Cardinal Jose Advincula urged Filipinos to remain hopeful and obedient during the Misa Mayor in celebration of the Feast of Jesus Nazarene in Quirino Grandstand.

During the Mass, Advincula equated losing hope to “losing life.”

“Hangga’t meron tayong pag-asa, meron tayong buhay. Hindi natin kayang mabuhay kung wala tayong pag-asa sa buhay. Dahil ang taong walang pag-asa sa buhay ay papatay-patay (As long as we have hope, we’re living. We can’t live if we don’t have hope. Because a person with no hope in life is a person good as dead),” Advincula said.

The Cardinal said there is hope because “Jesus lives.”

Advincula also reminded devotees to stay faithful to Jesus and follow him as an example of showing obedience.

“Sabi sa ating tema ngayong taon, mas kinalulugdan ng Diyos ang ating pagsunod kaysa paghahandog (This year's theme says, God is more pleased with our obedience than offering),” he said.

He continued saying obedience is also showing hope.

“Sa totoo lang, ang pagsunod ang tanda ng pag-asa. Kung ano ang sinusunod natin, yun talaga talaga ang inaasahan natin. Kung naghahandog tayo sa Senyor, pero sumusunod naman tayo sa pera, ibig sabihin, pera talaga ang inaasahan natin (In reality, obedience is the sign of hope. What we follow is exactly what we expect. If we offer to the Lord, but we follow money, that means we really expect money),” he explained.

“Kung nagdedebosyon tayo sa Senyor, pero sumusunod naman tayo sa masamang tao, ibig sabihin, masamang tao ang inaasahan natin. Kung namamanata tayo sa Senyor, pero sumusunod naman tayo sa bisyo, ibig sabihin, bisyo talaga ang inaasahan natin. At kapag susunod tayo sa pera, sa masamang tao, sa bisyo, o anumang bagay ng mundo, mabibigo lamang tayo. (If we devote ourselves to the Lord, but we follow bad people, that means we expect bad people. If we swear to the Lord, but we follow vice, that means we are really expecting vice. And when we follow money, bad people, vices, or anything of the world, we will only fail),” he added.

Concluding the his homily, Advincula then reminded faithfuls to follow Jesus and his examples, and take his lessons to heart.

Meanwhile, crowd estimate in Luneta as of 2:00 AM is about 143,000, according to the Nazareno Operation Center.