Sto. Niño
“Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.”
Mark 10:13-16.
If one looks at the Sto. Niño he will notice a lot of contradiction. Obviously one would see a child dressed as a king, with a big golden crown atop its head, a gold orb and scepter on its left and right hands respectively, and a long red cape flowing from its back.
A child is seldom crowned as king because the child lacks the qualification to rule. A child is naive and gullible when the king should be wise and experienced. A child is weak and defenseless while the king must be strong and trained in battle. The list could be longer.
But why is the Sto. Niño put before us for our emulation? The reason is simple. “Unless you become like little children you cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven.” The one like a child rules supreme in God’s reign.
To become like little children does not mean we stop growing up into adults. This is impossible and no one can possibly do that.
But to become like a child means to keep the qualities we have begun with as a child. Because a child starts weak he depends all the time on others for counsel and especially protection.
To reign with God in heaven we must continue on depending on God on everything with trust and full confidence.
Most humans as they mature change from their childish ways and adopt more sophisticated and independent behavior.
But one thing we should never give up as we advance in age and that is trusting in God. This is exactly what is being childlike before Him. This is what the Sto. Niño wants us to learn from HIm.
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