Faithful told: Devotion to Nazareno in vain without renouncing avarice
MANILA, Philippines — Devotees to Jesús Nazareno will be in vain if the faithful do not renounce avarice and their vices, Manila Archbishop Jose Advincula said on Thursday.
Advincula led the homily of the Misa Mayor or the final Mass at Quirino Grandstand before the procession of the sacred image.
Over 143,000 devotees heard of Advincula’s message live, according to the Nazareno Operation Center.
During this homily, Advincula encouraged the faithful to only hold on to Jesus Christ instead of more temporal things.
READ: Crowds building up for ‘Pahalik’ on the eve of Nazarene procession
“Kung ano ang sinusunod natin, yun talaga talaga ang inaasahan natin. Kung naghahandog tayo sa Senyor, pero sumusunod naman tayo sa pera, ibig sabihin, pera talaga ang inaasahan natin. Kung nagdedebosyon tayo sa Senyor, pero sumusunod naman tayo sa masamang tao, ibig sabihin, masamang talaga ang inaasahan natin. Kung namamanata tayo sa Senyor, pero sumusunod naman tayo sa bisyo, ibig sabihin, bisyo talaga ang inaasahan natin. At kapag susunod tayo sa pera, sa masamang tao, sa bisyo, o anumang bagay ng mundo, mabibigo lamang tayo,” Advincula said.
Article continues after this advertisement(What we follow is exactly what we expect. If we give offerings to the Lord, but we follow money, that means we really hold on to money. If we devote ourselves to the Lord, but we follow bad people, it means that we hold on to those bad people. If we pay homage and vows to the Lord, but we follow vice, that means we really hold on to our vice. And when we hold on to money, bad people, vices, or anything in the world, we will only fail.)
Article continues after this advertisement“Iisa lamang ang tunay na maaasahan; iisa lamang ang nagdudulot ng pag-asang hindi bumibigo: ang Mahal na Poong Hesus Nazareno. Kaya’t sya ang sundin natin. Ang mga utos nya ang isabuhay natin. Ang mga aral nya ang isapuso natin. Ang halimbawa nya ang tularan natin. Mas mabuti ang pagsunod sa Mahal na Senyor,” he continued.
(Only one is truly reliable; only one brings hope that does not fail: the Dear Lord Jesus of Nazareth. That’s why we should follow him. We should live by his commandments Let’s take his lessons to heart. His example is our example. It is better to follow the Dear Lord,” he continued.
Advincula said that hope springs eternal due to Jesús Nazareno.
“Mga kapatid, may pag-asa tayo dahil buhay si Hesus Nazareno! May pag-asa tayo dahil buhay ang Mahal na Senyor! Sa tuwing sumisigaw tayo ng “Viva!” sa Mahal na Senyor, sinasabi natin na buhay ang Mahal na Senyor. Buháy ang pag-asa natin dahil buhay ang Mahal na Senyor. Nabubuhay siya sa mga puso natin. Nabubuhay siya sa paligid natin. Nabubuhay siya kasama natin. Huwag na tayong magpapátay-pátay. Habang may pag-asa, may buhay. Kaya’t mabuhay tayo sa pag-asa kay Hesus. Viva Hesus Nazareno!”
(Brothers, we have hope because Jesús Nazareno is alive! We have hope because the Dear Lord is alive! Whenever we shout “Viva!” to the Dear Lord, we say that the Dear Lord is alive. Our hope is alive because the Lord is alive. He lives in our hearts. He lives all around us. He lives with us. Let’s not act dead anymore. As long as there is hope, there is life. So let’s live in hope in Jesus. Viva Jesús Nazareno!”)
The image of the Jesús Nazareno was placed in the Quirino Grandstand on Monday for “pahalik.”
Clad with a maroon vest and carrying a True Cross, the image depicts Jesus Christ when He was en route to the Calvary for His crucifixion.
The Traslacion procession of Jesús Nazareno image from the Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church is expected to begin a few hours as of posting.
