Nueve de Enero

photo from interaksyon.com (Enero 9, 2015)

January 9, 2015. Umaga na pero madilim pa rin. Maaga akong umalis ng bahay papuntang Quezon City. Nakasakay na ako ng bus nang bigla kong naalala na fiesta nga pala sa Quiapo. May prusisyon ulit doon at panigurado, maraming tao ang pupunta. Tamang tama rin naman, katabi ko ang isang lalaki na mukhang sa Quiapo nga ang punta. Nakasuot siya ng kulay maroon na T-shirt, naka-shorts, at naka-tsinelas lang. Nakakatuwa lang isipin na kahit sa malayong lugar siya nakatira, talagang pupunta pa rin s'ya. Siguro may panata s'ya.

Pagbaba ko ng bus sa Buendia, ang daming katulad ng suot ng lalaking kasakay ko sa bus. Pati rin sa LRT. Sa tingin ko ay papunta lahat sila sa Quiapo para maki-isa sa selebrasyon doon. Nakakatuwa talaga.

Pero sa kabilang banda, marami pa ring pumuna rito. Nakakalungkot lang, kasi yung mga kapwa ko pa Kristiyano yung bumabatikos sa aming mga Katoliko. Kailan ba maiintindihan na hindi naman rebulto ang sinasamba namin. Sa tingin ko, bago tayo magsabi ng mga ganoong bagay, dapat muna siguro nating alamin ang pagiging Katoliko. Hindi lang dapat nakabase sa kung anong nakikita natin. We were claiming to have more faith because we knew better, but we were quick to judge. And by judging that the people who flock to the Black Nazarene procession worship the image through their actions, we are just showing  a sheer arrogance.

Dapat respeto lang din para sa amin. Pareho naman tayong naniniwala sa Diyos, magkaiba lang tayo ng paraan kung paano Siya i-worship. Cathloicism is teemig with rituals. Dati ay napapaisip din ako kung ano ba talaga ang dahilan ng mga deboto sa pakikiisa nila sa pista ng Itim na Nazareno. Were they thinking about their pains and struggles in life? Were they thinking that all their wishes will come true? Or were they thinking about what other would say about their beliefs? I don’t know. No one has the power to read the mind of each and every person who attends the Black Nazarene procession. What I know is that all of them have something in their hearts, something deeper than anyone else could ever thought. And whatever that is, it is just between them and our Saviour because it is God alone who is privy to our innermost thoughts. He alone can see what is in our hearts and minds. But one thing is for sure, what these devotees are doing has drawn them to more faith in God.

In our rash judgment on other people, we have conviniently forgotten the Biblical teaching that “man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1Sam.16:1) We should always remember that we cannot force your belief into someone and tell them that they are wrong and we are right. What we can do, however, is to be a blessing to them. Then someday, somehow, they won't doubt if we have been a faithful reflector of what we believe in.