Podcast appearances and mentions of Christ Child

January 19, 2025 | Luke 2:39-51 | Pastor Matt Tinken Watch Video The post The Christ Child Grows appeared first on First Free Church Chicago.

Join Archbishop Alexander Sample as he continues his discussion on the Jubilee Year and how it relates to reconciliation. At the core of Jubilee is the need for mercy, forgiveness and reconciliation. The Archbishop explains why God came to earth as the Christ Child to save us from our sins and why we need a savior. Explore God's rescue mission for the whole world and why our response must be rooted in reconciliation. Subscribe to the Voice of the Shepherd on your favorite podcast platform.Learn more about the Archdiocese of Portland.Find this show on the free Hail Mary Media App, along with a radio live-stream, prayers, news, and more.Look through past episodes or support this podcast.The Voice of the Shepherd is produced by Mater Dei Radio in collaboration with the Archdiocese of Portland.

January 12, 2025 | Luke 2:8-21 | Pastor Matt Tinken Watch Video The post The Christ Child is Named appeared first on First Free Church Chicago.

“Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.” (Isaiah 60:1)) Welcome to worship! Scripture Reference: Matthew 2:1-18; Ephesians 3:1-12 Epiphany is the season of the church year extending from January 6 until Ash Wednesday. The word “epiphany” means an appearance or a manifestation, especially of a Deity. The Christian Church uses the word Epiphany to celebrate the appearance of Christ to the Gentiles. When the Christ Child was presented in the temple, the aged Simeon predicted that Jesus would be “a light to lighten the Gentiles.” This prophecy received its first fulfillment in the coming of the Magi. The Chi Rho on the large banner refers to Christ as the “Son of Righteousness”. As the sun is the source of light and life in a physical sense, so Jesus is the light and life of men spiritually. The Chi Rho is a sacred monogram formed from the first two letters of the Greek word for Christ. The banner symbolizes the spread of the Gospel to the four corners of the earth. This is appropriate because during Epiphany the church emphasizes missions and bringing the light of the gospel to those in spiritual darkness. Our Church’s Vision Statement: Fellowship Church is called by God to grow committed disciples into disciplemakers. 1/5/25

The twelfth day of Christmas or Twelfth Night, is known as Kings Day at Turtle Mountain. In Catholic tradition, it is the Feast of Epiphany, honoring the three wise men who traveled to Bethlehem to see the Christ Child.

The Feast of the Epiphany centers in the visit of the Magi from the East. While Christmas has focused on the incarnation of our Lord … that is, on God becoming flesh … the season of Epiphany emphasizes the manifestation or self-revelation of God in that same flesh of Christ. The Lord Himself has entered our darkness and rises upon us with the brightness of His true light (Is. 60:1–2). He does so chiefly by His Word of the Gospel, which He causes to be preached within His Church on earth … not only to the Jews but also to Gentiles (Eph. 3:8–10). As the Magi were guided by the promises of Holy Scripture to find and worship the Christ Child with His mother in the house (Matt. 2:5–11), so does He call disciples from all nations by the preaching of His Word to find and worship Him within His Church (Is. 60:3–6). With gold, they confess His royalty; with incense, His deity; and with myrrh, His priestly sacrifice (Matt. 2:11).

Color: White Old Testament: Isaiah 60:1–6 Psalm: Psalm 24; antiphon: v. 7 Epistle: Ephesians 3:1–12 Gospel: Matthew 2:1–12 Introit: Psalm 72:1–2, 10–11; antiphon: Liturgical Text Gradual: Isaiah 60:6b, 1 Verse: Matthew 2:2b The Lord God Is Manifested in the Incarnate Son   The Feast of the Epiphany centers in the visit of the Magi from the East. In that respect, it is a “Thirteenth Day” of Christmas; and yet, it also marks the beginning of a new liturgical season. While Christmas has focused on the Incarnation of our Lord—that is, on God becoming flesh—the season of Epiphany emphasizes the manifestation or self-revelation of God in that same flesh of Christ. For the Lord Himself has entered our darkness and rises upon us with the brightness of His true light (Is. 60:1–2). He does so chiefly by His Word of the Gospel, which He causes to be preached within His Church on earth—not only to the Jews but also to Gentiles (Eph. 3:8–10). As the Magi were guided by the promises of Holy Scripture to find and worship the Christ Child with His mother in the house (Matt. 2:5–11), so does He call disciples from all nations by the preaching of His Word, to find and worship Him within His Church (Is. 60:3–6). With gold they confess His royalty; with incense, His deity; and with myrrh, His priestly sacrifice (Matt. 2:11). Lectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship

