Christmas Message: Bishop Neil Scantlebury  

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, As we gather to celebrate the glorious birth of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, I greet you with warm wishes for a Holy and Peaceful Christmas. This sacred season reminds us that Christ came among us as the Prince of Peace, offering the world a love that transforms, heals, and restores. In giving us His Son, God shared with humanity His eternal message of peace — a peace the world cannot give, but one which our hearts deeply long for. 

Just as in our own time, Jesus entered a world marked by conflict, uncertainty, and struggle. The conditions surrounding His birth were far from ideal — humble, challenging, and less than perfect. Yet it was into this very imperfection that God chose to reveal His perfect love. Jesus’ birth teaches us that hope shines brightest in the midst of difficulty, and that peace is always possible when God dwells in our hearts. 

This Christmas, I invite each of you to open your heart to the Christ Child, the Prince of Peace. Allow Him to shape you into an instrument of His peace. We often speak of our desire for a peaceful world, yet peace begins not with grand gestures, but with our personal actions — the way we speak, forgive, listen, and show compassion. 

In our daily interactions, let us choose kindness over judgment, reconciliation over resentment, and patience over anger. Too often we allow conflicts to grow instead of healing them. Let us remember the words so often sung at this time of year: “Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.” Family is the cornerstone of society. It is from the family that society develops. We must all create peace within our families and surely it will result in a peaceful society.

 Here in Barbados, we are confronted with rising violence and troubling acts of cruelty — painful reminders of what happens when peace is absent from hearts and communities. We must not lose hope. Instead, we must give peace a chance by welcoming Christ into our lives and allowing Him to guide our thoughts, decisions, and relationships. 

This Christmas, and in 2026 let peace be the gift you nurture within your heart. A peaceful heart builds peaceful families; peaceful families build peaceful communities; and peaceful communities strengthen our nation. As a people of peace, forgiveness will replace resentment, dialogue will overcome division, and hope will dispel fear. 

May the joyous birth of Christ ignite within each of us an unquenchable spirit of peace — a peace that endures, heals, and renews. I wish you and your families a Holy, Joyful, and Peaceful Christmas and a Blessed New Year. 

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