Veritas PH

The WORD. The TRUTH.

The Black Nazarene in COVID-19 | The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe for the Soul

SHARE THE TRUTH

 472 total views

Photo by Mr. Jay Javier, Quiapo, 09 January 2020.

For the first time in so many years, there will be no Traslacion today of the Black Nazarene of Quiapo due to the COVID-19 pandemic but devotees are still celebrating its feast via online Masses and by visiting other churches with revered images of Nuestro Padre Señor Jesus de Nazareno first brought in the country by Augustinian Recollects in the early 1600’s.

Like in our celebrations last year of Lent and Easter and recently of Christmas, COVID-19 pandemic has given us much needed time to reflect, meditate, and review our faith in general that has been shaped for better and, for worst, by our many rites and rituals that have turned us blind to its deeper realities of finding Jesus among the poor and suffering.

It is a great marvel for our eyes to see this unique and intense expression of faith of great crowds gathering every year to fulfill their panata or vow to the Black Nazarene. People from all walks of life, children, men and women, young and old flock to Quiapo on this day as part of their panata for a prayer and wish granted them by the Señor Nazareno.

Photo by Mr. Jay Javier, Quiapo, 09 January 2020.

Beloved: We have this confidence in him that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in regard to whatever we ask, we know that what we have asked him for is ours. Children, be on your guard against idols.

1 John 5:14-15, 21

So often people wonder do we really have to go through all these because of a prayer granted like healing or having a child or getting a job or passing a board exam?

The beloved disciple reminds us today during this time of the pandemic that somehow we have to restore some sense of order especially in the Traslacion.

There is no doubt about the faith of everyone — but it is not everything. Faith is directed to God, a Person, not to a ritual or rite nor to an image. In this time of COVID-19, Jesus reiterates to us His love for us, of how like yesterday in the gospel He always wishes the best for us.

Let it be clear we are not passing judgment on the devotees of the Black Nazarene and of other popular devotions anywhere else in the world. In the letter of St. John we heard today, we find that we do not need to go through so much hardships like some people would do in their panata because prayer is not primarily for having things but for deepening relationship with God. We pray because we relate, we want to be one with God. Asking for things or blessings is secondary. Prayers and sacrifices do not necessarily change situations in one’s life; prayers and sacrifices change the person. In fact, when we pray for something, deep within us we already knew if it is meant for us or not; that is why, I always tell people to “claim” from Jesus whatever he/she may be praying for because if it is for you, the Lord will surely give it to you.



It will almost be a year since we have this pandemic but until now, see in most churches how people continue to disregard our health protocols not to touch and kiss images. In less than a month, we shall start the Season of Lent when images are covered so we go deeper into the person of God and not merely to His images and other visuals that unfortunately for some have become their gods. And that is why despite our deep religiosity, we cannot experience real change in our society because we are still individualistic than communal. Values are misplaced or even disregarded when we think more of the favors to be had than the relationships to be kept, the person to be respected and life to be valued. No wonder, so many Catholics ironically and sadly support corrupt politicians and leaders who lie and disregard life despite their being “prayerful”.

From Google.

John said: “He (Jesus) must increase, I must decrease.”

John 3:30

Señor Nazareno reminds us how in this life we imitate John the Baptist remaining humble before Jesus, entrusting everything to Him. Most especially, working hard to ensure that Jesus and His gospel of salvation is made known to everyone.

See how in our gospel today when the disciples of John the Baptist reported to him Christ’s ministries in Judea, seeking clarifications on how to deal with the situation as more and more people were coming to Jesus. The scene reveals to us the deep spirituality of John, telling his disciples how Jesus must increase and he must decrease which is essentially Christ’s teaching on discipleship, that who ever wants to follow Him must first deny himself and take up his cross with Him.

That is the central message of the Black Nazarene: of how we are also willing to forget our very selves, take up our cross and follow Jesus in the path of self-sacrifice. It is finding Jesus among the poor and suffering that made the Quiapo devotion so appealing to every generation, but — we also wonder why our nation remains poor with so many sufferings! There must be something wrong.

