The bishop of the Diocese of San Carlos in Negros Occidental has reminded the faithful to celebrate Christmas Day with humility and by extending their helping hand to those in need.

In his Christmas message, Bishop Gerardo Alminaza said that humility and generosity “go hand-in-hand.”

“They are both at the heart of the reason for the occasion. After all, it is the ultimate act of humility and generosity from God that he chose to be among us, who are in spiritual poverty, in order to give us the salvation we need through his son,” he said.

“We must, as the Holy Father encouraged us, remember the poor among us and those who are struggling: both in welcoming the blessings we have received in humble gratitude, and in extending those blessings to help those in need,” he added.

The prelate also emphasized the importance of volunteerism and acts of service.

“Aside from helping one another in our basic needs, we can also help the poorest among us by acts of service and volunteerism, as well as taking on the cause of our vulnerable neighbors in pushing for policies that would help alleviate poverty and promote the welfare of those most in need,” he said.

Alminaza said that some people are currently experiencing difficulties due to the country’s economic state and the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

“After two years of being apart from one another due to Covid-19 restrictions, it is quite tempting to be more lavish and extravagant this Christmas. For many of us this will be our first Christmas back home, and our first Christmas back with our families,” he said.

“But while there may be a number of reasons for us to go all out in our celebrations this year, many families in our country and in our communities are still struggling because of the effects of the pandemic and the state of the economy,” he added.

Alminaza noted the “drastic increase in basic commodities,” adding that “real wages continue to deteriorate in the midst of unabated skyrocketing prices of food items and basic commodities.” He also lamented that “things are even worse for those who have lost jobs this year.”

“These conditions, together with the increasing prices, stagnating wages, and massive unemployment all translate to more hunger and chronic poverty among the rural and urban poor,” he said.

“While our reason for celebration remains relevant and intact–the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ– these realities should cause us to reflect on what our focus must be this Christmas, and what we should do for our neighbor this Christmas,” he added.