The ASHS Community celebrates its Christmas Mass through a livestream on the 18th of December 2020, presided by Fr. Bobby Buenconsejo, SJ concelebrated with Fr. Braulio “Bong.
The gospel was taken from Luke 2:1-14 and talked about the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem and the birth of Jesus while experiencing extreme poverty. Fr. Buenconsejo, SJ discussed how the birth of Jesus was God’s way of expressing His aching longing to be with us in absolute closeness.
“It was God’s irrevocable way of saying, from here on you will never be alone, I have become human in all its vulnerabilities for you, and with you. The first Christmas was the infinitely powerful God embracing everything human in us, except sin.” Fr. Buenconsejo said.
He reminded the community that the first Christmas was extremely uncomfortable and far from sweet and picturesque. He noted that a lot of us had to make sacrifices to make sure that our loved ones are safe and made decisions to not visit them over the season.
“Perhaps Christmasses need not be perfect and trouble-free” he added.
Fr. Buenconsejo also remarked that life is brief and therefore we should not take our families and friends for granted especially during these difficult times. He reminded us to make the most out of what we can show to our friends and families.
“Offer all precious gifts, humanity, weaknesses, our hurts, our inadequacies, our longings, and our unfinished symphonies and beg him for the grace of quiet and dignity and fortitude that we may lead lives singing his praise,” he urged the community.
He also offered a prayer for the country especially those who are suffering deeply because of this pandemic and wished everyone a quiet, simple but lovely Christmas.
“May these holy seasons of Advent and Christmas bring out the child in you. that your hearts may chuckle with holy gladness and overflow with great acts of kindness,” he says as he ends his homily.
Before the mass ended the ASHS Principal, Mrs. Victoria Dimalanta, reminded the ASHS Community that for this Christmas, God asks us to carry Him in our hearts so that we will never lose our peace even if our future may be marked with volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity.
“This year we are fortunate to be celebrating Christmas devoid of gifts, feasts, and merriment that distract us from welcoming the Prince of peace in our hearts. This year, Christmas will be about sharing poignant love stories beginning with the greatest love story ever told through the birth of the Messiah,” she added.
She asked the ASHS to share all the love stories that blessed our marriages, families, friendships, and personal encounters this 2020 and to read the stories of how we find God in all things in the Journey Journal so that in 2021, the year will be filled with faith, hope, and love.
She ended by thanking the people who made the last community mass for the year a possibility wishing the community a “peaceful Christmas filled with love stories of how you shared and received Christ’s love.”
Maligayang Pasko ASHS!
Jermaine Ocampo
HiLites ASHS 