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The Nazareno Spirituality: Every Devotee’s Way of Life

by: Rev. Fr. Rufino C. Sescon Jr. & Rev. Ejay San Diego

“Whereas other images are fair-skinned, this image of the Lord as the Nazareno stands out as being moreno (Filipino-skinned), kneeling, and carrying a cross. Perhaps it is in the Nazareno that the Filipino first sees himself: replete with pain, suffering, and with a cross to carry. In him, the multitudes who pray in Quiapo Church — most of whom are weighed down by life’s burdens — someone who understands and shares in their sufferings. In this image, it is as if the faithful believers hear God speaking to them: “You are not alone,” or “I know what you are experiencing,” or “Tell me what is weighing you down, and I will help you carry it.” Landas ng Pagpapakabanal, CBCP Pastoral Letter on Filipino Spirituality (2000)

 

Moreno

Although the story of the Nazareno being dark-skinned due to being burned in a fire is not verified by historical data, perhaps it is precisely because of his dark skin that he finds himself so close to many people, especially those “little ones” at the peripheries of society. He is not fair-skinned, as was common with the images brought by the early missionaries. He more closely resembles the color of the common Filipino. Because of this, we see more of ourselves in him. In Jesus of Nazareth, the Lord has become like us, a person who was tempted, oppressed, and afflicted. This is what Filipinos felt back during the age of colonialism, and continue to experience until now with unjust social systems and other circumstances in life. 

 

Nazareno

Jesus is a Nazarene…from a small and insignificant town. A town so insignificant that it is not even mentioned in the Old Testament. Even during the time of Jesus, the people from that place were looked down upon. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” (John 1:46) Maybe that is why those who are belittled, oppressed and those whom society looks down upon feel that Jesus of Nazareth is just like them.

Jesus is God who became man to save all peoples, especially the last, the least and the lost. He is God who becomes a neighbor. He is not different from us. He understands us. He puts himself in solidarity with us and journeys with us. He is “Emmanuel” – “God is with us” (Matthew 1:23).

 

Carrying the Cross

This solidarity and familiarity are especially felt in the Nazareno’s carrying of the cross. We all have a cross to carry in life.

Here is a God who humbled himself and suffered for us. Because of love, he did not measure the sacrifice or the suffering. 

It is easy for God to be powerful. Glory is part of who he is. It is more difficult but noble to be humble. Although he is God, he took off his appearance of being God and became a man. “Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found in human appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:7-8)

The communion and journeying of God with us in Jesus of Nazareth was shown clearly at the cross. He is with us, especially in times of suffering.

 

Kneeling

The Nazareno is kneeling. He is not lying down, fallen, and crushed by suffering. He does not sit regally, like a teacher or a king, nor is he standing up, straight and proud. He is kneeling.

Let us go back to those moments when Jesus was kneeling:

He knelt to write on the ground while people wanted to stone to death the woman caught in adultery. He knelt to quell the anger and violence of the mob and to give the accused sinner a chance to live. It was a kneeling of forgiveness, of bestowing mercy.

Jesus also knelt down to wash the feet of his disciples during the Last Supper. He who was the leader was the same one who served. If you want to be elevated, you must first become low. This is the example Christ showed to his disciples. It was a kneeling of service and humility.

On the night before he was to suffer and die, Jesus also knelt in Gethsemane. He knelt to pray, to be given the strength to follow the Father’s will. This meant facing suffering for the salvation of all. “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:39) It was a kneeling of obedience, fulfillment and offering of oneself to God.

Jesus also knelt when he fell along the way of the cross, towards Calvary. But the movement of the Nazareno of Quiapo is seen as unwavering. It is a movement of rising up, getting up off the ground and striding forward. He cannot be weighed down even if the cross is heavy. He will not be stopped or hindered in fulfilling the Father’s will to save us. The Nazareno gets up and continues.

 

Looking up

Lastly, the Nazareno of Quiapo is looking up. He does not look at others as if begging for mercy. He does not bow down like someone who has been defeated or ashamed. He looks up to heaven…to the Father.

In looking up to heaven, the Son gives praise to God the Father. This is a common gesture of Christ. “When Jesus had said this, he raised his eyes to heaven and said, ‘Father, the hour has come. Give glory to your son, so that your son may glorify you.’” (John 17:1)

It is a look of trust. Jesus knows the Father will not abandon him. God has a plan. Christ entrusts everything to the loving will of the Father. Goodness and truth will prevail. Light and life will overcome darkness and death. Just look up. Pray. Listen. Trust.

 

A True Devotee Follows Jesus Nazareno

Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24)

The true devotee and disciple of Jesus of Nazareth is just like him.  The real devotee of the Nazareno does not follow a different path in life.

Jesus is one with us, especially at the crosses of our lives. We offer him all our hardships and sacrifices. Jesus purifies our crosses in life to become the way to our holiness and salvation. The genuine devotee is ready to face suffering and make sacrifices because this is a sign of solidarity with the cross of Christ.

Like the Nazareno, we are also in communion with all others who bear the cross – especially the little ones, the poor and the afflicted. We cannot say that our devotion or resolutions (panata) are true if we find ourselves numb and insensitive to the needs and sufferings of these “least ones.” The true devotee is full of charity and helps dispel oppressive and unjust social systems. Sin, greed, and selfishness have no place in the heart of the one who truly follows Christ.

The kneeling of the Nazareno is a symbol of prayer, humility, mercy, service, and resurgence. True devotion and obedience to Christ is not seasonal or a fad only during the fiesta season. The true devotee perseveres in prayer and love so that his or her life gets transformed. Religious fervor does not end with an experience of miracles, reception of certain graces or answered prayers. Piety and faith must lead to truth, justice, peace, goodness, and all other virtues and values which can help everyone faithfully bear their crosses and eventually become victorious in life. 

Like Jesus Nazareno, true devotees kneel because they are ready to forgive, serve and help. They will not be overcome by the evils, temptations, and sufferings of life. We do not lose hope because we know that the Nazareno carries us on his shoulder and journeys with us, rising and moving forward. And the real devotee is called to act similarly to anyone who needs help because we are all brothers and sisters in Christ.

This is a difficult task attached to our devotion and resolution. Like the Nazareno looking up, authentic devotees listen, trust, and obey God’s will.

Prayer is not just mouthing words and petitions, where you tell God what you want. The one who truly prays also asks God what He wants. We do not just pray so that God may listen to us. Above all, in prayer, we listen and follow what the Lord asks from us.

The devotees of the Nazareno of Quiapo are worthy of admiration. Many observers are in wonder at the faith and sacrifices they show. Everyone knows of the intense expression of devotion during the Traslacion. Every Friday and Sunday, the church is overflowing with people. They disregard the pouring rain, the blazing sun, the crowded and dangerous streets of Quiapo to fulfill their earnest desire to go to church and visit the Nazareno. Even in the middle of the night, there is no shortage of worshipers who come from different places to offer their prayers. Young and old, and even whole families, can be found processing on their knees to the altar. Devotees as they enter the church, or even those on their motorcycles just driving by, pause and raise their hands in greeting and surrender. Just like Jesus of Nazareth, their source of strength and hope is what is above – God’s will, goodness, and mercy.

True devotion to the Mahal na Poong Jesus Nazareno is a path to conversion and renewal. It is way for the life of Jesus Christ to dwell and reign in the heart of every devotee. It is truly the Nazareno, Jesus of Nazareth, who lives in every sincere devotee… “It is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself up for me.” (Galatians 2:20)

(Some of the points further developed for reflection in this article were taken from the homily of Archbishop Socrates Villegas, Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan during the installation Mass of Fr. Jun Sescon)