Read Matthew 2: 1-12.1. What do you think of when you hear the word epiphany? How is theterm “Epiphany” used differently in the church compared to its usageoutside the church?2. How is the Magi story an illustration of God's grace, specifically fromthe Wesleyan understanding of grace (prevenient, justifying,sanctifying)?3. In what ways did the Magi have “aha” moments in this story? Whenhave you had similar “aha” moments along your faith journey?4. What drew the Magi to Jesus? What draws you to Jesus?5. How did the Magi respond when they found Jesus? What is yourresponse to Jesus?6. What is the significance of the Magi not being of Jewish descent?What does that mean for the world even today?7. Scripture tells us that the Magi “returned to their country by anotherroute.” In what ways has Jesus changed the direction of your life?8. Why do you think the Magi presented Jesus with such valuable gifts?How was this part of their worship? What does this teach us aboutgiving generously?Prayer for the Week:Gracious and loving God, our light and our salvation, be present with usand shine upon us. Teach us to walk as children of the light, to give ourpraise and prayers. Just as the magi worshiped the Christ Child andpresented him with their finest gifts, may we give ourselves to you injoyous celebration, knowing that all we are and all we have belongs toyou. And Lord, we pray for those who, even today, are still living in thedarkness of this world rather than living in the light of your love, mercyand grace. We pray that your goodness and mercy will shine in even thedarkest corners of all our lives, drawing us closer to you, through JesusChrist our Lord and Savior. Amen.

As Epiphany follows New Year's Day, let the Christ Child give you a great way to keep your New Year's resolutions! The transcription for this Podcast can be found at https://www.ourcatholicprayers.com/Gifts-for-Baby-Jesus.html Catholic Answers Page on the Three Wise Men in Epiphany

The life of man is marked by a paradox: there is in each one of us the desire to serve another because of the fact that we are creatures, but there is also in us the desire to be independent such that we want to stand on our own feet and be free from all control.Firstly, we have a desire to serve another. We cannot avoid the obvious fact that we are limited and helpless in many respects.We try to do things and we fail. Others have talents that we do not. We have a lot of desires which we recognize we have no power to realize.This leads us to look for someone to follow who is more powerful, more capable, who is able to protect our interests and help us achieve what we desire in a much greater way than we could by ourselves. This is why everyone wants a hero to follow.We live at a time in history when the importance of independence is emphasized in society more than it has ever been. Yet there is no less hero worship today than in the past.At the same time, we want to be independent, to be in a state where we do not serve anyone else. We have a fear of serving because we find it hard to trust anyone ruling over us. We realize that if we give ourselves over to serve another, that person might take advantage of us and make our lives worse instead of better.There is great suspicion today regarding everyone who holds power. There is a belief that power necessarily corrupts people. And so, the more power that they hold, the more corrupt they will be.Plus, we do not like to be told what to do. We feel like the act of obedience causes us to surrender our free will, something that is very precious to us.When we face this paradox that exists within us—that we both want to serve and we do not want to serve—we have a number of possibilities as to how we will face it.

Christmas is the night when God gives Himself to us. Isaias gives us a name to call Our Lord when He comes: “God with us”. And he also emphasizes: “A child is born to us. A child is given to us.” It is difficult for us to understand because it exceeds our understanding.God is born, in person. God is born for you, for your sakes.There is a particularity about Christmas, a concreteness, that has to be noticed and emphasized. There are many ways to look at the Nativity scene, many ways to contemplate it. But tonight, at least, I would like you to think about what it would be like if you were the only one there. Just you and the divine Child.When we are there alone with the Christ Child, we are going to realize something right away. We are going to realize that our human condition is important.We are going to look at this Child and say to ourselves, “God is a pure spirit, infinite, eternal, all-powerful. Yet He takes on flesh; He becomes human and He confines Himself within the limits of the human nature that He has created. He has started off as an infant, just like I did, an infant that cannot talk, that cannot walk, that cannot feed itself, that is helpless in every way.”The Christ Child is saying to us, “I have come to be close to you in the very human nature that I gave to you. I have taken on your human nature, as a gift to you. You must accept your human nature as a gift from me. You must reach your salvation through the limits of your human nature.”By that, I mean that we have to live in and love the reality that God has made for us.The limitations of our body: sometimes healthy, sometimes sickThe limitations of a world tainted by sin: sometimes good, sometimes evil we cannot stopThe limitations of desire: sometimes desires realized, many times desires that cannot be realized

