The Child, The Child

THE STORY is told about a family gathered together to celebrate the seventh birthday of little junior. Many guests arrived, food was a-plenty, drinks flowed, and the conversation was very animated. Everybody was having a good time, except the little junior who felt left out and forgotten. Unable to get the attention of anyone at the table, he walked to his parents and in a loud voice said: "Hello! Remember me? I'm your son. I am here!"

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I am quite amazed that in today's Gospel (Lk. 2, 41-52), Joseph and Mary could "forget" their precious and only child, and leave Him behind at the temple. The explanation given is that Mary presumed that Jesus was with Joseph, and Joseph presumed that Jesus was with Mary. Today, the Feast of the Santo Niño, parents are reminded not to forget their precious children, not to take them for granted, and not just to presume that they are or will be all right. Children are precious, they should not only be well fed. They should also be well bred, and well led.

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Someone once said that parents are like diamond cutters. If they make the right cuts at the right angles, at the right proportions, they can come out with a precious jewel. If they make the wrong cuts out of neglect or plain recklessness, they can shatter the precious stone forever and come out with worthless pieces of glass.

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"A baby may not be able to lift very much, but it can hold a marriage together." How true! Parents form their children, but children also can form their parents. We can learn a lot from the little ones. They remind us of what is really basic and important in life. If only parents really listened to their children, to what they are saying or are not saying. When was the last time you really listened to a child, and allowed yourself to be amazed and amused? Given a choice whom to listen to, I'd prefer to listen to a child who talks about life and love rather than a politician who talks crap. Why not a radio or TV program where children do the talking to remind us again of things that really matter in
life?

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It is never the children who break the home. It is the parents who do so and leave a lot of broken hearts, too. If only parents listened more to their children's needs rather than to their own desires and wants!

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After the boy Jesus was found at the temple, he went home with his parents and was obedient to them. There is a lot of wisdom in obeying one's parents, and lots of blessings, too.

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There is a story about a father who gathered his children and asked: "Now, tell me children, who has been the most attentive, the most obedient, and has done everything that mother ordered?" All his children pointed at him and chorused: "You, dad!"

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Children are very observant, and very perceptive, they can feel if things are OK or not. They really listen, especially when the parents start whispering, more so when they start shouting at each other. Pity the innocent and helpless children wounded and scarred by parents who have not quite grown up. All too often, the parent is the child.

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I was in cool and green Tagaytay this week at the Divine Word Seminary for our SVD Provincial Assembly and Chapter. It was wonderful to be back in the place where I studied for eight years till my ordination in 1980. It was good to be back down memory lane and so refreshing to be with my confreres once again as we shared our lives, our work, our dreams and even our pains. I felt so edified by the good will, diligence and sacrifice of my SVD brothers in the service of the Lord, some coming from our far-away missions in Mindoro and Palawan. It was a fitting tribute to St. Arnold, our father and founder, whose first feast day as a saint we celebrated last January 15.

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There was one afternoon session facilitated by Bishop Arturo Bastes, SVD, Bishop of Sorsogon where we felt the power of silence and prayer. The discussion was getting tense and difficult, and time was running out when one of our confreres, Father Bongayan, suggested to the assembly that we stop the discussions, be quiet for a while and just pray. For two minutes, there was silence in the hall. In the silence we listened to our hearts and to the spirit within and among us. Then, just like that, we saw the solution and the light. Because we listened like a child listens, and we, "adults," listened to the child within us.

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January 18-25, National Bible Week. If only we listened more to God's word, we will have more peace and hope in this world. Let us continue to share God's word. Please help us share God's word literally by donating some amount for Bible distribution here and abroad. (SVD Mission Philippines Inc., P.O. Box 1375, Manila, Tel. No. +63 2 7217457, +63 2 4147044)

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A moment with the Lord

Lord, help me not to forget to listen to the child, and to listen like a child. Amen.