ENDEARMENT - B: Feast of the Santo Niño (21 Jan 2024)

Gospel: Mk 10:13-16

“Let the children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs” (Mk 10:14 NRSV).

In most cultures, the appellation “children” is derogatory. It refers to someone’s inexperienced, immature, dependent, and fickle-minded traits. Additionally, it can be denotative of one’s lowly status in society in general and in local communities in particular. Among Filipinos, for instance, the term “bata” when used to an adult can refer to his/her status of being a servant or a constituent. Other phrases like “bata ka pa” (a rendition of “you are amateurish”) and “usapang matanda” (a reference to a conversation among adults, wherein children are not allowed) emphasize the irrelevance of children in the public sphere. Conversely, in exceptional cases, the remark “ito ang bata ko” (which means “this is my bet”) may hint at one’s exceptional talent, yet it does not remove the overtone that one is being reified as a commodity, on whom people can readily put their wager in competitions, sports or games of gamble.

The Greco-Roman culture similarly connotes the same derogatory concept in the use of the term “children” that is contained in the Greek word paidion. It indicates one’s lowly standing and insignificance to the general populace that is culturally Hellenized or Romanized—having been educated properly in arts, science, language, technical works, and good manners and right conduct. In this regard, the adjective propaedeutic (pro + paidion) is coined in the English language to refer to one who is still being prepared or trained in a particular field. The word can also be used as a noun to indicate “an introduction to a subject or area of study” (cf. Oxford Dictionary).

By and large, the lack of advanced knowledge, skill, and maturity of children is underscored heavily in many cultures over many centuries, even until now.

Meanwhile, the term paidion would have a nuanced meaning in the world of the New Testament, where the pristine innocence of children is emphasized, especially in reference to faith in God. Our gospel today, for example, features the admirable natural state of children, whom Jesus praised, laid hands on, and blessed (cf. Mk 10:16). The Greek word often used for children is paidia (singular form is paidion). The word occurs 52 times in the New Testament and is “frequently used by way of endearment, my children” (cf. Mounce Dictionary) as can be seen for example in 1 Jn 2:18, i.e., “Children, it is the last hour!” The least that can be said of this word when used in the vocative is “as a term of familiar address, children, my lads” (cf. Mounce Dictionary) as evidenced by Jn 21:5, i.e., “Jesus said to them, ‘Children, you have no fish, have you?’”.

In sum, the address “children” in the biblical tradition conveys one’s status of being endeared or loved by the speaker, which in most cases is delivered by Jesus or his renowned representative in local churches.

Still, even Jesus’ disciples found it hard to follow his way of thinking. In our Gospel today, when “[p]eople were bringing children to him [i.e., Jesus] in order that he might touch them… the disciples spoke sternly to them” (Mk 10:13). In the same way, many people nowadays continue to harbor the same arrogance in parochial communities, disallowing many marginalized sectors of society to mix and affiliate with them. May we instead have the humility and welcoming attitude to everyone who wants to come to Jesus, believing that we are all his endeared children after all.

Rex Fortes, CM