Read OnlineThere was a prophetess, Anna…She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer.  And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.  Luke 2:36–38We all have a unique and sacred calling given to us from God. Each one of us is called to fulfill that calling with generosity and wholehearted commitment. As the famous prayer of Saint John Henry Newman puts it:God has created me to do Him some definite service. He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission. I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons…Anna, the prophetess, was given a very unique, one-of-a-kind mission. When she was young, she was married for seven years. Then after losing her husband, she remained a widow until she was eighty-four. During those decades of her life, the Scripture reveals that “She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer.” What an incredible calling from God!Anna's unique calling was to be a prophetess. She fulfilled this calling by allowing her whole life to be a symbol of the Christian vocation. Her life was spent in prayer, fasting and, most especially, in anticipation. God called her to wait, year after year, decade after decade, for the one and definitive moment of her life: her encounter with the Christ Child in the Temple.Anna's prophetic life tells us that we each must live our lives in such a way that our ultimate goal is to continually prepare for the moment when we meet our divine Lord in the Temple of Heaven. Unlike Anna, most are not called to literal fasting and prayer every day all day within the church buildings. But like Anna, we must all foster an interior life of ongoing prayer and penance, and we must direct all of our actions in life to the praise and glory of God and the salvation of our souls. Though the way this universal vocation is lived out will be unique to each and every person, Anna's life is nonetheless a symbolic prophecy of every vocation. Reflect, today, upon how well you imitate this holy woman in your own life. Do you foster an interior life of prayer and penance and daily seek to devote yourself to the glory of God and the salvation of your soul? Evaluate your life this day in light of the wonderful prophetic life of Anna that we are given to ponder. Lord, I thank You for the powerful witness of the prophetess Anna. May her lifelong devotion to You, a life of continual prayer and sacrifice, be a model and inspiration for me and for all who follow You. I pray that You daily reveal to me the unique way in which I am called to live out my vocation to total dedication to You. 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: Simeon in the Temple by Rembrandt, via Wikimedia Commons

A homily for the feast of the Holy Family 12/29/2024

The wise men are famous for their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, but these may not have been the most precious gifts they gave the Christ Child. Join us for part four of The Heart of Worship, where we will see how generosity is the overflow of genuine worship.  

See Matthew ch. 2. Though St Matthew's account may leave the impression that the flight into Egypt was almost immediate, it would have been at least forty days after Christ's birth, following His Presentation in the Temple (Luke ch. 2). Christ, his holy Mother and his adoptive father St Joseph probably remained in Egypt for several years, until the death of Herod the Great.   St Nikolai Velimirovic (in the Prologue) relates the following tale: the holy family, fleeing into Egypt, were accosted by robbers, one of whom, seeing the Christ Child, was amazed at his supernatural beauty and said 'If God were to take human flesh Himself, He would not be more beautiful than this child!'. The robber told his companions to take nothing from the family. In gratitude the Mother of God told him 'This Child will reward you richly for having spared Him today.' Thirty years later it was this robber who was crucified at Christ's right hand, and was granted to hear the words 'Today shalt thou be with Me in Paradise.'

