HOMILY: Feast of the Santo Niño (A)
Isaiah 9:1–6 | Ephesians 1:3–6, 15–18 | Matthew 18:1–5, 10
18 January 2026
Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA
When we were children, life seemed simpler. When we were young, our problems were things like: “Do I have ‘baon’ (pocket money)” or “Will we be allowed to play?” As we grow older, the problems change: bills, deadlines, family issues, health concerns—and sometimes even faith issues. As life becomes more complicated, we sometimes feel that our relationship with Christ becomes complicated as well. We begin to focus on rules and religious demands, and without realizing it, we get lost in them — until we slowly drift away from a living relationship with God Himself.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus offers a startling correction to our tendency to overthink and overcomplicate life. When the disciples press Him with the question, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” (Matthew 18:1) Jesus does not respond with a lecture, a formula, or a strategic roadmap for success. Instead, He performs a silent but radical act: He places a child in their midst. His words are as simple as they are challenging: “Unless you change and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3)
He did not say, “Study harder.”
He did not say, “Just behave yourselves.”
And He certainly did not say, “Act childish.”
He said, “Become like children.”
What is so exemplary about a child in the eyes of God, when in practical terms a child knows very little and still has so much to learn? First, a child trusts easily. When a parent says, “Just hold on to me,” the child holds on — even without knowing where he or she is being led. We, adults are different. We ask questions. We doubt. “Are you sure? Is there a contract? Is there a backup plan?” Even with God, we say, “Lord, I will trust You — but please explain everything first.” And God smiles, because that is not how children love. Children love by trusting, not by demanding explanations.
Second, a child is honest. When children are hurt, they cry. When they are happy, it shows. When they are angry, they are direct. We adults, however, love to pretend. We pretend we are okay when we are not. We say things we do not really mean. We tell God, “We’re fine, Lord,” even when we are already breaking inside. We think this is what God wants to hear. We think we need to appear strong because our God is strong. But the Child Jesus reminds us: God does not want a perfect performance. He simply asks that we be real with Him.
Conversion, then, is not about growing up more, but about learning how to be a child before God again. St. Paul, in the Second Reading, reminds us that we were chosen and loved by God even before the foundation of the world — before we achieved anything, before we proved anything, before we succeeded or failed. Before all of that, we were already loved. Many of us forget this, while children understand love instinctively. Notice that children do not try to be great. They simply want to be held…to be loved!
Jesus affirms this when He says, “Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:4) He also warns us, “Do not despise one of these little ones.” (Matthew 18:10) Perhaps Jesus is reminding us that when we look down on weakness, simplicity, and vulnerability, we slowly lose our way back to God.
So today, on the Feast of the Santo Niño, the invitation may be very simple:
• To pray honestly again
• To trust without trying to control everything
• To come to God without pretending
There is no need to appear as experts or strong people before Him. In the end, heaven is not for those who have everything figured out. Heaven is for those who still know how to kneel, look up, and say with the heart of a child: “Father, I need You.”
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