Local News
Christmas Message 2023 from President of Barbados, Her Excellency Dame Sandra Mason: Reflecting on the Significance of the Season and the Need for Peace
"Read President Sandra Mason's Christmas Message, reflecting on the significance of the season and the need for peace in a world marked by tensions and conflicts."
5 min read
Originally published by barbadostoday.bb (opens in new tab)
Christmas Message from Her Excellency The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason, FB, GCMG, DA, sC, LLD President of Barbados
Fellow Barbadians, residents and visitors to our beautiful country, it is again that special time of the year when we celebrate the birth of the Christ child and pause to reflect on the significance of that phenomenal event to Christians worldwide.
The year 2023 saw the return to some semblance of normalcy following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic over the previous two years. I believe that we have accepted the fact that after the pandemic our lives can never be the same again. The incidence of COVID-19 has slowed considerably but we are continually being reminded that COVID is still with us.
With the resumption of several activities, we should now have a greater appreciation and awareness for some of the simple things that we took for granted and which we had to forego during the pandemic.
As we celebrate Christmas this year with the usual merriment, energy and enthusiasm we are cognisant of the many tensions, unrest and raging wars in many countries throughout the world. The one in the spotlight is the war in the Middle East between Israel and Hamas taking place in Palestine – the birth place of the baby Jesus. In this technological age, we can see the daily bombardment and destruction in the Gaza Strip and the continual loss of lives and displacement of families.
This raises the question of whether there will ever be peace. The reality however, is that there is the utmost need for peace.
Ironically, the essence of Christmas is the celebration of the birth of the promised Messiah, the Saviour of the world, the Prince of Peace, who symbolizes the hope, peace, love, joy and forgiveness that the world needed – and still needs today. His life exemplified love and forgiveness as necessary virtues for peaceful living.
The birth of Jesus and his life on earth revealed that he was not a one-time wonder but by his daily living he left us a legacy to guide us along the way.
In our global environment, peace appears elusive, as human beings seem never willing to co-operate and concede to the greater good. We need to understand that there are no winners in war because so much is lost both during and in the aftermath.
As we grapple with the daily diet of destruction, we cannot be overwhelmed and throw our hands in the air and give up all hope of change for the better.