Full Text of ReadingsTuesday of the Fourth Week of Advent Mass in the Morning Lectionary: 200The Saint of the day is Christmas at GreccioThe Story of Christmas at Greccio What better way to prepare for the arrival of the Christ Child than to take a brief journey to Greccio, the spot in central Italy where Saint Francis of Assisi created the first Christmas crib in the year 1223. Francis, recalling a visit he had made years before to Bethlehem, resolved to create the manger he had seen there. The ideal spot was a cave in nearby Greccio. He would find a baby—we're not sure if it was a live infant or the carved image of a baby—hay upon which to lay him, an ox and an ass to stand beside the manger. Word went out to the people of the town. At the appointed time, they arrived carrying torches and candles. One of the friars began celebrating Mass. Francis himself gave the sermon. His biographer, Thomas of Celano, recalls that Francis “stood before the manger…overcome with love and filled with a wonderful happiness…” For Francis, the simple celebration was meant to recall the hardships Jesus suffered even as an infant, a savior who chose to become poor for our sake, a truly human Jesus. Tonight, as we pray around the Christmas cribs in our homes, we welcome into our hearts that same Savior. Reflection God's choice to give human beings free will was from the beginning a decision to be helpless in human hands. With the birth of Jesus, God made the divine helplessness very clear to us, for a human infant is totally dependent on the loving response of other people. Our natural response to a baby is to open our arms as Francis did–to the infant of Bethlehem, and to the God who made us all. Enjoy this celebration of Greccio! Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Friends of the Rosary, Merry and Holy Christmas! Today, December 24, is Christmas Eve. We read in the Gospel (Luke 1:57-79) the Prayer of Zechariah at the birth of his son, John the Baptist. This prayer, precious to priests and all those who pray the Liturgy of the Hours, is called the “Canticle of Zechariah” or the “Benedictus.” It sums up the whole history of salvation, with the God of Israel, as Zechariah prays, “has come to his people and set them free.” “This is what God always wants to do. He hates the fact that we've become enslaved by sin and fear, and accordingly, he wants to liberate us. The central event of the Old Testament is an event of liberation from slavery. We are, as sinners, enslaved to our pride, our envy, our anger, our appetites, our greed, our lust—all of which wrap us up and keep us from being the people that we want to be,” Bishop Barron comments. God effects this liberation through the instrumentation of a mighty Savior. Today, the liturgy of Christmas Eve is consecrated to the arrival of the Savior. Throughout Advent, we have seen how the preparation for Jesus' coming. Isaiah, John the Baptist, and the Virgin Mother appeared throughout the season, announcing and foretelling the coming of the King. We learn today that Christ, according to His human nature, was born at Bethlehem of the House of David of the Virgin Mary. According to His divine nature, He is conceived of the Spirit of holiness, the Son of God, and the Second Person of the Trinity. Christmas Eve is an appropriate time for exchanging gifts after the Christ-Child has been placed in the manger, special prayers, Christmas carols, and Midnight Mass. Ave Maria!Jesus, I Trust In You! Come, Holy Spirit, come! To Jesus through Mary! + Mikel Amigot | RosaryNetwork.com, New York • December 24, 2024, Today's Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET

Read OnlineZechariah his father, filled with the Holy Spirit, prophesied, saying: “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; for he has come to his people and set them free…” Luke 1:67–68Our story of the birth of Saint John the Baptist concludes today with the song of praise spoken by Zechariah after his tongue had been loosened on account of his transformation in faith. He had moved from doubting what the Archangel Gabriel had spoken to him to believing and following the command of the Archangel to name his firstborn son “John.” As we saw in yesterday's reflection, Zechariah is a model and example for those who have lacked faith, have suffered the consequences of their lack of faith, and have changed as a result.Today, we see an even fuller illustration of what happens when we change. No matter how deeply we have doubted in the past, no matter how far we have turned from God, when we turn back to Him with all our heart, we can hope to experience the same thing experienced by Zechariah. First, we see that Zechariah is “filled with the Holy Spirit.” And as a result of this gift of the Holy Spirit, Zechariah “prophesied.” These two revelations are very significant.As we prepare for the celebration of the Birth of Christ tomorrow on Christmas Day, we are also called to be “filled with the Holy Spirit” so that we also can act as a prophetic messenger of the Lord. Though Christmas is all about the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity, Christ Jesus our Lord, the Holy Spirit (the Third Person of the Holy Trinity) plays just as much of a significant role in the glorious event, both at that time and also today. Recall that it was by the Holy Spirit Who overshadowed Mother Mary that she conceived the Christ Child. In today's Gospel, it was the Holy Spirit Who enabled Zechariah to proclaim the greatness of God's act of sending John the Baptist ahead of Jesus to prepare the way for Him. Today, it must be the Holy Spirit Who fills our lives so as to enable us to proclaim the Christmas Truth.In our day and age, Christmas has become very secular in many parts of the world. Few people take time on Christmas to truly pray and worship God for all that He has done. Few people continually proclaim that glorious message of the Incarnation to family and friends during this most solemn celebration. How about you? Are you able to be a true “prophet” of the Most High God this Christmas? Has the Holy Spirit overshadowed you and filled you with the grace needed to point others to this glorious reason for our celebration?Reflect, today, upon the role of the Holy Spirit in your life this day. Invite the Holy Spirit to fill you, inspire you, and strengthen you, and to give to you the wisdom you need to be a mouthpiece of the glorious gift of the birth of the Savior of the World this Christmas. No other gift could be more important to give to others than this message of truth and love.Holy Spirit, I give You my life and invite You to come to me, to overshadow me and to fill me with Your divine presence. As You fill me, give me the wisdom I need to speak of Your greatness and to be an instrument through which others are drawn into the glorious celebration of the birth of the Savior of the World. Come, Holy Spirit, fill me, consume me and use me for Your glory.  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: Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel!, via flickr

Audio from Youtube: https://youtu.be/D4WX08oavq4?si=KVJ4zWm7Vo66CiGk   

Scripture Lesson - John 3:11-18 Rev. Kevin Long

www.longviewbaptistchurch.org Luke 2:8-14 Sunday, December 22nd, 2024 1) Jesus Christ is the word-by-word fulfilment of God's promise! 2) God leaves no detail or direction out when revealing His truth to mankind! 3) Glory to God in the highest, we have an eternal Savior and King!

