Today millions of Filipinos troop to the streets of Manila to participate in the annual procession for the feast of the Black Nazarene.

The life-size statue, housed in the Quiapo Church since 1787, is said to have occasioned miracles ranging from the cure of diseases to other personal petitions. Many have committed to joining the procession every year as thanksgiving for an answered prayer, or a promise just so their prayers would be answered.

Every year, however, the supposedly religious event turns into a spectacle for the rest of the world. The sight of a sea of humanity braving the streets, risking life, limb and property trying to get close to a single statue could be, for some, perplexing.

In response, we like to say we are a deeply religious nation —as if it can explain all that is difficult to understand.

The yearly Black Nazarene event unfortunately showcases things other than Filipinos’ devotion to the suffering Christ.

It shows the world for instance that we cannot quite make the distinction between our notion of Christ and the wooden Black image that is paraded. Physical contact with the statue is deemed a requisite to get one’s prayers granted. It is thus not uncommon to find individuals getting crushed by the crowd or fainting in their attempt.

The proliferation of petty thieves is also a problem. Going to the feast means being open to the possibility of losing your wallet, mobile phone or any other valuable. Apparently some believe it is efficient to join the procession without giving up a day’s “work”.

And then, the feast provides an opportunity for politicians to get on the good side of their constituents. They just have to provide the customary maroon shirt and the ride to and from the City of Manila to get the devotees to remember their names for the coming elections.

Of course, the procession presents a traffic and security nightmare for authorities and Metro Manila motorists alike.

It is good to show devotion so long as we know exactly why we are doing it. We must be sure we do not mistake wooden statues for the God we believe in, confuse prayers with wagers, and declare our devotion even as our way of life belies it completely.

Catholic leaders must acknowledge that the blind devotion and horde mentality the Black Nazarene feast fosters is an anomaly that must be addressed. Instead of meddling with the affairs of the state, the Church must educate its flock that mere presence in a religious procession does not make a person religious, and that God is not as arbitrary as to grant the wishes of only those who manage to worm their way into the crowd to touch a piece of wood—or at least a towel that grazes its surface.

Source: http://manilastandardtoday.com/2013/01/09/day-of-devotion/