This is something that only the pandemic can offer us: to search our souls, sincerely asking our selves if we still find Jesus in the center of all these devotions. How sad that every year, we hear reports of how some devotees getting unruly, insisting on what they believe, on what they want, including the route of the Traslacion.

Amid all these celebrations, do we hear John’s declaration “Jesus must increase and I must decrease”?

That is spirituality which is more about relationship with God than just fulfillment and celebration of rites and rituals that we call religiosity.

The Black Nazarene statue sits at the stage of the Quirino Grandstand in Manila on January 8, 2013, one day before its feast day when it will be paraded around the streets of Manila to the greeting of thousands of devotees. (Photo by LJ Pasion)

Usually, when you ask anyone for the meaning of “Jesus Nazareno”, easily they would say it refers to the Lord’s origins, the town of Nazareth where He grew up after returning from Egypt to escape Herod’s murderous plot against all infants when He was born.

It is true but on deeper reflection, we have to remember that Nazareth is the only place in the New Testament never mentioned in the Old Testament. Besides, Jesus Christ is actually from Bethlehem, the town of David and Joseph His father where He was born in fulfillment of the prophecies.

According to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, the words Nazoraios and Nazarenos used to designate Jesus in the gospels came from the Hebrew root “nezer” for root. Remember in the Simbang Gabi the prophecy by Isaiah that “There shall comne forth a shoot (nezer) from the stump of Jesse” (Is.11:1)?

Pope Benedict explains that Matthew must have detected in the name Nazareth a prophetic reference to the “shoot” as a sign of fulfillment of God’s promise to draw new life from the dead stump of Jesse:

If we add that in the inscription above the Cross, Jesus is called ho Nazoraios (cf. Jn.19:19), then the title acquires its full resonance: what is at first sight refers simply to his origin, actually points to his essence: he is the “shoot,” he is the one completely consecrated to God, from his mother’s womb to the day of his death.

Benedict XVI, Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives (pp.117-118)

What a beautiful reminder to us all today in this time of COVID-19 in celebration of the feast of the Black Nazarene, reminding us that in this time when everything seems to be “dead” like a “stump” of the tree, God is working something marvelous, something great among us through His Son Jesus Christ.

Jesus is coming, Jesus has come and remains with us despite this pandemic.

But, are we willing to die to ourselves to see Him, to experience Him, and most of all, share Him?

Viva Nuestro Padre Señor Jesus de Nazareno!

ads
2
3
4
previous arrow
next arrow

Veritas Editorial

Rev. Fr. Anton CT Pascual

Rev. Fr. Anton CT Pascual

President of Radio Veritas

Bagong mapa ng bansa

 23,617 total views

 23,617 total views Mga Kapanalig, may bagong opisyal na mapa ang Pilipinas. Dahil iyan sa pinirmahang batas ni Pangulong BBM na pinamagatang Philippine Maritime Zones Act. Ang mapang pinagtitibay ng batas na ito ay nakabatay sa mga pamantayan o standards na itinakda ng United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (o UNCLOS). Ang UNCLOS

Read More »

Damay tayo sa eleksyon sa Amerika

 38,273 total views

 38,273 total views Mga Kapanalig, makasaysayan ang muling pagkakaluklok ni President-elect Donald Trump bilang pangulo ng Estados Unidos. Makasaysayan ito dahil maliban sa muli siyang inihalal, siya ang unang pangulo ng Amerika na may mahigit tatlumpung kaso; nahatulan siya sa isa sa mga ito. Siya rin ang presidenteng humarap sa dalawang impeachment cases noong una niyang

Read More »

Resilience at matibay na pananampalataya sa Panginoon

 48,388 total views

 48,388 total views Kapanalig, taglay at nanalaytay sa mga ugat nating Pilipino ang katangian ng pagiging resilience at may matatag na pananampalataya sa Panginoon. Ito ang nagbibigay ng pag-asa, bumubuhay sa ating mga Pilipino na tumayo at bumangon kahit dapang-dapa na, kahit lugmok na lugmok na. Nilugmok tayo ng husto ng bagyong Yolanda, 7.2 magnitude na

