“In our suffering, Jesus remains with us, guiding us through.” Ito ang naging paalala ng isang lider ng Simbahang Katoliko sa pagdiriwang ng milyong milyong deboto sa bansa ng Kapistahan ng Itim na Nazareno, nitong Enero 9.

Sa isang misa sa Simbahan ng Quiapo sa Maynila, siniguro ni Archdiocese of Manila Apostolic Administrator Bishop Broderick S. Pabillo sa mga deboto dumagsa sa simbahan na “Jesus remains with us through our suffering.”

“Jesus is our Savior. We do not deny the sufferings that are with us, but Jesus is there. When we include Jesus in our suffering, we are transformed, leading the way to our salvation. Like now, amid the pandemic, we cannot observe our traditional celebration but we become closer to Jesus,” pahayag ni Pabillo sa kanyang homily para sa misa sa kapistahan.

“Jesus is assuring us that He is with us. We are coming to Him today not through the traslacion procession but by listening to His Word,” dagdag pa niya.

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Para sa kanyang bahagi, pinaalalahanan naman ni Balanga Bishop Ruperto C. Santos, ang mga mananampalataya sa kanyang sariling “traslacion” o paglalakbay.

“Our life is a call. God is calling us to be with Him, to experience His goodness, and to share Him with others. Our traslacion is all about our passage or transfer from this life to Heaven as we answer His call. We translate His words to our own actions. We transcribe His works into our hearts. We transfer what we are and who we are into His ways and will,” ani Santos.

“Our traslacion in this life entails sacrifices and sufferings, like our Hesus Nazareno. We also have to accept and carry our cross. We could also be blackened, bruised, and battered. Now, COVID-19 is our present cross. Living under the difficult and devastating time of coronavirus is our way of the cross. But we know, along our way of the cross, with our traslacion that God is here for us. Yes, God is with us. God accompanies us. God sustains us whenever we fall. God strengthens us. God indeed saves,” paliwanag ng Obispo.

Nanawagan din si Santos sa mga deboto na huwag matakot.

“Do not be afraid. Do not be disturbed. God is in control. We will pass this crisis. We will move on. With God watching us and working wonders in our lives, we will surpass all these hardships,” aniya.

Sa temang, “Huwag Kang Matakot, si Hesus Ito,” ginunita ang pista ng traslacion higit 14 parokya sa buong bansa sa pamamagitan ng banal na misa at motorcade.