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Read Online Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the Gospel of God: “This is the time of fulfillment. The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel.” Mark 1:14–15We have now completed our Advent and Christmas Seasons, and thus we begin the liturgical season of “Ordinary Time.” Ordinary Time must be lived in our lives in both an ordinary and extraordinary way.First of all, we begin this liturgical season with an extraordinary calling from God. In the Gospel passage above, Jesus begins His public ministry by proclaiming that “The Kingdom of God is at hand.” But He then goes on to state that, as a result of the new presence of the Kingdom of God, we must “repent” and “believe.”It's important to understand that the Incarnation, which we especially celebrated in Advent and Christmas, changed the world forever. Now that God had united Himself with human nature in the Person of Jesus Christ, God's new Kingdom of grace and mercy was at hand. Our world and our lives are changed because of what God did. And as Jesus began His public ministry, He begins to inform us through His preaching of this new reality.The public ministry of Jesus, as it is transmitted to us through the inspired Word of the Gospels, presents to us the very Person of God and the foundation of His new Kingdom of grace and mercy. It presents us with the extraordinary calling of holiness of life and an unwavering and radical commitment to following Christ. Thus, as we begin Ordinary Time, it's good to be reminded of our duty to immerse ourselves in the message of the Gospel and to respond to it without reserve.But this calling to an extraordinary way of life must ultimately become ordinary. In other words, our radical calling to follow Christ must become who we are. We must see the “extraordinary” as our “ordinary” duty in life. Reflect, today, upon the beginning of this new liturgical season. Use it as an opportunity to remind yourself of the importance of both daily studying and prayerfully pondering the public ministry of Jesus and all He taught. Recommit yourself to a faithful reading of the Gospel so that it becomes an ordinary part of your daily life. My precious Jesus, I thank You for all You have spoken and revealed to us through Your public ministry. Strengthen me during this new liturgical season of Ordinary Time to devote myself to the reading of Your holy Word, so that all that You have taught us becomes an ordinary part of my daily life. Jesus, I trust in You.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.Featured image above: Sermon on the Mount By Carl Bloch, via Wikimedia Commons
Mark 15:16–32 (Listen) Jesus Is Mocked 16 And the soldiers led him away inside the palace (that is, the governor's headquarters),1 and they called together the whole battalion.2 17 And they clothed him in a purple cloak, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on him. 18 And they began to salute him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 19 And they were striking his head with a reed and spitting on him and kneeling down in homage to him. 20 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. And they led him out to crucify him. The Crucifixion 21 And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross. 22 And they brought him to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull). 23 And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. 24 And they crucified him and divided his garments among them, casting lots for them, to decide what each should take. 25 And it was the third hour3 when they crucified him. 26 And the inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” 27 And with him they crucified two robbers, one on his right and one on his left.4 29 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, 30 save yourself, and come down from the cross!” 31 So also the chief priests with the scribes mocked him to one another, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. 32 Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also reviled him. Footnotes [1] 15:16 Greek the praetorium [2] 15:16 Greek cohort; a tenth of a Roman legion, usually about 600 men [3] 15:25 That is, 9 a.m. [4] 15:27 Some manuscripts insert verse 28: And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “He was numbered with the transgressors” (ESV)
Mark 15:16–32 (Listen) Jesus Is Mocked 16 And the soldiers led him away inside the palace (that is, the governor's headquarters),1 and they called together the whole battalion.2 17 And they clothed him in a purple cloak, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on him. 18 And they began to salute him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 19 And they were striking his head with a reed and spitting on him and kneeling down in homage to him. 20 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. And they led him out to crucify him. The Crucifixion 21 And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross. 22 And they brought him to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull). 23 And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. 24 And they crucified him and divided his garments among them, casting lots for them, to decide what each should take. 25 And it was the third hour3 when they crucified him. 26 And the inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” 27 And with him they crucified two robbers, one on his right and one on his left.4 29 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, 30 save yourself, and come down from the cross!” 31 So also the chief priests with the scribes mocked him to one another, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. 32 Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also reviled him. Footnotes [1] 15:16 Greek the praetorium [2] 15:16 Greek cohort; a tenth of a Roman legion, usually about 600 men [3] 15:25 That is, 9 a.m. [4] 15:27 Some manuscripts insert verse 28: And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “He was numbered with the transgressors” (ESV)
Don't Turn Faith Into A Fairy Tale | Advent, 4th Sunday by Fr. Kris Schmidt
In today's "Moments of Grace" episode, Pastor Al Dagel passes on Peter's confirmation that Jesus is God's Son. Take this and run with it!
