Salía!
By GA Madrid
January 9, 2018
January 9, 2018
As a kid I was fond of watching the events of the Annual Traslacion of the Señor Hesus Nazareno de Quiapo. Though I come from Laguna, I felt like I was joining the festivities in Manila by watching as early as 5:00 A.M. before I went to school. While in class, I excitedly keep thinking of it. Going home, I always rush my school service so that I can monitor the events and stay awake until the Señor returns to Quiapo. It was only when I started university life in Manila that I got a first hand experience of the traslacion. I was asked by a friend to cover the events there at Luneta in any way I can for a religious facebook page. The first thing I thought of was, how will my body survive the vast crowds present there? But out of deep curiosity, I disregarded my hesitation and consented. I was not spared during the procession, it was necessary that I experience what each devotee experiences. I remember being stepped on, pushed and shoved into the sea of devotees. Though I did not intended to go near the andas, the crowds rushing towards the Señor pushed me there. Luckily, I was able to exit the crowds and come home still in one piece. While on the way home, I couldn’t help but think of what I just saw and experienced. The vibrant tone resounding in mind was the command of the Hijos de Nazareno to the people “Isa...Dalawa...Tatlo...Salya!” I thought that it was a mere jargon that indicated pulling the rope of the andas. But thanks to spanish class, I discovered that it came from the word“salir”, a verb which means to go or to move out. Perhaps we can relate these marching orders to what the Lord would want us to do in this life. Go! Move out!
What is most heartwarming about seeing a Nazareno devotee is that you can tell that their devotion is sincere by observing the way they look at the Señor. A true devotee of Jesus the Nazarene sees through the wooden emblem. He marches, pulls, and endures his penance for what? All because of His yearning and searching for God. All faithful and ardent devotees of the Lord are united in one cause, finding and reaching out to Jesus who in turn reaches out to them joining them in their journey home, heaven bound. Dear fellow children of God, the message of the traslacion goes beyond tradition and devotion. It is a reminder for us that we are all in a procession. Curious and restless, we continuously toil and search for meaning. But it is only in Jesus that we find the fullness of life and the epitome of love. We cannot hide ourselves from His love. Even when we wander far off, our Lord will still throw out a rope to help us pull ourselves back together and so continue to move with Him. Life may give us aches, wounds, trials, and errors along the way. But like Jesus, who marched, staggered, and even fell weary on the streets of Jerusalem towards Calvary, so we too must continue carry on the weight of our crosses. In a way we are all devotees of the Nazareno even if we do not often visit Quiapo, for we all believe in Jesus Christ, Son of God, born of the Virgin Mary, a Nazarene. The challenge of living out the example of Christ is for all Christians. By doing this, we give justice to the name “CHRISTian” therefore honoring and glorifying the Lord our God. Therefore dear brothers and sisters, Salya! Pull and head on! Move forward! Onwards to God we go!
¡Viva Jesús, El Nazareno!
What is most heartwarming about seeing a Nazareno devotee is that you can tell that their devotion is sincere by observing the way they look at the Señor. A true devotee of Jesus the Nazarene sees through the wooden emblem. He marches, pulls, and endures his penance for what? All because of His yearning and searching for God. All faithful and ardent devotees of the Lord are united in one cause, finding and reaching out to Jesus who in turn reaches out to them joining them in their journey home, heaven bound. Dear fellow children of God, the message of the traslacion goes beyond tradition and devotion. It is a reminder for us that we are all in a procession. Curious and restless, we continuously toil and search for meaning. But it is only in Jesus that we find the fullness of life and the epitome of love. We cannot hide ourselves from His love. Even when we wander far off, our Lord will still throw out a rope to help us pull ourselves back together and so continue to move with Him. Life may give us aches, wounds, trials, and errors along the way. But like Jesus, who marched, staggered, and even fell weary on the streets of Jerusalem towards Calvary, so we too must continue carry on the weight of our crosses. In a way we are all devotees of the Nazareno even if we do not often visit Quiapo, for we all believe in Jesus Christ, Son of God, born of the Virgin Mary, a Nazarene. The challenge of living out the example of Christ is for all Christians. By doing this, we give justice to the name “CHRISTian” therefore honoring and glorifying the Lord our God. Therefore dear brothers and sisters, Salya! Pull and head on! Move forward! Onwards to God we go!
¡Viva Jesús, El Nazareno!