Anglican Bishop James Wong’s Christmas message   Hope in Jesus in the midst of Covid-19 at this Christmas |24 December 2021

“My dear brothers and sisters, greetings.

“How do we celebrate Christmas this year in the Covid-19 pandemic? It would most probably be one in the present-day history when we are encouraged to celebrate the Christmas season in its essence, in its simplicity.

“With a focus on the latest Omicron Covid-19 variant, we are all preoccupied with the guidelines from the Public Health Authority on how to celebrate Christmas this year – with only members of the family who are living in the same household, to continue wearing masks, observe physical distancing, and to wash or sanitise our hands frequently. We are being discouraged from visiting one another for our mutual protection and safety. People, in Seychelles and all around the world, are grieving for the too many deaths caused by the virus. The usual Christmas happiness and cheerfulness that we have been familiarised to is not possible this year. Even in Church, we are always observing the regulations. The epidemic has torn apart the social fabric, causing unemployment and even hunger, rending our connections to each other difficult, revealing and worsening inequalities, raising chaos and dissention, and threatening institutions of good governance.

“But my dear brethren, our celebration of Christmas should not be dampened by Covid! Let us by all the means we have at our disposal, spread more hope, peace, joy and love this season! Should we use the telephone, letters, internet or social media? Let us be more creative in sharing the Good News.

“And this is where I am reminded of the birth of our Saviour. The Christmas story is one of simplicity. In Bethlehem, a desolate village at the margins of the Roman empire, our Lord and Saviour was born in a manger with only his mother and father. His special guests were some shepherds, a few animals and the three magi. It is a heart-warming reminder of the true reason of the season. This year has been difficult for all of us but we cling to Hope. In the midst of all of the confusion and fear that the pandemic has brought, God is with us, Emmanuel has always been and will always be with us. Jesus is the light of the world!

“As a people of hope, we, the children of God find an indication in the birth of Jesus God’s ‘yes’ to life, and the birth of new possibility, new life triumphing over death and despair. The Incarnation is God’s decisive ‘yes’ to humanity and the new creation.

“In a world of hurt and death, my dear fellow pilgrims on our earthly journey, the event of the birth of the Prince of peace allows us to find comfort, lift our heads in hope, and catch a glimpse in deep faith of the triumph of life and love in the birth of Jesus. This is the good news of great joy for all people in Seychelles and in our beautiful world.

“May the Lord Jesus continue to dwell in our hearts, may our lives reflect the presence of Christ, and may our homes radiate God’s peace. With abundance of faith, hope and love, we will all get through this crisis together.

Have a blessed and peaceful Christmas and stay healthy.

Together for His glory,

The Most Rev Dr James Wong Yin Song

Your brother and fellow pilgrim