MANILA Archbishop Luis Cardinal Tagle called on devotees of the Black Nazarene to trust and follow the Lord’s will in a Eucharistic celebration for the Nazareno’s feast on Tuesday.
Discussing the theme “Poong Hesus Nazareno: Ang Daan, Ang Katotohanan at Ang Buhay,” Tagle encouraged Catholic faithful to draw hope from Christ amid life’s struggles and difficulties.
“Kapag si Hesus ang ating sinundan, kapag Siya ang ating piniling daan isa lamang ang ating pinatutunguhan, walang iba [kung hindi] ang Diyos,” Tagle said in his homily.
“Sa pagdiriwang po natin ng Traslacion sa taong ito, tumutok tayo kay Hesus. Kumapit tayo sa kaniya. Huwag tayong lilihis ng daan ‘pag tayo ay sumunod sa kaniya,” he added.
Tagle warned against materialism and reminded the devotees of Christ’s simplicity as a way to being a good Christian.
“Yung iba akala, magiging buhay na buhay sila kapag ang kasuotan ay mamahalin; kapag may mga tatak-tatak; kapag may buwaya. ‘Pag suot mo ‘yan, ano ka? [B]akit ba tayo naghahanap ng kung ano-anong buhay samantalang ang buhay natin ay maging tao?” Tagle said.
Tagle acknowledged that Christians struggle to uphold the teachings of Christ despite being “made in the image of God.”
“Alam natin ang ating kahahantungan– patungo sa Diyos, patungo sa kapuwa at pagiging ganap na tao,” he said.
With around 300,000 devotees, the midnight Mass was held at the Quirino Grandstand. The annual procession or traslacion began at Quirino Grandstand on Tuesday and reached Quiapo Church past midnight on Wednesday.