Read More »

Phishing, Smishing, Vishing

 57,965 total views

 57,965 total views Kapanalig, ikaw ba ay naghahanap ng “love online”? mag-ingat po sa paghahanap ng “wrong love” sa mga cybercriminal. Lumabas sa pag-aaral ng global information and insight company na TRANSUNION na ang Pilipinas po ang top targets ng online love scams. Ang PHISHING ay uri ng scam sa pamamagitan ng pagpapadala ng emails at

Read More »

Veritas Editorial Writer Writes 30

 77,954 total views

 77,954 total views Kapanalig, sumakabilang buhay na ang isa sa “longtime”(matagal) na Radio Veritas editorial writer na si Lourdes “Didith” Mendoza Rivera noong ika-9 ng Nobyembre 2024. Tuluyang iginupo si “Didith” ng sakit na breast sa edad na 48-taong gulang. Naulila ni Mam Didith ang asawang si Florencio Rivera Jr., at dalawang anak na babae. Nagtapos

Read More »
catholink
Shadow
truthshop
Shadow

Related Story

Latest Blog
Rev. Fr. Nicanor Lalog II

From fear of the Lord to love of God and neighbors

 6,450 total views

 6,450 total views The Lord Is My Chef Sunday Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B, 03 November 2024 Deuteronomy 6:2-6 ><}}}}*> Hebrews 7:23-28 ><}}}}*> Mark 12:28-34 Photo by author, river at the back of Nagsasa Cove, San Antonio, Zambales, 19 October 2024. Jesus finally entered

Read More »
Latest Blog
Rev. Fr. Nicanor Lalog II

Mga pamahiin at kaalaman turo sa atin ng paglalamay sa patay

 6,450 total views

 6,450 total views Lawiswis ng Salita ni P. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Ika-01 ng Nobyembre 2024 Larawan kuha ng may-akda, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 20 Marso 2024. Salamuch sa mainit na pagtanggap sa ating nakaraang lathalaing nagpapaliwanag sa ilang mga pamahiin sa paglalamay sa patay. Sa ating pagsisikap na tuntunin pinagmulan ng mga pamahiin sa

Read More »
Latest Blog
Rev. Fr. Nicanor Lalog II

Sa buhay at kamatayan, bulaklak nagpapahayag ng buhay

 6,450 total views

 6,450 total views Lawiswis ng Salita ni P. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Ika-31 ng Oktubre 2024 Larawan kuha ni G. Jim Marpa, 2018. “Say it with flowers” ang marahil isa na sa mga pinakamabisa at totoong pagpapahayag ng saloobin sa lahat ng pagkakataon. Wala ka na talagang sasabihin pa kapag ikaw ay nagbigay ng bulaklak kanino

Read More »
Latest Blog
Rev. Fr. Nicanor Lalog II

Lihim ng mga pamahiin sa lamayan

 6,450 total views

 6,450 total views Lawiswis ng Salita ni P. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Ika-30 ng Oktubre 2024 Larawan kuha ng may-akda, St. Scholastica Retreat House, Tagaytay City, Agosto 2024. Heto na naman ang panahon ng maraming pagtatanong at pagpapaliwanag sa ating mga pamahiin ukol sa paglalamay sa mga patay. Matagal ko nang binalak isulat mga ito nang

Read More »
Latest Blog
Rev. Fr. Nicanor Lalog II

Friday I’m in love, Part 3

 6,451 total views

 6,451 total views Quiet Storm by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, 29 October 2024 Photo by author, entering the Nagsasa Cove in San Antonio, Zambales, 19 October 2024. Ihave always imagined God must be like Jewish director Steven Spielberg. According to an article I have read long ago, Spielberg would always hide sets of important scenes

Read More »
Latest Blog
Rev. Fr. Nicanor Lalog II

Seeing Jesus

 8,555 total views

 8,555 total views The Lord Is My Chef Sunday Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B, 27 October 2024 Jeremiah 31:7-9 ><}}}}*> Hebrews 5:1-6 ><}}}}*> Mark 10:46-52 Photo by author, Nagsasa Cove, San Antonio, Zambales, 19 October 2024. “Seeing” is a word with so many meanings