It is that magical time of the year again! We are going through our Christmas services and Advent activities so far. Lakeview is making a big tech change. Safety Harbor has been a hotbed of activity. We are going on a triple Disney date tomorrow.
The Pudcast returns with co-hosts Korey Maas (Lutheran), Miles Smith (Anglican), and D. G. Hart (Presbyterian) in the after glow of a very long holiday season -- that seems to get longer the older the observer becomes. The recording starts with question of whether the five to six weeks between Thanksgiving and New Years -- when everyone seems to return to pandemic levels of output in the workplace -- is too long. Included is attention to the particular aspects of holiday observance among Lutherans and Anglicans (with Lutherans getting lots of credit for using the phrase, "The Divine Service" most often). Material that stimulated the discussion was Ross Douthat's speculation that secular liberalism has run out of steam and Eli Lake's report on the Jewish-Americans who wrote so many of the secular Christmas songs. Listeners who have not seen Whit Stillman's movie, "Metropolitan" should do so asap even if it is no longer Christmas or Advent or Debutante Ball season. Owing to the recent death of former POTUS, Jimmy Carter and Donald Trump's election victory, the co-hosts also speculated about the effects of past and future presidents on the religious vibe in the United States and elsewhere. Bonus content: here is an introduction to Washington Irving's Old Christmas, a story that shaped American customs surrounding the holiday.
How are we to experience joy no matter our circumstances? What about when life is hard?
A Sunday sermon by Pastor Brett Deal. As soon as Solomon finished his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. And the priests could not enter the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord filled the Lord's house. When all the people of Israel saw the fire come down and the glory of the Lord on the temple, they bowed down with their faces to the ground on the pavement and worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, “For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.” (2 Chronicles 7,1-4) Beloved People of God, The people of God from across the kingdom were gathered to see King David's vision of a Temple realized in Jerusalem. The first several chapters of 2 Chronicles tell us in great detail how Solomon set about collecting the materials and assigning the craftsmen to their work. The elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes were assembled as the Ark of God's covenant was brought into the Temple. The people crowded around the periphery pressed in as the priests came back out surrounded by the billowing clouds of God's glory. Repeatedly, with fire and cloud, God's made His presence known among His people. Solomon, the son of David blessed God's people. Standing before the altar, with his hands outstretched toward the people, he prayed a prayer of dedication. That day the king alone sacrificed 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep! God answered Solomon's prayer (2 Chronicles 7.12). Centuries later, in Bethlehem, the promised son of David, the son of Solomon—truly the Son of God—Jesus Christ was born (Matthew 1.6). But this time, the first to receive the heavenly witness to God's presence among His people would not be the prominent and the powerful. It would be shepherds laboring in the fields by night. Surely, some of the sheep they were tending were destined for the Temple. Carefully, they watched over their sheep, keeping them from defect or injury (Leviticus 3.6). Can we really imagine what it must have been like for these shepherds working the graveyard shift?! Diane Chen tells us, “When light pierces through darkness, it is sudden, illuminating and terrifying.” Then add the sound of a heavenly choir and the glory of the Lord illuminating the midnight skies! Jesus, the son of David, a newborn swaddled in his mother's loving embrace, blessed all people. Laid in a manger with His arms outstretched to the shepherds, He was the answer to our prayers for God's presence (Psalm 91.1-2; 122.6-7). That day in Bethlehem, only one lamb was born to become the sacrifice for all (1 Peter 1.19). And in His presence, we have peace.
A Sunday sermon by Pastor Brett Deal. Beloved People of God, Today is Christmas, and with it Christide follows in its marvelous wake! Christide, also known as the twelve days of Christmas, carries us on its waves of rejoicing into the new year. Beloved, perhaps this past year has felt like a rocky shore that has shaken your faith or like a desert island scarred by loneliness. I pray the days of Christide would sweep you into the newness of a new season. Maybe 2024 was your best year, and the thought of tomorrow fills you with anxiety. I pray the year ahead would be one illuminated by the nearness of Jesus, no matter what lies ahead. Friends, Christide is the best possible way to enter the new year. Don't let the Spirit of Christmas fade from our lives when the last piece of wrapping paper is dutifully piled into the trash or the final slice of turkey's been consumed from our Christmas table. May our song be that of David as we glory in the arrival of Jesus, our long-awaited King: “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name!” (Psalm 103.1). I pray today's celebration would truly be the beginning of something new. Christmas morning is a time of wonder and glory. Beloved, the Christ-child is in the manger! But Christmas morning is followed by Christmas afternoon and evening. It's then matched by the next day and the day after that. Each fresh dawn is followed by a new noonday awash in the presence of the Christ-child, God born among us! In the name of Jesus, the Son of David—who is our Great High Priest—I bless you this Christmas: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace,” (Numbers 6.22-27).
Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! This homily (a short sermon) is based on the Narrative Lectionary reading fo this first Sunday in the Christmas season, which is Luke 2:21-38. In this passage, we read about the visit of the holy family and the infant Jesus to the Jerusalem Temple, where they meet Simeon and Anna. We hope this message will be meaningful to you this week. Blessings to you as we move through this season of Advent together. To find out more about our church, you can head on over to www.williamsburgbaptist.com. If you have a moment, we'd also love for you to click over to follow us on Instagram or Facebook! We are a small but vibrant and growing congregation, and there are lots of ways to connect. Please don't hesitate to reach out if we can help support you in any way! Thanks so much for tuning in!
This was Dave Richards looking at Matthew 2: 1-12 at our 10am service on Sunday 5 January 2025. This is part of our Advent series "A Weary World Rejoices".
Join us this week as we kick off our Advent series Christmas at Connection. Pastor Michael begins the series at the beginning of Matthew, going through the genealogy of Christ.
This was Eilidh Proudfoot looking at Matthew 2: 1-12 at our 7pm service on Sunday 5 January 2025. This is part of our Advent series "A Weary World Rejoices".
The post Fourth Sunday of Advent 2024: Love appeared first on Spiritus Christi Church.
Our second Sunday of Advent 2025 is Peace. Peace is not only a state of being, or absence of conflict. Peace is an obligation. Joseph led by example as a peacemaker.
Today, Pastor Al Dagel encourages us by reading the fourth chapter of Paul's letter to the Ephesian church.
@GospelSimplicity The Iceberg of Traditional Christianity ... and where things get weird https://youtu.be/54WpT3EO4kw?si=vTB-7oJoOtPioxcU Understanding John Vervaeke's Advent of the Sacred with Jonathan Pageau https://youtu.be/CsGkQ2HexJE?si=KC8gvXxdgOvIKqJK Paul Vander Klay clips channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX0jIcadtoxELSwehCh5QTg Bridges of Meaning Discord https://discord.gg/Vh4DsPnJ https://www.meetup.com/sacramento-estuary/ My Substack https://paulvanderklay.substack.com/ Estuary Hub Link https://www.estuaryhub.com/ If you want to schedule a one-on-one conversation check here. https://calendly.com/paulvanderklay/one2one There is a video version of this podcast on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/paulvanderklay To listen to this on ITunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/paul-vanderklays-podcast/id1394314333 If you need the RSS feed for your podcast player https://paulvanderklay.podbean.com/feed/ All Amazon links here are part of the Amazon Affiliate Program. Amazon pays me a small commission at no additional cost to you if you buy through one of the product links here. This is is one (free to you) way to support my videos. https://paypal.me/paulvanderklay Blockchain backup on Lbry https://odysee.com/@paulvanderklay https://www.patreon.com/paulvanderklay Paul's Church Content at Living Stones Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh7bdktIALZ9Nq41oVCvW-A To support Paul's work by supporting his church give here. https://tithe.ly/give?c=2160640 https://www.livingstonescrc.com/give
This Advent, we're exploring how the Christmas story challenges us to expand our circle to the margins because we serve a God who came to the margins to love people on the margins.
Join Pastor Manisha Dostert as she gives her sermon on The Fourth Sunday of Advent at Christ Church Cranbrook.
Sermon from Sunday, December 15, 2024 | We speak of the two Advents this time of year, God's first and second coming. But what about the third Advent, the one we desperately long for in the ordinary days of our lives? What about the darkness, the waiting and the pain of the everyday experience of our painful and frayed lives? The God that was born in a cave, and is coming back on a horse -- longs to meet us, here and now.For more information about Mosaic, visit us online at www.mosaicknox.org.
Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
Elizabeth, Mary, and the Incarnation Fourth Sunday in Advent; Dec. 22, 2024 Rev. Dr. Craig Atwood
Trae Fraley dives into Luke 1:57-80, unpacking the profound significance of John the Baptist's birth and his role in God's redemptive plan. Delivered on December 22, 2024, at Redemption Arcadia, Trae weaves together the joy of new beginnings with the anticipation of Advent, highlighting how John's life was a bridge to the coming Messiah.Through vivid storytelling and theological insight, Trae explores the faith of Elizabeth and Zechariah, the miraculous nature of John's arrival, and the power of Zechariah's prophetic song, the Benedictus. He challenges listeners to embrace their calling as voices preparing the way for Jesus, just as John did.Whether you're reflecting on the Advent season or seeking encouragement to step into your divine purpose, this sermon will leave you inspired and ready to proclaim the hope and salvation found in Christ.
