“Why were you searching for me?” “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” (Luke 2:49, NIV).
“In my Father’s house” are very memorable words, being the first recorded words of Jesus. With pride, Jesus declared His Sonship to God with dignity and humility. It is the essence of Psalm 40:7-9: “Here I am, I have come—it is written about me in the scroll. I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart. I proclaim your saving acts in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, Lord, as you know.”
Jesus then explains “the will of God” in John 4:34: “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.”
Remember this first statement when Jesus also says His last words to His disciples as recorded in Acts 1:7-8: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Thus, part of the responsibility of Christians is to be “witnesses” of Jesus Christ, a calling that should be taught to all children, just as Jesus acquired this consciousness at the age of 12. However, instead of thoroughly educating, nurturing, and bringing our children to Jesus, Filipinos and even foreigners often celebrate the Feast of the Holy Child Jesus, popularly known as the Santo Niño.
The first two months of the year are dedicated to the celebration of the feast for the Santo Niño. Many do not even consider the significance of this celebration. As long as they think of the “blessings” from this boy Jesus, the celebration goes on. Sometimes, this celebration is questionable for instead of being celebrated inside the church with a focus on God’s Sonship of Jesus as Lord and Savior, people—including public officials—take it to the streets with events like Sinulog in Cebu, Ati-atihan in Aklan, Boling-boling in Pandacan, Manila, and Catanduanes, Quezon, among many other street dances all over the Philippines.
This Santo Niño celebration of the child Jesus contradicts the first statement of Jesus recorded in the Bible: “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”
Chapter 2 of the Gospel of Luke recounts the birth of Jesus (verses 1-21), Jesus presented in the Temple (verses 22-40), and the Boy Jesus at the Temple (verses 41-52). Chapter 3 deals with the role of John the Baptist (verses 1-20), and at about 30 years old, Jesus was baptized (verses 21-23), along with the genealogy of Jesus (verses 24-38). The entire chapter 2 is focused on the child Jesus.
The Boy Jesus, in His first-ever statement, said to Mary and Joseph, “Why were you searching for me? Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” It is a declaration of Jesus being the Son of God. The Gospel of John supports this statement. In John 5:17, it is stated: “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” In John 10:30, it says, “I and the Father are one.”
My reflection focuses on this statement because it is part of the Gospel reading (Luke 2:41-52) for this Sunday (December 29), the 5th day of Christmas. Luke 2:41-52 tells the story of the boy Jesus when “he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom” (verse 42). This was the Festival of the Passover (the major Jewish Spring festival that commemorates the liberation of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery, lasting seven or eight days from the 15th day of Nisan), celebrated in Jerusalem, which Mary and Joseph participated in every year (Luke 2:41).
After the festival, “the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem” without His parents’ knowledge (Luke 2:43). When Mary and Joseph noticed He was missing, they searched for Him (Luke 2:44-45). “After three days, they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, ‘Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.’” (Luke 2:46-48)
Jesus responded to their queries in the form of questions that Mary and Joseph did not understand (Luke 2:50): “Why were you searching for me? Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”
“His mother treasured all these things in her heart” (Luke 2:51). This means that Mary pondered these things over and over, continuing to nurture Jesus until He was ready for His ministry.
As early as 12 years old, Jesus understood His Sonship to God. It reflects a distinct growth in wisdom for a child. Definitely, Mary was a good mother and teacher. She nurtured Jesus about His role as the Son of God. Jesus, both a peasant boy and a Jewish boy at the age of twelve, made a powerful statement: “Why were you searching for me? Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”
Jesus came to understand His divine Sonship (I had to be in my Father’s house) and took on His responsibilities when He would later begin His ministry. This consciousness would lead Him to the fulfillment of God’s plan for Him as He “grew in wisdom and stature and favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52).
Thinking of our children today, are we bringing them into the “Father’s house” of Jesus? As children of God, we must also instill in the minds of our children the awareness of having religious responsibilities from a young age. As parents, it is our responsibility to bring our children to church. There is only one reference in the Old Testament to parental love toward each of us on the part of God. It is recorded in Psalm 103:13: “As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.”
Jesus had this consciousness when He said: “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it” (Mark 10:14-16).
Where are our children in our present society? It is for the honor of Christ that children should participate in public worship, even while being exposed to the realities of our society, allowing them to study outside the church and play with their peers.
Children should be aware of their basic rights. The 12 Rights of Filipino Children must be introduced to them, even as they attend church education. These are:
- Every child has the right to be born well.
- It is the responsibility of parents to provide a safe environment for their unborn child, including proper medical care from conception through childhood in a pediatric center or newborn services unit.
