Pilgrim Center | January 21, 2018 – The Fiesta Señor is the one of the grandest festival of the country and the Pope has blessed us with his presence through his representative in the person of Most Rev. Gabriele Giordano Caccia, the Papal Nuncio to the Philippines, who celebrated the Pontifical Mass at 5:30PM on the feast day of the Sñr. Sto. Niño.

In his homily, Most Rev. Caccia had observed that the Cebuanos are enthusiastic and joyful as the city is filled with smiles and dancing. This happiness, he says, comes from the greatest gift we have received today. The child has been given to us.

Our God is a powerful and strong God, but He manifested Himself as a child. For a child doesn’t scare anyone, instead, a child gives joy.  Our God is a loving God. He loves us and wants us to love Him in return, not to be feared of.

“The child gives joy. And God decided to present Himself as a child not to scare us, but to make us happy. To give happiness, inspiration, serenity, harmony in our lives.”

In line with the fiesta of the Holy Child, today’s gospel talked about Jesus saying to His disciples to be like children.

“Who doesn’t become like a child cannot enter the Kingdom of God.”

The dependency and trust that children have on their parents is what Jesus hopes for us to have in the Father—to feel safe with Him, to trust in His love and protection.  When problems occur and difficult situations arise, a child runs to the arms of his mother or father. Likewise, the Papal Nuncio wants us to run into His embrace during such times.

“And to be that child of God means to have trust in Him and say to Him, ‘I don’t know what will happen in life. There are many dangers. There are many evil[s]. There are many temptations, but I come to You like a child. If I am with You, I feel safe because you are there.’”

Papan Nuncio to the Philippines, Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia, leads the devotees in the Traditional Sinulog Dance.

To be childlike means to trust in God’s love and protection, knowing that He will never abandon us when we go astray. He will wait for us to come back, or will even reach out to us and brings us back to His fold.

Furthermore, Archbishop Caccia gave light to the meaning and significance of the Eucharist. Jesus wants to be in us through the Holy Eucharist, the manifestation of Himself in the very humble and simple way. The Papals Nuncio talked about this in connection to this year’s declaration of 2018 as the year of the clergy and consecrated persons. He encouraged us to pray for the consecrated men and women for through them, especially the priests, they permit God to be within us through the Eucharist.

And each time we look at the Child Jesus, may we all remember and feel God’s love for Sñr. Sto. Niño is the sign of the unconditional love of God for us. We are all happy, especially this day, because we know that God loves us.
Viva Pit Senyor!

BMSN Media Center Student Volunteer | Eunice Jose – USC