Gospel: January 21, 2024
(Sunday)
Feast of the Sto. Niño
Psalter: Proper / (White)
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 97: 1, 2-3, 3-4, 5-6
All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
1st Reading: Isaiah 9: 1-6
2nd Reading: Ephesians 1: 3-6, 15-18
Gospel: Mk 10: 13-16
People were bringing their little children to him to have him touch them; and the disciples rebuked them for this.
When Jesus noticed it, he was very angry and said, “Let the children come to me and don’t stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.” Then he took the children in his arms and, laying his hands on them, blessed them.
Lectio Divina
Read: People were bringing their children to Jesus. However, the disciples rebuked them. Jesus became angry and he told his disciples not to stop the children from coming to him because the kingdom of God belongs to such children. Jesus further told them that whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it. Jesus took the children in his arm. He also blessed the children by laying his hands on them.
Reflect: Today, the Philippine Church celebrates the Feast of the Sto. Niño, the Feast of the Holy Child Jesus. Today’s Gospel narrates how the disciples tried stopping people who were bringing their children to Jesus. Jesus told his disciples to let the children come to him and not to hinder them. Perhaps, the disciples tried to stop the people in bringing their children to Jesus because they were regarding the children to be not significant enough to be worthy of Jesus’ attention. In the eyes of his disciples, Jesus must be very busy to be disturbed by children whom they seemed to regard to be insignificant. But for Jesus, nobody is insignificant. For Jesus, everyone is precious. As devotees of Sto. Niño, we are called to grow in our way of dealing with people, adults and children alike. May we learn how to relate well with all kinds of people as we raise to the Child Jesus our “urgent petitions.” Viva Pit Señor!
Pray: Let us pray to Sto. Niño that we may truly learn how to relate well with all kinds of people.
Act: Today, let us do something that will make the children around us happy.
