Spirit of Christmas invades Albert St.
Patrick Jones Reporting
“We are now on Albert Street where literally hundreds of Belizeans are still out doing last minute shopping. No doubt businesses in the downtown area of Belize City are going to be open very late tonight so that those who still have not gotten all that is on their shopping list for this year will be able to pick up those last minute gifts and for the housewives to get all the ingredients and everything necessary to prepare Christmas dinner.?
“But while the hustle and bustle of this Christmas season continues here on Christmas Eve, what is the true meaning of Christmas? To get some perspective on that, I am joined on Albert Street by my colleagues Jacqueline Woods who will be seeking to find out just that.”
Jacqueline Woods
“A pleasant good evening to all our viewers out there. I wish everyone a Merry, Merry Christmas. I do hope you have a safe one and of course the same greeting goes out to you Reverent Linda Moguel. Reverent Moguel as you know, is from the Anglican Diocese. Reverent Moguel exactly what is the true meaning of Christmas?”
Rev. Linda Moguel, Anglican Diocese
?What I see as not necessarily the true meaning of Christmas, but as a meaning of Christmas is that Jesus Christ, our Saviour, came down to earth as man to join with humanity in making our lives better and bringing to us salvation.?
?Christmas for me and for Christians around the world is one of hope, joy, love and peace. It is important to realize that when our Saviour was born–on tomorrow it will be in this case, which is a few hours from now–that love came down on Christmas Day. As Christians, we need to share that love with each other. We need to know that while Christmas is a time of preparing our home for receiving Christ into our homes, we need to prepare our hearts to receive Him so that we can spread the love of Christ throughout the world.?
?Jesus came into to this world to bring light into the darkness of our ignorance and therefore it?s important that we share the gospel with others. The traditional Christmas for Belizeans come with painting, decorating, giving gifts.?
Jacqueline Woods
“And spending a lot of money.”
Rev. Linda Moguel
?Yes, spending as well and that is okay. But we must not loose sight of the fact that Christmas comes with corporate worship; worship in church. Young and old will unite in singing carols, praying, in meditation and in sharing the body and blood of Christ because Christ came down so that we could have eternal life. And we need in humanity to remind ourselves that Jesus is the reason for the season. As we celebrate His birthday, we must do so with joy and with thankfulness; giving thanks to God for having made it possible for each and everyone to be a child of God and to have a Saviour, knowing that there is hope in this world, for each and everyone in this world, for each and everyone of us if we walk in the ways of the Lord. So we must not forget that Christmas without church, is not true Christmas.?
Jacqueline Woods
“Before you go Reverent Moguel, do you have any special greetings to anybody out there?”
Rev. Linda Moguel
?Yes, I would like to say a Blessed Christmas to all those persons in the River Valley, the rural areas. I have been told that they listen to all the early morning devotions and they listen to all the news that go on especially on the radio stations because the reception for the television is not all that way and I would like to wish them a Blessed Christmas. It is not very often that we as clergy persons are able to be with them to have a midnight mass. But I hope that are they will be glues to their radio to one that is broadcast live and that they will sing along, be merry and remember that we are thinking of them. I wish all Belizeans a safe, peaceful and joyous Christmas.?
Jacqueline Woods
“And a safe one to you Reverent Moguel. Thank you so much for coming out this evening because folks as you know it is Christmas Eve and of course everybody is getting in that last minute shopping and Patrick on a sad note here, of course we had it in our first block about the murder of the police constable Reymundo and we know at this time especially the police work twenty-four seven around the clock making sure that everybody have a safe and Merry Christmas.”