This is message 21 in the Labour In The Church series Luke 2:21-38 Simeon and Anna exemplify faithful service in recognizing and proclaiming the Messiah. Simeon, led by the Spirit, loudly praised God upon seeing the Christ child, fulfilling a divine promise. Anna, a dedicated prayer warrior, immediately shared the news of the Messiah's arrival with others. Their devotion in the house of God highlights the importance of faithfulness, prayer, and proclamation in pointing others to Jesus. Don't forget to download our app for more from the Riverview Baptist Church. http://onelink.to/rbcapp Find more at https://riverviewbc.com/ Donate through Pushpay https://pushpay.com/pay/riverviewbc

As we prepare our hearts for the celebration of the birth of the Christ Child, it is good to ponder the context of His coming. We know from where Christ will come: Bethlehem. But it's more important to know from where peace will come.

An update from Rob Van Wey on his missionary work with Soldiers in North Carolina.   "For God so loved the world."                 One of the most familiar passages out of the Christian Bible, this passage is always appropriate!  In creation, "For God so loved the world."  In good times and bad, "For God so loved the world."  In life and death, "For God so loved the world."  In all situations, the message of God's eternal love for us all can bring comfort, guidance, and joy.  God loves us all!                 Especially in times like the Christmas season, is the message ever appropriate.  A man and his very pregnant wife are looking for a place to stay in a strange land.  No room in the in; a bed in a backroom stall; a piercing cry of a newborn boy in the middle of a moonlit night – God loves and has brought about a miracle!  Not just the miracle of birth, of course – this birth was special!  This baby was "the Christ Child."  God, 'in the flesh;' God was moving to save man from his own sin, and self-destructive ways.  In the Christ-Child the eternal Creator came as an innocent child, putting to the test the phrase, "For God so loved the world."                 The Creator-God, in the flesh, has come to earth!  The Creator has come to re-create, to give new life – to save!                 This is God's promise:  "He was wounded and crushed for our sin.  He was beaten that we might have peace.  He was whipped, and we were healed." Isaiah 53: Jesus came and lived, preached, suffered, and died so that we might live.  From that first creation story, this was God's plan!                 This is Jesus' testimony:  "I am the living bread that came down out of heaven.  If anyone eats of this bread, he shall live forever."  John 6   Jesus made the fantastic claim – "I who speak to you am he."  He was more than just a preacher or prophet, as many have said – He was, and is, the Savior of all!                 This is the witness of scripture:  "Once for all time, he took blood into that most Holy Place, but not the blood of goats and calves.  He took his own blood, and with it, he secured our salvation forever." Hebrews 9, the blood of Jesus, shed on the cross, was God's plan;  this is how he would cleanse us from our sin!  No magic trick, of course – this was an act of a loving God, giving himself to save the humanity that he had created and strayed from Him.    "For God so loved the world, He gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life."  This is the story 'behind' the Christmas story and the reason for it all.  God's loves us, and that is the reason for the wonderful celebration!   Your support is invaluable in spreading the message of our ministry. By sharing our videos with your friends and family, you play a significant role in building a community of believers who find strength in our shared faith. We sincerely appreciate your contributions and urge you to inspire others to join us in this mission. Your involvement is significant and integral to our ministry's success, helping to keep our community connected and thriving.   Your financial contributions are the backbone of our ministry. They enable us to run outreach programs, maintain our facilities, and provide resources for our community. Your generosity is a testament to your commitment to our mission, and we deeply value your role in making this ministry a reality. Your contributions are used with transparency and accountability, making a real difference in the lives of those we serve. You can contribute here https://firstbaptistofindependence.aware3.net/give/   To stay updated on all things FBC, download our App here: https://a3a.me/firstbaptistofindependence or like our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/1stBaptist/. These platforms are not just for information but also for engagement. They are a great way to connect with our community, support our mission, and be part of our journey.   Thank you for your continued support and involvement. We look forward to continuing this journey with you as an integral part of our ministry. See you next week!

