Daily Reflections - January 20,2013

I’m Growing Up

 

In May 2012, a Filipina-Mexican named Jessica Sanchez made it to the finals of the world famous singing contest on TV, American Idol. It was the first time that a woman of Filipina lineage made it that far in the contest, going against a “WGWG,” i.e., a white guy with guitar. Rounds of jokes circulated that the winner was the American while Jessica was the Idol.

A video of an American girl throwing a tantrum when Jessica did not win was posted on the Internet days after the contest. In all innocence and cuteness, the girl kept crying and shouting that Jessica was her idol. That video went viral and had almost a million hits on YouTube. We find it cute that children throw a tantrum when they don’t get what they want. But when an adult acts the same, it is as a sign of immaturity.

The ability to give up one’s desire, will and caprice for a greater purpose has always been a mark of maturity and growth. To paraphrase what Jesus told Peter in the Gospel of John: “When you were young, you went and did as you pleased… When you grow old, someone will tie a belt round your waist and bring you where you would rather not go” (See John 21:18).

Today is the Feast of the Sto. Niño, a local feast unique to the Philippine Church. Very little is known about the childhood of Jesus. It is interesting to note that the only adjective we know about the Christ-child is obedience. St. Luke narrates, “Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.”

Obedience — the ability to set aside one’s wants in deference to another and to a higher value — is not a virtue to be found in adults alone. Let us not trivialize the feast of the Christ-child by turning it into a “dress up a Sto Niño” fashion craze. On this feast, let us develop in us the virtues of obedience, humility and receptivity. These virtues are what transform a child into an adult. Fr. Joel Jason

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: Do you have a tendency to pamper little children and condone their every wish and fancy?

 

Lord Jesus, may the obedience of Your youth accompany mine unto adulthood. Amen.