Seeking God’s Guidance

HOMILY: Feast of the Santo Niño (Proper Feast in the Philippines)

15 January 2023

Matthew 18:1-5, 10

Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA

When I was young… very young, I wished I would grow up as quickly as possible. I simply couldn’t wait to be an adult. Did you have the same experience when you were little? Maybe this is how things are… When we’re little children, we want to grow up right away. But when we are older, we do everything we can to stay younger.

But why did we when we were children want to become adults? It is because we liked  the feeling of being independent. We could go wherever we want. There was no need to always ask permission nor have someone to chaperone us. When we are adults we also seem to be more confident of ourselves. It seems like we know a lot and because of that younger people look up to us. Children know, that adults, are already working so they have the money to buy clothes, food, and nowadays, all kinds of gadgets!

Of course, most of that is true. Yes, problems may keep on coming one’s way and one may feel the hardships of life as well as the weight of one’s responsibility but one is still in control of one’s life. It is really up to each one of us how to make it through life. We will have to find a way to work or do business, get married and support our family. Because we need to fend for ourselves, we have the tendency to feel and act like we do not need guidance, direction or anyone telling us what to do and what not to. Mind you, brothers and sisters this is where we get it all wrong. 

In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus cites once again the example of children to address the dispute, the conflict, the quarrel among His disciples as regards greatness in the Kingdom of Heaven. “…unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3) Jesus was actually calling His disciples’ attention to the nature and needs of a child because He wanted them and those listening to realise that even as adults and as His chosen followers, everyone still needs guidance. To receive  it, there is a need to be open and most gracious. In God’s watchful eyes, in God’s directing hand, this is most important. 

When a parent is out of sight, isn’t it that the child gets  nervous? When they realise, they may be alone in public (in the mall or the park) they become fearful and agitated and they start to panic and look around for their mom or dad? But the parent is just there watching. No good parent would leave the child unattended. The child would only calm down when he/she sees the parents again, holds their hands and is lifted up in safety in their arms. Whether young or old, we all need the guidance of God the Father. And we should never hesitate to reach for His hand when we need His protection and guidance. We should accept God’s help and guidance with openness and humility.

Sometimes, we get so caught up in ourselves and our own problems that we do not realise that God is always there for us. He is present in the people around us who show us care and compassion. Usually, we expect that it is a member of our family or persons we love that God uses to guide us. But what if they are the cause of our problems, resentment and hurt — such as a wayward child, an unfaithful or abusive spouse? Or relatives and friends who are abusive and opportunistic? The Lord still does not abandon us. The Lord may be sending us help and guidance through good friends, neighbours or caring church people, strangers or even people you don’t know. It could be a prayer or inspirational post on Viber or Instagram that we read, a voice that we heard on a podcast, or a video that we watched on YouTube or Facebook about things that bring answers to our problems, courage to overcome them, or a little comfort in what we are going through in life. Of course, with God nothing is impossible. He will also use technology and social media to reach out to those He loves, if necessary. We just need to keep our eyes and hearts open to see how God is keeping an eye on us and guiding us.

Today’s gospel passage invites us to be like children with a child-like disposition — open and ready to God’s guidance in our lives. Like children, we have to recognise that we are very much dependent on the mercy and providence of God and we have to entrust our entire life to Him who directs us to what is best for us. 

The devotees of the Santo Niño in Cebu yell…“Pit Señor” as they dance through the streets of Cebu in honour of the Christ-Child. “Pit Senyor” is the short form of “Sangpit sa Señor,” a phrase in Cebuano that means, “to call, ask, and plead to the King.” As we celebrate the feast of the Santo Niño, the Christ-child, let us ASK the Father to make us more and more child-like in our faith, to have recourse in our loving Father and to be more trusting in Him. Pit Senyor!