Humility and the Jesus Nazareno

By Sem. Samuel Jed Llorin

It was my very first time to experience Manila’s celebration of the Feast of Jesus Nazareno. Several of us who had just arrived after the Christmas break volunteered to give communion during the Mass held at the Quirino Grandstand prior to the Traslacion, Present were thousands of devotees. Our group from UST is one of the several religious congregations and seminaries enjoined to render such service.

There is a question I ask myself all the time: “Why does the Nazareno Traslacion take so long?” As I was writing this article, the procession had reached its 29th hour since it first started. I was tempted to think that this promotes more risk and disruption to the faithful joining the procession, and the wider Manila community. But while that may be true to some extent, I was more convinced that the long hours of walking and leading the andas is a genuine sign of faith – a literal expression of going down and being humble, a selfless journey of bringing the Jesus Nazareno back to Quiapo in prayer and devotion.

The theme for this year focused on pagpapakumbaba (humility) – “Dapat Siyang tumaas, at ako nama’y bumaba” (from John 3:30). Humility, or asking someone to be humble, can be seen as cliché by other people; but, in my reflection, it is in fact the most important virtue we ought to possess, especially during this time. Humility can be seen in our personal life and in the life of the community. It begins with one’s self – realizing that despite our own efforts, we still need the goodness of other people, and above all, the Lord’s grace to do His will and to grow in His love. It extends to the community – realizing that to bring about lasting change and to act for the common good may necessitate the giving up of one’s own power, position and wealth – as Bishop Jun Sescon iterated in his homily.

In the spirit of humility, thanksgiving, and supplication, the devotees flock to Our Lord and Savior in the likeness of his own carrying of the Cross. As Jesus humbled himself, becoming man like us and enduring the Cross for our salvation, genuine humility, therefore, is a very powerful virtue that we must have – a strength, not a weakness, that can bring about holiness of life for you and me, and that can bring an abundance of goodness to our own struggling community.