Christians should respond to hardships with humility and responsibility rather than entitlement, Fr. Ermito De Sagon, O.P., regent of the UST Senior High School, said during the Paskuhan Mass at the UST Plaza Mayor on Wednesday, Dec. 17.

In his homily, De Sagon reflected on the Nativity, recalling how Mary and Joseph endured hardship without making demands despite Mary’s advanced pregnancy and the lack of available lodging.

“Joseph and Mary did not invoke their singular privilege. They did not talk about entitlements. They did not spend their time complaining,” De Sagon said.

He said that Joseph and Mary placed the newborn Jesus in a manger, which he described as the safest option available—one that did not inconvenience their host or fellow travelers.

“They had a problem; they offered a solution to a very pressing personal problem,” he said, adding that people should strive to be part of the solution rather than the problem.

De Sagon warned that approaching the Christmas season with a sense of entitlement can overshadow its true meaning, adding that expectations for better gifts, treatment, or privileges may take away from the spirit of the celebration.

“If we want a more peaceful, joyful Christmas, we should forget about being entitled,” he said.

He concluded by encouraging Thomasians to practice love, understanding, forgiveness, and respect toward others throughout the Christmas season and beyond. - Dhanna Erich Espela