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OBEDIENCE AND SACRFICE AS ONE: REV. FR. SESCON JR. EXPLAINS THE NAZARENO 2025 THEME THIS QUIAPO CHURCH ADVENT RECOLLECTION

Jan. 25, 2025 12:00 PM

At 7:00 P.M., on December 10, 2024, Rev. Fr. Rufino C. Sescon Jr., bishop-elect of the Diocese of Balanga, Bataan, and incumbent Basilica-Shrine rector and parish priest, gave his Advent recollection talk before the devotees at the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno. Fr. Sescon’s talk centered on the theme for Nazareno 2025: “Obedience is better than sacrifice (1 Sam. 15:22) for those who hope in Jesus” (Mas Mabuti ang pagsunod kaysa Paghahandog (1San. 15:22) sa mga umaasa kay Hesus).

In his presentation, he started by posing the problem statement if should the words ‘obedience’ and ‘sacrifice’ be related, since the two are connected as the logic goes: To offer means you are following (the Lord). However, the issue, as Fr. Sescon mentioned, goes that while a devotee, for instance, offers to the Lord, but his heart and mind harbors evil thoughts, let alone actions, he is not a genuine devotee. He challenged the faithful how to unite both obedience and sacrifice, when serving Jesus, the Nazarene.

To strengthen his presentation, Fr. Sescon flashed on the screen four video clips visualizing the point of Nazareno 2025. The first one was about Cain and Abel, offsprings of Adam and Eve after being cast away from the Garden of Eden. Cain, who was full of envy and bitterness killed his youngest brother, Abel, after the Lord had rejected Cain’s offering. The second was when Jesus had driven away all the merchants at the temple. Fr. Sescon emphasized that besides the corrupt system when offering to the temple, the overall point is that following Jesus is not solely defined when offering (sacrifices). The third one is the scene wherein the high priests and Pharisees were worshipping in the temple, while secretly plotting the demise of Jesus. The fourth, and last, was the series of brutal murders of all Michael’s (fictional character from the Godfather (1972)) enemies, while he was at the church for the baptism rites of his child. A “devout” Catholic, yet Fr. Sescon described him ironically as someone, who subscribed to the devil’s ways of harming people, while renouncing it during the baptism ceremony.

Towards the end of the recollection, Fr. Sescon clarified that the words obedience and sacrifice are not separated because to obey translates to the willingness to sacrifice for the good just like what Jesus did, when He had died on the cross. Fr. Sescon hoped this would be exhibited in the upcoming Traslacion, wherein the real and true face of devotion is expressed. Beyond the acclamations of “Viva Poong Hesus Nazareno” (Long live Jesus of Nazareth), the “requirement” of wearing the specific t-shirt to join the procession, or even the need to undergo physical struggle to get close to the carriage (andas) to touch the image of the Nazarene.

Further, Fr. Sescon took the time to show to the audience what could be his last contribution to the beautification efforts to Quiapo church. At the back portion of the church, there is currently an undergoing construction of the Spanish-era altar façade of the church prior to the great fire of 1929 in history. One specific feature he disclosed was the vesting of red garments to the Risen Lord instead of the usual white seen every Easter Sunday. The red color, he explained, symbolizes love, that will triumph and reign in the end of time.

– Kidanzac A. Tallada (Shrine & Pilgrims’ Ministry)