph for the reason that He was obedient to them.
It’s not only the children of the poor who are neglected; even the rich children are neglected as well. Some rich parents have this wrong notion that money can substitute for their love, care and time. They pamper their children with money, the latest smart phones and other material things. Therefore, what happens is that these rich but neglected children turn to other vicious things upon entering puberty and adulthood.
On this feast of the Sto. Nino. Let us pray that both poor and rich parents would have the enlightenment and responsibility. To know how to properly care of their long-suffering children. Let us also pray that the rich will not be insensitive to the needs of the poor children. They are many let us look around the peripheries in our respective communities. Perhaps, we can help in whatever way.
Are you a responsible and Godly parent? And would you be willing to help the poor and neglected children? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
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