- Every child has the right to a wholesome family life.
- The child’s first learning environment and teachers are their home and family. They are entitled to be a part of a loving family that will instill ethical values and morals.
- Every child has the right to be raised well and become contributing members of society.
- By raising children in a safe and loving environment, parents and guardians can shape the personalities of their young to be useful and contributing members of their respective communities.
- Every child has the right to basic needs.
- The four basic needs of people outlined in the law are as follows: a balanced diet, adequate clothing, sufficient shelter, and proper healthcare.
- Every child has the right to access what they need for a good life.
- Beyond basic needs, a child’s atmosphere should support their growth, contributing to their character development in adulthood.
- Every child has the right to education.
- Ideally, every child should have access to a classroom, books, and learning materials that enrich their intelligence and skills.
- Every child has the right to play and enjoy their youth.
- Children have the right to engage in wholesome recreational activities and should not be exploited for events meant only for adults, such as intensive labor.
- Every child has the right to be protected from danger.
- This includes physical, mental, and emotional protection from hazards like abuse, accidents, or exploitation.
- Every child has the right to live in a productive environment.
- Children should be surrounded by safe communities that inspire them to contribute positively as they grow.
- Every child has the right to be cared for in the absence of their parent or guardian.
- If the parent or guardian fails in their role, the State must assume custody and care for the child, providing fundamental needs for growth and development.
- Every child has the right to good governance.
- Children have the right to be born under good governance that inspires them to become active, helpful citizens.
- Every child has the right to freedom and protection from any form of violence.
- It is a state’s responsibility to offer protection from any danger or form of violence inflicted on children through various forms of law enforcement, rules, and regulations.
Last but not least, every child is entitled to live their life freely, so long as it contributes to the peace and betterment of the communities they are part of.
“Parents, guardians, and all adults should be vigilant in protecting and advocating for the rights of children. While this National Children’s Month serves as a gentle reminder for everyone to ensure that we are creating a better world for young Filipinos, the battle must not end in November.” (Posted by Makati Medical Center on October 30, 2019, Celebrating National Children’s Month: The 12 Rights of a Child).
The 12 rights of Filipino children are a concrete manifestation of what Philippine society should be. However, many children are caught in armed conflict, both in the Philippines and globally.
UNICEF reported that “over 400 million children live in countries affected by war or other violent conflicts. Often forced to flee their homes in search of safety, many remain displaced for extended periods or never return home. Some are orphaned or separated from parents and caregivers.” Currently, thousands of Palestinian children have been killed in Gaza. Children of war are also suffering in Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, Yemen, Burkina Faso, the Central African Republic (CAR), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Haiti, Nigeria, and West Africa.
“Children are especially vulnerable to abuse, exploitation, and trafficking during emergencies and armed conflicts. As violence against children increases, perpetrators are rarely held accountable for the killing, maiming, sexual violence, abductions, and armed recruitment of children, or for attacks on schools and hospitals,” UNICEF added.
Like Jesus, young people should be provided with the knowledge of divine truth, be allowed to attend the ministry of the gospel, and ask questions of their elders and teachers to increase their understanding. In the Father’s house, children become the children of God. Like Jesus, children should “grow in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52).
Who among the Filipinos is committed to upholding and protecting the rights and welfare of children in all aspects of our struggle?
Revolutionary organizations like the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) have shown their commitment to the welfare of children. The NDFP’s Special Office For The Protection of Children has posted on its website:
“The NDFP’s commitment to the welfare of children is enshrined in its Program of Action and Declaration on the Rights and Welfare of Children, which expressly prohibits the recruitment of children into armed activities.”
“We uphold the principle of distinction, ensuring that combatants are separated from non-combatants and that children are shielded from the impacts of conflict to the fullest extent possible,” the NDFP stated.
What about the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP)? Has the GRP not been involved in the violations of children’s rights in the context of the ongoing armed conflict in the Philippines? Why has the GRP closed the Lumad schools in Mindanao? What about the children of the Moro people, who were victims of the Marawi bombings? What about the children in Negros provinces, Samar Island, Masbate, and Panay, who have been caught in intense and massive military operations?
Do people know where to find the children of war? Are they not also to be found in the Father’s house? May the children dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of their lives?
We may be in one or another of the many mansions of the Father’s house wherever we go, doing the will of the Father in heaven in all that we do. Then we shall be at rest; we shall be strong; we shall be pure; we shall have deep in our hearts the joyous consciousness, undisturbed by rebellious wills, that we are now the children of God. With more joyous hope, undimmed by doubts and conflicts, we shall enjoy the love of God in Jesus.
