AS MILLIONS of devotees braved the crowds during the Traslacion of Jesus Nazareno, the Quiapo Church rector reminded Catholics that their sacrifices should not make them entitled to the fulfillment of their prayers.
Fr. Ramon Jade Licuanan said God’s blessings are freely given and true devotion during the feast cannot be measured by physical endurance or visible sacrifices made to touch the image.
“No human effort is enough to be deserving of God’s miracles,” Licuanan said during the last Fiesta Mass in honor of Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno on Friday, Jan. 9.
According to Licuanan, the purpose of devotion is to achieve personal growth and closeness to God, not to come up with a transactional way to demand rewards.
He likened the transactional behavior to a “spiritual pride” that emerges when devotion slowly turns into a “sense of entitlement.”
This could be seen through the devotees’ assumption that their sacrifices of walking barefoot, enduring immense heat and pushing through massive crowds will obligate God to grant their wishes.
“Even if we were to roll ourselves around the world ten times, that would still not be enough. Nothing in this world can win us the favor of God,” Licuanan said.
The priest also emphasized that God’s grace is given out of love, not obligation, and is not limited by our shortcomings.
“Do not be surprised if, even when you are a sinner [or] even if you have not yet gone to confession, the Lord answers your prayer,” he said.
The Church rector related this to the story of Moses who had to satisfy the needs of thirsty Israelites.
God commanded Moses to strike a rock once to bring forth water into the city. However, he disobeyed God’s order by striking the rock twice.
“Despite his leadership and perseverance, Moses was not allowed to enter the Promised Land. Why? Because he disobeyed God,” the priest added.
Licuanan said the story shows that even the most faithful servants are subject to human weakness.
It also serves as a lesson for devotees of Jesus Nazareno that they too could fall into spiritual pride, he added.
“Sometimes we boast before the Lord, saying that: ‘I can do this, I can endure this for You, I have made so many sacrifices, I will push through the sea of people just to touch the carriage,’” he said.
“When you say that, you develop spiritual pride. That is ego-trapping. You’re making a name for yourself.”
Licuanan reminded the devotees that sacrifices, patience and endurance should be done to build one’s character and strengthen faith.
He added that true devotion should always be rooted in humility and that people should continue to reflect on their obedience and love for God even after the feast.
“Never use them as a way to oblige God because these acts are meant to form you, not to secure favors… It must be done with the right perspective, to strengthen your faith, not to gain something from God,” Licuanan said.
This year’s Traslacion became the longest in history, with its slow pace attributed by Church officials to the aggressive behavior of some devotees.
It drew an estimated number of 9.64 million devotees and lasted 30 hours and 50 minutes, beating its previous record of 22 hours and 19 minutes in 2017. F