Read More »
Latest Blog
Rev. Fr. Nicanor Lalog II

The teacher is the lesson

 9,209 total views

 9,209 total views Quiet Storm by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, 24 October 2024 Photo by Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News, 27 July 2024. Classes are still suspended due to severe tropical storm Kristine. While scrolling through Facebook, I chanced upon a funny post supposed to be the cry of many employees. And teachers as well: “We are

Read More »
Latest Blog
Rev. Fr. Nicanor Lalog II

Is this meant for us or for everyone?

 9,209 total views

 9,209 total views The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Wednesday, Memorial of St. John of Capistrano, Priest, 23 October 2024 Ephesians 3:2-12 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Luke 12:39-48 Photo by author, Pampanga, September 2024. Lord Jesus, many times I find myself like Peter asking You so often

Read More »
Latest Blog
Rev. Fr. Nicanor Lalog II

Unity in Christ

 9,207 total views

 9,207 total views The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Tuesday, Memorial of St. John Paul II, Pope, 22 October 2024 Ephesians 2:1-10 <*[[[[>< + ><]]]]*> Luke 12:35-38 Photo by author, mountain range off the coast of Nagsasa Cove, San Antonio, Zambales, 19 October 2024. Glory to

Read More »
Latest Blog
Rev. Fr. Nicanor Lalog II

We are God’s handiwork

 9,207 total views

 9,207 total views The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Monday in the Twenty-ninth Week of Ordinary Time, Year II, 21 October 2024 Ephesians 2:1-10 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Luke 12:13-21 Photo by author, the pristine Nagsasa Cove in San Antonio, Zambales, 19 October 2024. Your words today,

Read More »
Latest Blog
Rev. Fr. Nicanor Lalog II

When we do not know what “we want”

 9,207 total views

 9,207 total views The Lord Is My Chef Sunday Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B, 20 October 2024 Isaiah 53:10-11 ><}}}}*> Hebrews 4:14-16 ><}}}}*> Mark 10:35-45 The Jewish Cemetery of Mount of Olives facing the Eastern Gate of Jerusalem where the Messiah is believed would

Read More »
Latest Blog
Rev. Fr. Nicanor Lalog II

Only One

 9,207 total views

 9,207 total views The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Friday, Feast of St. Luke, Evangelist, 18 October 2024 2 Timothy 4:10-17 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Luke 10:1-9 Photo by Dra. Mylene A. Santos, MD, an orange-bellied flowerpecker (Dicaeum trigonostigma), December 2023. Beloved: Demas, enamored of the present

Read More »
Latest Blog
Rev. Fr. Nicanor Lalog II

Led by the Holy Spirit

 9,207 total views

 9,207 total views The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Wednesday in the Twenty-eighth Week of Ordinary Time Year II, 16 October 2024 Galatians 5:18-25 ><))))*> + ><))))*> + ><))))*> Luke 11:42-46 Photo by author, Fatima Ave., Valenzuela City, 25 July 2024. Lead and guide us, O

Read More »
Latest Blog
Rev. Fr. Nicanor Lalog II

Faith working through love

 9,207 total views

 9,207 total views The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Tuesday, Memorial of St. Teresa of Avila, Virgin & Doctor of the Church, 15 October 2024 Galatians 5:1-6 ><]]]]’> + ><]]]]’> + ><]]]]’> Luke 11:37-41 Photo by author, somewhere in Pampanga, August 2024. What a wonderful Saint

Read More »
Latest Blog
Rev. Fr. Nicanor Lalog II

Evil generation

 12,771 total views

 12,771 total views The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Monday in the Twenty-eighth Week of Ordinary Time, Year II, 14 October 2024 Galatians 4:22-24, 26-27, 31-5:1 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Luke 11:29-32 Photo by Ms. April Oliveros at Mt. Pulag, March 2023. While still more people gathered

Read More »

Latest Blogs

Scroll to Top