In the time of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph and of the Apostles, they might not have celebrated birthdays the way we do in our families and in the Philippines.

How did they celebrate birthdays? How did Joseph and Mary celebrate the birthday of Jesus? Especially with the memory of the visit of the kings from the East bringing gifts and the visit of the shepherds bringing lambs.

In our time we have an elaborate celebration of Christmas, preceding several months before December and extending even a month after New Year’s Day… with a lot of shopping and exchange of gifts within the family and community and amongst friends.

 Let us not forget that the center of all these celebrations is CHRIST, who humbled himself and lived like us and among us. Let us reflect on our answer to this question: How am I, how are we, becoming more CHRIST-LIKE in our attitude and

+ANGEL N. LAGDAMEO, D.D.
Archbishop of Jaro &
BLD Community Spiritual Director
December 8, 2017

Abp ANL 2017 Christmas & New Year Message