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“Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno” Is Jesus Nazarene, Our Father?

by: Rev. Fr. Robert Arellano, LRMS


The ever growing number of Nazareno devotees is a strong indication that the Holy Spirit remains to be the active agent of evangelization. Each year millions of devotees flocked at Quiapo Church to immerse themselves into a religious experience of honoring and glorifying the King of the Universe, our Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno.

 

Devotees from all walks of life: the rich and the poor, the ordinary and the official, the indigenous and the balik-bayan, the Catholics and even non-Catholics; from ordinary vendors to giant businessmen, from infant to senior in age, from students to laborers, from simple mortal to celebrity were gathered together by God and there is only one thing common among them – their love and devotion to Christ. Zealously, these devotees would call him NPJN (Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno). But how much do we know why Jesus is being identified as such or perhaps shall we say, what should be our imperative understanding why the title Nuestro Padre is being attributed to Jesus of Nazareth?

 

Our history tells us that the image of Jesus Nazarene was brought to the Philippines from Mexico in 1606 by the first group of Augustinian Recollect friars sent by Spain during the Galleon trade. From the Church of Recollect Fathers in Intramuros, the image was transferred to Quiapo Church according to the request of the Archbishop Basilio Sancho de Santa Justa in 1787. Below the image is an inscription of the letters

N.P.J.N. However, it is important to get clear what “Nuestro Padre” means.

 

In Spanish, “nuestro” means “our” and “padre” means “father”. Thus, Nuestro Padre translates to “Our Father” in English. In our vernacular, it means “aming/ating ama” or simply “Ama Namin.” This title holds a strong religious impact and is often recited in Catholic prayers, commonly known as the Lord’s Prayer. On the other hand, “Nazareno” is the Spanish word for Nazareth or Nazarene. Matthew 2:23 says that Jesus “came and lived in a city called Nazareth. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets: He shall be called a Nazarene.”Therefore, if we will complete the phrase, Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno, it would mean Our Father, Jesus Nazarene or in our language Ama Namin, Hesus Nazareno.

 

Is Jesus Nazarene, our Father? Would it not contradict Jesus very words when he taught us how to pray: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” (cf. Mt. 6:9-13 NRSV). Even God the Father revealed to us that Jesus is His Son: “And when Jesus had been baptized.. a voice from heaven said, This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” (cf. Mt 3:16-17 NRSV). Our catechism also tells us that by virtue of Baptism, we become adoptive sons of the Father. (cf. CCC  1279) Isn’t therefore that

Jesus should be our brother or “kuya”? Shall we call him Nuestro Hermano (our brother) instead of Nuestro Padre (our father)?

 

In order to address these confusing questions, it is very essential to revisit an oracle from the Old Testament prophesying the birth of the Savior: “For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (cf. Isaiah 9:6 NRSV) At an instance, this biblical passage from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah can already validate our inquisition. Jesus Christ was clearly identified in the Scripture as our Everlasting Father. However, it might create a resounding confusion if we would stop our analysis from here. Another question will surface. If Jesus was identified as Father and Jesus himself is revealing to us about His Father in heaven. Can we say that we have two fathers at the same? It was mentioned in our catechism that the only Son of the Father, the eternal Word, and substantial Image of the Father, became incarnate; without losing his divine nature he has assumed human nature. (cf. CCC 479). Therefore, there must be distinction between the Father and the Son; God the Son, the second person of the Trinity is not the same person or role as God the Father.

 

In the New Testament, Jesus is called a High Priest. “Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people.” (cf. Hebrews 2:17 NRSV) But he is not just an ordinary High Priest, in the same book, it was highlighted that Jesus Christ did not glorify himself in becoming a high priest, but was appointed by the one who said to him, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you. You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.” (cf. Hebrews 5: 5-6 NRSV).

 

Take note that devotees call every ordained priest as “father” or “padre” in Spanish. In the same likelihood, when the devotees are pertaining or addressing Jesus Nazareno as their Nuestro Padre – their faith are expressing and proclaiming the eternal priesthood of Christ. “Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno” or simply “Our priest Jesus Christ”; “Aming Pari Jesus Nazareno”. Our Lord Jesus Christ is a Priest Forever to the order of Melchizedek, making him our Everlasting Father as foretold by the prophets. As our Perfect Forever Priest, He is holy, blameless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he has no need to offer sacrifices day after day. For the law appoints as high priests those who are subject to weakness, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever. (cf. Hebrews 5: 26-28 NRSV)

 

In his article entitled the Priesthood of Jesus Christ in the Ministry and Life of the Ordained, Fr. Peter E Fink, SJ reiterated that they are not two different priesthoods; there are two different manifestations of one and the same priesthood which belongs to Christ and to CHRIST ALONE. The presence of Christ and the priesthood of Christ are inseparable but no human reality substitutes for Christ. In the Letter to the Hebrews

Jesus is revealed to be the COMPASSIONATE HIGH PRIEST (Heb 4:14) FOREVER according to the order of Melchizedek (Heb 6:20) and Christ alone is the MEDIATOR OF A NEW COVENANT (Heb 9:15). According to Donald Senior CP, Jesus redemptive ministry of service, culminating in his death and Resurrection, is the definitive act of priesthood, offering authentic obedient worship to God and atoning for the sins of humanity.

 

Cardinal Vanhoye once mentioned the NEW IDEA OF SANCTIFICATION. Holiness in Judaic tradition means separation. Priests must be separated to the people who are impure. In the ministry of Jesus, we see him touching the poor, the blind, the oppressed, the sinners and the least in the society: his existential solidarity with human being and sinners even up to his death on the cross. Lastly, is the new way of carrying out the sacrifice and the content of the sacrifice is personal. Jesus’ OWN body and blood, out of love he puts his body and blood as a ransom for sins. The one who offers is now at the same time, the SACRIFICE. Reason why, Fr. Fink stated that the ministry and life of the ordained manifests itself Christ’s own priesthood for the SERVICE OF THE CHURCH: embodiment, entrustment and mutual iconography. No wonder Jesus Christ also revealed himself as the Good Shepherd. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11). As our Divine Shepherd, He is fatherly, father-like in his treatment of us. As expressed in Psalm 23 (NRSV) “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff— they comfort me.” Jesus will forever be perfectly father-like in the way he shepherds and leads us. In Jesus, we have a perfect father forever.

 

And not to forget, Jesus Nazarene is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. (Colossians 1:15-16 NRSV) In the context of a family, the first-born is the one who usually exercises fatherly authorities over his younger brothers and sisters. Parents would always empower their first-born some important parental responsibilities over his other siblings. Thus, the first-born also acts like a “father” to his younger siblings. Not that he absolutely replaces the Father. Rather, in him and through him resides the authority of the Father. Therefore, Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno is a title appropriately given to our Savior not to be literally interpreted as a replacement to the First Person of the Trinity but to signify important roles which he plays in the history of our salvation.