The post Your Advent is in Prophecy appeared first on Living Fellowship.
The Fourth Sunday of Advent. Lessons & Carols 2024.
The Fourth Sunday of Advent.
What does the birth of Jesus mean for us 2,000 years later?
Brandon Hill preaches for the last week of our Advent sermon series "Holding the Quiet".
Gratitude - Advent III by Jason Bowman
God's Plans - Advent I by Jason Bowman
Godly Decisions - Advent II by Jason Bowman
Kim DuBreuil will be preaching from Isaiah 9:2-6, to conclude the Advent series 'A Current Christmas.'
Church is more than a service. It's about people experiencing life together as we seek to join God in His work of transforming lives. We invite you to come be part of that mission here at Scotts Hill. You can find more resources here on our YouTube Channel or by visiting: https://scottshill.orgTo connect with us or to learn more about Jesus we invite you to visit: https://www.scottshill.org/nextstepsFor information on upcoming events church-wide, visit: https://scottshill.infoSocial MediaFacebook: / scottshill.org Instagram: / scottshill Website: https://www.scottshill.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Homily by Fr. Michael Renninger
Homily by Fr. Michael Renninger
This week, in the final episode of our Advent and Christmastide series, we are studying Mary and her response to God's call on her life, and how that response can so inform the way we truly go into 2025. 1. WHAT DOES THE BIBLE PASSAGE SAY? Luke 1:28-30; 38: The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. Maybe true for Mary, but is it true for us? 2. WHAT'S THE BACKSTORY? What do we know about Mary: -She knew some scripture-She was faithful-She was among the believers [not venerated, but in community] Acts 1:14 (They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus.) Mary had no qualifications for being chosen. This beginning also mirrors our beginning when it comes to receiving the good news. All of the good news is contained here: You who are highly favored. In the context of the world, she is not highly favored. When we think of what makes someone highly favored, we tend to think of the examples we have in the world. But that wasn’t Mary at all. 3. WHAT DOES IT MEAN? Accepting the incredible surprise of the good news means releasing control. Receiving the gift of our favor means opening our hands to everything God gives. “I am the Lord’s servant, may your word be fulfilled.” How great is the love the Father has lavished on us…that we would be called children of God! And that is what we are! 1 John 3:1 4. WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR ME? What sets Mary apart is her radical acceptance of God’s invitation, and what defines us as children of God is our radical acceptance of the same invitation. Radical Acceptance: God has not given up on me, no matter how I feel. I do not need to try harder. My pain and struggle is not wasted. My false self protects me with: I am what I do. I am what I have. I am what others think of me. My true self: I am. (I am worthy) I am the Lord’s. (I belong) I am the Lord’s servant. (I have purpose) THIS WEEK'S RESOURCES: Sign up for Nicole's newsletter and get regular encouragement straight to your inbox: https://nicoleunice.com/realtalk/ Help! My Bible is Alive! Nicole’s Newest Book: Not What I Signed Up For When you go to NicoleUnice.com/notwhatisignedupfor you'll get the intro, first chapter and a free prayer guide! Find all of Nicole's books and resources on Amazon or Barnes & Noble Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
It's hard to be a Catholic parent in today's world of woke-inspired movies and entertainment. Worse, much of the Catholic created media is well...boring. Recently, however, there's some new options coming. One free Catholic program reached the #1 downloaded podcast spot this Advent. Best part, it's totally free! Join me in this episode as Peter Atkinson describes the amazing media that his Catholic company The Merry Beggars is putting out for free. We talk about his journey and how God called him to this work. We discuss what it takes to be a successful Catholic creator in this world. You can find many amazing free resources that are grounded in the Faith on the Merry Beggars website: https://www.themerrybeggars.com/ I also invite you to check out my free Manly Strengths Assessment at https://catholiclifecoachformen.com/manly-strengths-assessment-signup/
THE ART OF ADVENT - Welcoming Psalm 130 Randy Lovelace | December 22, 2024
THE ART OF ADVENT - Rejoicing Psalm 130 Randy Lovelace | December 24, 2024
Luke: The Action | Jesus at the Temple | Luke 2:41-52 Sermon from December 29, 2024– Deron Spoo, Pastor Part 1 of 18 of the series The Advent
Luke: The Action | John the Baptist | Luke 3:1-22 Sermon from January 5, 2025– Deron Spoo, Pastor Part 2 of 18 of the series The Advent