Valuing humility over entitlement leads to a peaceful and joyful celebration of the birth of Christ, who did not receive special treatment when He was born in a manger, a Dominican priest said.
UST Senior High School (SHS) Regent Fr. Ermito De Sagon, O.P. called on Thomasians to practice the humility demonstrated during Jesus’s Nativity and to consider the plight of others instead of giving in to their desires.
“If we go through Christmas year after year with [the] idea of entitlement, we don’t expect a peaceful and joyful Christmas,” de Sagon said during his homily for the Paskuhan Mass on Wednesday, Dec. 17.
According to de Sagon, most people demand special treatment in difficult situations without addressing their own problems.
“We often think we deserve better food, higher grades, or more privileges… Even on the road, some feel entitled to take precedence over others,” he said.
Explaining the Gospel narrative of Christ’s birth, de Sagon said there was no available room at the inn, but Mary and Joseph were not turned away. Laying Jesus in the stable may have been the safest and most considerate option, he added.
The SHS regent urged Thomasians to emulate the humility the couple showed during the birth of Jesus, noting that they had to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem despite Mary’s condition and the lack of resources.
“Joseph and Mary did not invoke this singular privilege, they did not talk about entitlements. Joseph and Mary did not say, ‘Here in my womb is the child of God,'” he said.
The Dominican priest recalled how Mary and Joseph did not cause any inconvenience to anyone and humbly accepted their circumstances to ensure that Jesus would be born in a safe place.
“They did not complain or demand a better place. They simply did what was necessary,” he added.
De Sagon reminded Thomasians that Christmas becomes more meaningful when people adopt the humility of Mary and Joseph. He also encouraged students to lead with love, understanding and respect instead of filling their lives with hatred.
“[T]his Christmas: don’t be part of the problem, try to be part of the solution. And the way to be part of the solution, if there are problems in your family, well, it starts with you,” de Sagon said.
The mass is an integral part of the University’s Agape tradition, a Christmas feast that brings students, alumni and staff together for a shared meal on campus. F