What is the Peace on Earth that came with Christmas?It is not outer peace, an end to relational or political conflict.It is not inner peace, an end to the war with the old nature.Peace is a Person, the Christ Child! Christ is upper peace; "God & Sinners reconciled."

Heading into Christmas we turn our hearts towards the Christ Child.  Christ is our great Christmas present from God the Father.  Mary and Joseph give him the gifts of their faith, hope and love.  These are gifts that we too can give to the Baby Jesus.  https://comeawaybyyourselves.com

On this week's episode find out how Brenda gets chores on the Honey-Do-List, how to offer and receive forgiveness, and how the Christ Child can lead us to healing old wounds.This week's guest is Patricia Mackie, LPC at Everyday Counseling.Subscribe to View from the Pew on your favorite podcast platform.Find this show on the free Hail Mary Media App, along with a radio live-stream, prayers, news, and more.Look through past episodes or support this podcast.View from the Pew is a production of Mater Dei Radio in Portland, Oregon.

Tom and Joelle Crowe are back with our American Catholic history. Today they tell you about Mary Virginia Merrick and the Christ Child Society. Subscribe to the Morning Blend on your favorite podcast platform.Find this show on the free Hail Mary Media App, along with a radio live-stream, prayers, news, and more.Look through past episodes or support this podcast.The Morning Blend is a production of Mater Dei Radio in Portland, Oregon.

Read OnlineEleazar became the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ. Matthew 1:15–16The last line of the Gospel passage above offers much for us to meditate upon this day and throughout the week ahead. “Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.” What an amazing reality we celebrate! God Himself took on our human life, experienced conception, birth, infancy, childhood, etc. As a human, He also experienced hatred, abuse, persecution, and murder. Again, what an amazing reality we celebrate!For the next eight days, the readings for Mass will focus more directly upon this amazing reality. We ponder today the lineage of Christ Jesus and see that He comes from the line of Abraham and David and that His ancestors were the great Judges, Kings and Levitical Priests. In the coming days of preparation for Christmas, we will ponder the role of Saint Joseph, the response of our Blessed Mother to the angel, the Visitation, Zechariah's lack of faith and our Blessed Mother's perfect faith.As we enter into this octave of immediate preparation for the celebration of the birth of Christ, do use it as a time of true spiritual preparation. Though all of Advent is a season of preparation, these final days should especially focus upon the great mysteries surrounding the Incarnation and birth of the Christ Child. We must ponder the people Whom God chose to be intimately involved, and we should reflect upon the smallest of details regarding how this miracle of miracles took place. Reflect, today, upon the true reason for Advent and Christmas. This final week leading up to Christmas can oftentimes become filled with busyness and other forms of preparation, such as shopping, cooking, traveling, decorating, etc. Though all of these other preparations have a place, don't neglect the most important preparation—the spiritual preparation of your soul. Spend time with the Scriptures this week. Savor the story. Think about the amazing reality that we are about to celebrate. My precious Lord, I thank you for coming to dwell among us, and I thank you for this Advent season in which I am able to prayerfully ponder all that You have done for me. Please make this last week before Christmas a time of true preparation in which I prayerfully ponder the amazing reality of Your Incarnation. May this last week of preparation not be wasted but, rather, used as a foundation for a glorious and prayerful celebration of the holy gift of Christmas. 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: Virgin and Child By Giovanni Battista Salvi da Sassoferrato, via Wikimedia Commons

Scripture Lesson - John 8:2-9 Rev. Kevin Long

Christmas was and is troubling to the routine of life. No one apart from the interruption of the angels would have known of this birth of the Christ Child.

It's the third week of Advent and our characters this week are the Shepherds. These were outcasts, the poorest on the fringe of society, yet they were the first to hear of the birth of the Christ Child. Why were they chosen? What do we learn about how to treat others by looking at the shepherds? Who around us needs to be seen and needs the kindness of Christmas?

