Christmas is generally a time of joy and merriment, as Christians the world over celebrate the birth of their Saviour, Jesus Christ. Communities join in festive activities and families come together to partake of food and song, and people generally unwind and do their best to put aside their worries and troubles during the season.

But Christmas can also be an extraordinarily difficult time for those who have suffered loss and tragedy. The festivities in which others engage and the bonds that are forged and strengthened at this time of year, can serve as cruel reminders of their loss and of their loneliness.

This Christmas, we would do well, amidst our joy and celebration, to pause and think of those who are in pain and who are suffering. The tragic loss of lives to crime, to road accidents, to fires, and to industrial accidents has made this year’s Christmas extremely difficult for many of our fellow-citizens. Then, there are those who exist on income which is not even near to that which is required to keep their heads above the proverbial water – to keep food on their tables and to enable them to send their children to school. This Christmas, as we partake of the food and the fare that is often more plentiful at this time of year, we would do well also to remember their suffering and their pain.

By virtue of developments in the wider national community which have immediately preceded it, Christmas this year affords all of us, regardless of our individual faiths, a unique opportunity to reach beyond our own individual circumstances and to extend support to those who are in greater need than we are – whether it be of material or of emotional support. By all means – let this Christmas be a time for continuing our delightful observances and of continuing to honour our cherished Christmas customs and traditions. But this year, let it also be a time to reflect on the circumstances of our brothers and sisters in need, and to reach out and lend a helping hand.

This Christmas, let us ponder how blessed we all are to have the chance to draw from the Christmas narrative of hope, comfort and joy as we seek to navigate the difficulties and challenges of life and to guide us into the year ahead.

For Christians, the essence of Christmas is encapsulated in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” If we could only apply these values in our own lives and in that of others; if only we, too, could so love the world that we would give unto others our most precious gifts, what a caring and compassionate and a kind country we would build.

This Christmas, let us allow the light of the Divine to shine brightly in our hearts and actions. Let us move even more deeply into the mystery of love and joyfully embrace the opportunity to serve others, give back and uplift those around us through acts of kindness, compassion and generosity, just as Jesus Christ did during His ministry here on the earth.

Let us, in so doing, help build a stronger, a more connected and a more compassionate nation, of which we could all be proud.

My husband and I extend our warmest wishes to each and every citizen of our beloved nation for a happy, safe and blessed Christmas 2024.