Real devotees reflect the life of Jesus, Advincula says during Nazarene Mass
Manila Archbishop Jose Advincula. (Photo courtesy of Archdiocese of Capiz)
MANILA, Philippines — Manila Archbishop Jose F. Advincula encouraged devotees of the Black Nazarene to be models of the life of Jesus Christ, in the midnight Mass of the feast of the Black Nazarene on Jan. 9.
“The real devotee is a model. One can see through his or her life the life of Jesus. The devotee is a model of faith in the Father and charity to his or her neighbors,” Advincula said in Filipino in his homily.
Advincula also expressed gratitude to Jesus the Nazarene for the resumption of the procession, which was put on pause from 2021 to 2023 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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“We thank the Lord Jesus Nazarene for after four years, we can do the procession of his translation. This is a blessing from our Holy Patron,” he said.
The Manila prelate also told devotees that Jesus understood their experiences and struggles as well:
“Each one of us is seen and known by our dear Lord. There are no experiences of people that the Lord Jesus of Nazareth does not see and does not understand.
“He sees the sufferings of the sick. He sees the fatigue of the worker. He sees the struggle of the poor. He sees the sacrifices of the good leaders and the servants of the country.
“He sees the loneliness of overseas Filipino workers and the remembrances of their loved ones. He knows the cold of those who do not have clothes or shelter. He knows the hunger of the hungry and the thirsty. He sees the repentance of the sinners. He sees each of our struggles, the dreams of children, and the hard work of adults.
“He sees and feels with us. He understands whatever we feel. When Jesus sees us, he will shelter us, help us, accompany us, and bless us.”
Advincula also made several analogies between letting their neighbor see Jesus through them in the procession of the image of the Black Nazarene by letting them be instruments of Jesus:
“When we see Jesus and when Jesus sees us, we cannot avoid that we want to show Jesus to others, that we will be his instruments.
“Later, in the procession of the Traslacion, let us show Jesus to each other. In pulling the rope, let us show Jesus who pulls us through and undoes the knots of the problems of our lives. In pushing the carriage, let us show Jesus who pushes us to convert to new life.
“In trudging through the procession, let us show Jesus who saves us so we do not fall into sin and danger. In keeping up with the carriage, let us show Jesus who guides us in the right way. In carrying, let us show Jesus who carries our souls when we are weak. In our procession later, let us show Jesus who carries us to new life.”