Read OnlineThe crowds asked John the Baptist, “What should we do?” Luke 3:10Among those within the crowds who were asking Saint John the Baptist this question were tax collectors, soldiers and ordinary people. John gave an answer to them all, first telling them to turn away from the sins that they struggled with the most. Sin takes on many forms and often is closely associated with our daily duties in life. Some sins are sins of commission, meaning sins we commit by an intentional act. Some sins are those of omission, meaning a lack of certain virtues or a failure to do what we ought to do.After addressing the particular sins that those in the crowds were struggling with, John then turns their attention to Christ. He states to them that “​​one mightier than I is coming” and that “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” In other words, John was giving the people a twofold command. First, work to overcome sin. And second, turn your eyes to Him Who is coming to you. Repenting from sin is not enough. Once we repent, we must then fill the void within our souls with the presence of Christ.Advent, just like Lent, is an important time within our liturgical year to heed these messages. Though it's true that we must work to overcome sin and turn to Christ every day of the year, God knows we need a special time each year when we give concerted effort to these spiritual endeavors. So before Advent passes you by, heed the words of the Baptist and take some time to examine your conscience thoroughly. Perhaps use a detailed list of the Ten Commandments or the Seven Capital Sins. Once you do that, seek out an opportunity to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Doing so is essential to a fruitful Advent season.Once you thoroughly repent of the sins you struggle with the most right now, turn to the Savior of the World with special attentiveness to the miracle of the Incarnation this Advent. Spend time adoring the God Who came to us in the form of a little child. Meditate on this Gift. Gaze at a nativity scene prayerfully. Read the Scripture passages about the birth of Christ. Close your eyes and imagine yourself there at His birth.Reflect, today, upon this twofold exhortation from John and apply it to your Advent preparations. Cleanse your soul in a special way from all sin this Advent. Then prayerfully ponder and meditate upon the reality we are preparing to celebrate. As John says, allow the Christ Child to truly “baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” through your deepening devotion and prayer this Advent. My dear Jesus, please help me to see my sins as You see them. Help me to be attentive to every sinful action I commit and even those smaller sins of omission. As I ponder my sin, please draw me to Your mercy and grace so that I can then open the eyes of my soul more deeply to see You and to adore You more completely this Advent. 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: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand!", via flickr

11th December, 2024 – Fr. Billy talks about Advent and the penitential aspect of the season and also discusses the historical aspect of Jesus' life.  God bridges the gap between Him and humanity in the Christ Child. L'articolo RM Breakfast Show – Fr Billy Swan – Advent; the Penitential and Historical Aspects proviene da Radio Maria.

Scripture Lesson - John 4:1-26 Rev. Kevin Long

Welcome to the Magnify Book Club! This month's pick was The Christ Child by Adam Miller. Every other month, our community also does a public Zoom where you—yes you!—can join in and participate. This month it was hosted by author and Magnify contributor Melinda Brown. We decided to post the recording as a bonus episode where you can hear the host and members of our community jump in and share their thoughts on the book.

Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe – Day 3 Mother of God, your ribboned sash identified you as a pregnant woman, a woman who bore the Christ Child to a world in darkness and who through two millennia has borne the light and love of Christ to a world that has largely rejected Him. May ... Read more The post Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe – Day 3 – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

"All we have to do is open up our lives in small ways to receive the Christ Child again. To say yes like Mary. To let our plans be turned upside down like Joseph. To welcome even the strangest of nudges in prayer, like the call to do less — to stop rushing, slow down, and seek the voice of the God we wait to welcome again.If you care to join me on the couch this Advent, feel free to shove aside whatever mess you find and make yourself comfortable. Slowly, quietly, surely, God will meet us right where we are, all over again."Leave a comment for Laura: https://incourage.me/?p=250004--Whether you're looking for the perfect gift to place under the tree or a little something special for yourself, DaySpring's Cyber Week Sales will not disappoint. From inspirational books and practical planners to faith-filled decor and mugs with meaningful messages and more... there's something for everyone on your list. Shop dayspring.com and make the most of Cyber Week savings - and use code PODCAST10 to save $10 on your purchase!! Hurry, sales end Monday, December 10.The (in)courage podcast is brought to you by DaySpring. For over 50 years, DaySpring has created quality cards, books, and gifts that help you live your faith. Find out more at DaySpring.com.Connect with (in)courage: Facebook & Instagram for daily encouragement, videos, and more! Website for the (in)courage library, to meet our contributors, and to access the archives. Email us at incourage@dayspring.com. Leave a podcast review on Apple!

Fr. Mitch welcomes Abouna Elias Yazbeck, fellow Maronite Priest, to talk about bringing the light of the Christ Child to our communities as we celebrate the Advent Season.

This sermon by Pastor Matt Morgan is meant to inspire hope and anticipation throughout the Advent season as we prepare to remember the arrival of the Christ Child, and we continue to look forward to Christ making all things new in his return. Join us throughout the Advent Season as we focus on the themes of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. 

