I am told that in some parts of the Philippines, the
Christmas season is not considered over until this feast has been celebrated,
and over the last week many of you have spent quite a lot of time preparing for
the celebration today. In a real sense, the Feast of Santo Nino began here in
Broome a week ago and culminates today.
During the time of preparation I saw people who have a wide
range of gifts and talents come together to organise this event. There were those who could plan, organise,
sing, play music, create, construct, clean, dance, serve, and read. All who
were involved are part of the Church, who share in the one spirit, just as St
paul tells us in the letter to the Corinthians. As part of the one reality, the
one family of the church, we come with what we have to offer to make this
community, this parish, and this town a place where God’s Spirit shines. In doing
this, the faith and life that is inside us is able to emerge.
So what has Santo Nino got to do with this?
In this beautifully constructed shrine, we see the tiny
statue of the Christ Child, the Holy Infant, Santo Nino. When we look at him,
he doesn’t really look like an infant because of his dress and crown, but even
more so because of his face. His face is not that of an infant, it is of a much
more mature and wise boy. This is where we will start to discover the gift of
the Christ Child.
The Christ Child comes to us with the energy, faith and
trust of youth. He has not learned to be afraid or embarrassed in the way that
we do as we grow. He is who he is: young, vibrant and he will set out to
conquer the world! He is the one who calls us here today. He is the one for
whom we have prepared this beautiful celebration, and he asks us to join him.
In many places in the Philippines, and here after Mass,
women will dance holding the image of Santo Nino, celebrating and rejoicing.
This is tradition of many years in that country that has now been brought to us
in Broome. You are called to live your faith. In some who come to Australia I
see that strong faith made weak by a materialism and easy life that is enjoyed
by many in this country. Santo Nino calls you as he calls all of us to hold him
high and be happy, be joyful and be proud of our faith.
To prosper in our faith we need to support one another, to
be there for each other and to encourage one another in faith, not to hold each
other back. Today’s gospel shows us how Mary encouraged Jesus as a young man to
begin his ministry and lead people to God. He did this when people were
together, happy and enjoying themselves. The other day I was told that this
feast is largely a cultural one for many people, not a religious feast. The
person who said that did not realise that our religion is incarnational. Jesus
became one like us so that we could be raised is be like God. Christ is with us
when we are celebrating, dancing, building one another up, defending the weak,
caring for the poor. During this Mass we bring all those feelings, thoughts and
actions together and put them in front of the image of Santo Nino and remember
that God is here with us. Soon we will bring bread and wine to celebrate and
remember that the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross continues to hold and
nurture us in this country at the start of this New Year.
Filipino people were the first Catholics in Broome, the
first parishioners. The challenges faced by Fr Nicholas and his band of
Manillamen as they were called were great, but they did not give up and the
faith of the church in Broome is the result. Now the numbers of Filipinos is
growing again and you have brought us this gift of the Feast of Santo Nino. May
we all be encouraged by your faith and vitality. May you proudly hold your
statues of Santo Nino high and proclaim the wonders of God among all the
peoples .
Homily Feast of Santo Nino, 20th January 2013, 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C,
