President Paula-Mae Weekes says the spirit of Christmas is the spirit of hope, peace, joy and love and even though life may be unpredictable now, those elements have remained steadfast for generations.
“The rhythms and seasons of nature have become ad hoc and disordered and predictability seems to be a thing of the past. We scramble to forecast meteorological conditions and are forced to find ways to mitigate and deal with the vagaries of climactic tendencies. Certitude of seasons appears to be ancient history. There is no such variability in the Christmas season when Christians worldwide remember and celebrate the birth of the Messiah,” she said in her Christmas message.
She noted those four principles of Christmas are always there even when it looks like things are not going well in the country and the world at large.
“It may seem counterintuitive to expect a season of peace when living in a climate of peril and insecurity—the alarming and appalling murder rate, recent devastating flooding, and the skyrocketing cost of living are among the things which, if allowed, can surely disturb or displace any feeling of peace.
The President noted this is a good time for the renewal of hope as it has the ability to change one’s perspective and implies the possibility of a better future. She said hope does not obviate the existence of trials and tribulations, but gives the strength to keep going knowing “that this too shall pass.”
She reminded the population that peace comes from within.
“Such peace allows us to keep focused on and work our plans and accomplish our goals even as we exert energy and effort to deal with challenges and hindrances. It is the ability to maintain a state of harmony, tranquillity, serenity and calm amid the tumult of daily life,” she said.
President Weekes said joy was even more powerful than happiness.
“Happiness and joy may intersect, but they are not one and the same. Happiness can be fickle and transitory, dependent on one’s current state of affairs. True joy is unshakeable and endures through trial and hardship, even in deep grief can Christian joy be experienced,” she said.
While love, the President said, can be felt and demonstrated to those nearest and dearest and also to those outside of your immediate circle.
She said, “The season of love is the one that is easiest for us to embrace. When we give gifts, charity, donations and cheerful greetings at Christmas time it is understood to be a symbolic imitation of that first Christmas gift—Christ Jesus. A gift given in love. The precious and priceless gifts of compassion, empathy, patience, presence and a listening ear are all demonstrations of love at no cost. We can give these valuable gifts freely at Christmas and at every other opportunity all year through.”
But President Weekes also noted that the season is not joyous for all citizens. She said for many, it is difficult and can even be deeply distressing. She noted the contrast between a season of celebration and a season of want and despair is particularly poignant.
She further called on everyone to love each other freely, extravagantly, deeply and unconditionally.
Weekes usually presents a video message every Christmas. However, this year her office said there would be none this year since her mother with whom she lives, contracted COVID and the President was placed in quarantine.