Devotion

An out-of-town friend who stayed for the Sinulog a couple of years ago wondered aloud if the celebration of the Sinulog and all the other festivities didn't border on idolatry. It wasn't, I think, a comment of contempt or even ridicule to us provincianos as Manila people are so quick to label us. It came from an innocent confusion and a general desire to make sense of something that an outsider had witnessed. This of course happened many years ago and was only given as a second-hand comment when my friends and I recently had dinner and discussed the upcoming event. This statement, while gently stated, caused another friend and I to vehemently refute and deny. It wasn't idolatry we both protested but rather devotion. One only needs to look at the faces of people in the novena Masses and in their solemn prayers at the procession to know that there was something deeper there than celebrating a centuries-old icon.

This got me thinking about the nature of devotions these days. Generally speaking, devotion is an outward act of piety (such as making novenas, celebrating feasts, enshrining statues in the home) which is supposed to lead a person into a deeper spiritual life. However, a lot of people tend to look at devotions merely as outward repetitive and often disturbing displays of faith. They find no sense it in. No depth. They look at devotees with scorn and wonder why we adamantly refuse to get with the program and become more "spiritual rather than religious." This is a term often quoted by celebrities who scoff at organized religion. What they do not realize is that devotions, done in the true spirit of worship and genuine faith, lead one not into an outward display of faith. As one priest says, devotion transforms into an inner spirituality, a way of life. So that someone who is devoted to, for example, St. Therese of Liseux, is led into a deeper imitation of her virtues. Or someone who claims an affinity with St. Francis of Assisi is led into a deeper knowledge of his spirituality.

Just as there are devotions to saints, there are devotions to every facet of Jesus' life. The lessons to be learned from all of them are the same since he is the same God. If we study long enough and hard enough, we will find that Christ on the Cross is the same Christ the King, who has the Sacred Heart who showers His Divine Mercy and who started life in this world as the Babe in the Manger. But we cannot know Him all at once and we must start with different teachers. I think that the reason most Cebuanos have chosen the Sto Niño (or rather the Sto. Niño has chosen us) to be our first teacher is that most of us have a feeling of being so little and so inconsequential that we find it much easier to be taught by a Child.

The beauty of being devoted to a child is that it does not become so complicated. A child is simple. He does not care what people think of him. He doesn't spend so much time wondering about what clothes to wear or what brand of shoes to buy. He keeps things simple and surrounds himself with other children because adults can sometimes over-read a situation and make things more than what they are. He lives simply and loves simply. A child does not worry. If he is raised in the best conditions, he will not care what the next moment brings. He will hug strangers and welcome them into his home because the concept of a hurtful person has not been introduced to him. He will make friends easily. He will not care if one friend has more and another has less so long as they are playing the same game.

A child knows no guile. Until he learns to lie, cheat and steal, everything he does will be from the goodness of his heart. He will have compassion for those who he sees are suffering and will often ask his parents to give more than what his limited sources can provide.

A child has faith. There is a certainty about children (unless experience teaches them otherwise) that if they fall, they will be caught. If they are hungry, they will be fed. If they cry, someone will pick them up.

And finally, to look at a child is to know that his parents are not very far away. For those who are truly devoted to the Sto. Niño will find that He does not only lead His brothers and sisters into His own loving company but into the blessed embrace of His Father, whose arms are big enough to encompass the whole human race but Whose love is tender enough for even the smallest baby.