Nazareno 2023: Devotees reminded to be good, help those in need

The devotees of the Black Nazarene were reminded to always choose to walk in the path of goodness and not forget to extend their helping hands to those in need.

Quiapo Church Parish Priest Fr. Rufino "Jun" Sescon said that devotees should live righteously.

“Ang tunay na deboto, nagbibigay. At ang tunay na deboto nagbabagong buhay. Hindi pwedeng pareho parin dati ang asal at gawain. Hindi pwedeng lagi tayong nasa Quiapo tuwing Biyernes, pero hindi tayo tapat sa pamilya at trabaho natin (A true devotee is a giver. And a true devotee, changes life . Your behavior and actions should not be the same as before. It is not right that you always visit Quiapo every Friday, but you are not devoted to your family and work)," Sescon said in his homily on Sunday, Jan. 8.

"Hindi pwedeng naka t-shirt at tuwalya tayo ng Nazareno, pero hindi natin sinasabi ang totoo, nagpapakalat tayo ng fake news, at pinag-aaway-away natin ang mga tao. Hindi pwedeng pupunas tayo sa paa ng señor, pero hindi tayo matinag upang tumulong sa ating kapwa (It is not right that you wear and use Nazarene t-shirts and towels, but you are not truthful, you spread fake news, and you cause people to fight. It is not right that you are wiping the señor's feet, but you cannot help others)," he added.

Devotees should also "let go" of the sinful deeds, said Sescon.

"Mabigat ang kasalanan, pahirap ang kasamaan, sumpa ang kasinungalingan, katiwalian, karahasan, kawalan ng katarungan, hidwaan, bastusan, gantihan. Ang mga ito ay dapat nating iwan upang makapaglakbay tayo ng maayos patungo kay Hesus Nazareno (Sin is heavy, evil is torture, lie is a curse so as corruption, violence, injustice, conflict, rudeness, and revenge. We must leave these so that we can properly follow Jesus of Nazarene)," he said.

It is also important to practice humility and acknowledge the presence of the Lord in everything, said Sescon.

"Kung nais mong matagpuan ang Diyos, tumingala ka sa kanya. Hindi tayo titingin sa mundo. Hindi tayo titingin kung kani-kanino. Ang mas malala, ang iba sa atin tumitingala nalang kung saan-saan---sa kapangyarihan, sa pera, sa posisyon, sa mga makamundong ningning. Pero hindi dito natin matatagpuan ang kasagutan sa hinahanap natin sa buhay (If you want to find God, look up to him. Do not look at the earthly things. Some of us are only looking at power, money, position, and other grandeurs. But this is not where we find the answer to what we are looking for in life)," he said.

"Ang taong tumitingala, mapagkumbaba— sapagkat inaamin niya na may Diyos na dakila, nandyan si Jesus Nazareno (A person who looks up is humble because that individual admits that there is a great God, there is Jesus of Nazareth)," he added.

Nazarene feast amid pandemic

Meanwhile, Sescon said that despite the absence of traditional activities such as the "Traslacion" (the annual procession of the Black Nazarene) for this year's celebration of Feast of the Black Nazarene, these will not stop the faithful to show their devotion to the Lord.

"Dahil sa pandemya, hindi muna natin magagawa ang nakagawian nating Traslacion o prusisyon. Pero hindi mapipigilan ang ating debosyon at ang ating pagmamahal (Due to the pandemic, we will not be able to do our usual Traslacion or procession. But our devotion and our love cannot be stopped)," he said.

In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, the tradition of Traslacion and "Pahalik" (touching and kissing of the image of the Black Nazarene) were still not present during this year's celebration.

However, the Quiapo Church introduced two activities: the "Pagpupugay" event and the "Walk of Faith" procession— to safely observe this annual feast.