Carmen LaBerge opens the Monday Mailbag to answer a group of questions around why the magi travelled from a distant land to look for the new born King of Israel. Political scientist Daniel Bennett, author of "Uneasy Citizenship," talks around a variety of issues, including the problem of many children's sports leagues scheduling on Sunday mornings, leading to many kids and families missing worship time.  Faith Radio podcasts are made possible by your support. Give now: Click here

Scripture Lesson John 5:1-9 Rev. Kevin Long

In Advent we prepare for the coming of the Christ Child at Christmas. Jesus, who found no room in the inn at Bethlehem, can find room in our souls and our lives if we prepare well for his coming. Making room for Jesus means clearing other things out, finding time for prayer, and welcoming him in others. 

We wrapped up our Lift Up Your Heart events last weekend. It felt so uplifting to interact with women in our community. President Nelson asked us to "seek and expect miracles," and because we've been focusing on the miracles of peace, joy, courage, faith, and hope, they've become more prevalent in our every day. A goal here at Magnify is to build our community, so in this episode, you'll hear podcast host Courtney Spencer and producer Sarah Collins grab soundbites from both audience members and Lift Up Your Heart speakers share how they're seeking and expecting miracles.   Register for the Zoom book club where we'll be reading The Christ Child by Adam Miller. It will be hosted by contributor Melinda Brown.

Magnify just announced our book club pick for November and December and it's The Christ Child by Adam Miller. And this book will make your Christmas. If you're looking for that thing that will bring you that "Christmasy" feeling you love during this season, this is just the thing. This book takes us on a meditative and poetic journey to answer the question, “why did Christ come to earth as a baby?” It's all about how we can become more like the Savior by becoming more like a child—and those attributes that go along with it.   Podcast producer Sarah Collins is joined by BYU professor and philosopher Dr. Katie Paxman.   Join us for the book club Zoom where you can join in the dialogue with host Mindy Brown! December 5th at 7:00pm MT. https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMud-mrrDkvHN1uEb4tBB8uFOzpSMDPLtWC#/registration   Register for our final Lift Up Your Heart event in Salt Lake City on November 22nd and 23rd. As a podcast listener, use code PODCAST10 at checkout for $10 off per registration.* https://www.magnifythegood.com/events *Does not work on already applied group discount.

Reading Luke 2:15-20 where the shepherds go to find the baby Jesus just as the angel had told them, and they share the good news with others and praise God for what they have seen. Visit wwut.com for all our videos!

Read OnlineTurning to the disciples in private he said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.” Luke 10:23–24Imagine seeing Jesus in person. What would that have been like? What would it have been like to see Him, listen to Him preach, witness His miracles and spend time sitting with Him quietly? The experience of being with Him as He walked the earth would have been determined by the depth of interior sight you had. There were many who saw Jesus but rejected Him, and even killed Him. Clearly, they did not have the interior eyes of faith to see Him for Who He was. Others left everything behind to follow Him. Clearly, they perceived Who He was in His divine soul through the gift of faith.As Jesus states above, the disciples were blessed to see Him. Many prophets and kings of old desired to see the Messiah. Century after century, the prophecies about the coming of the Messiah would have left many with much anticipation and hope that they would be among those blessed to see Him. Recall, for example, Simeon the prophet who waited his whole life to see the Christ Child. Then, when Mary and Joseph brought the Child Jesus into the Temple to present Him to the Lord, Simeon took the Child into his hands and proclaimed, “Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel” (Luke 2:29–32). Indeed, Simeon, the disciples, and all who encountered Jesus as He walked the earth were truly blessed. They were blessed to see the Son of God with their own eyes.Jesus proclaimed the eyes of the disciples to be blessed for seeing Him. However, if He were to speak to us today, He would proclaim us doubly blessed. We do not see Him in physical form, walking the earth. But we are able to perceive Him in a way that even Simeon did not experience in His life. Simeon saw the Savior of the World with his eyes, present in human form. But today, we are able to see Him in an even more profound way. By the gift of grace and the indwelling of God, we are able to look within our own souls and discover the true presence of God living within us.One might argue that seeing Jesus with your eyes is preferable to seeing His divine presence within your soul. But is it? Certainly not. Again, recall that there were many who saw Jesus with their eyes but did not recognize Him as God. Today, we are privileged to perceive the presence of Christ in our world in the deepest way possible. He came to live within us. He came to possess us. He came to unite Himself with us in a union so deep that it transforms us completely, making us into His very body.If it took faith to see the divinity of Jesus when He walked the earth, it will also take faith to see His true presence within us. Our sins cloud His presence. Our lack of faith makes it hard to see Him there. But God is alive within every soul that is in a state of grace, and it must be our ongoing duty to discover His indwelling presence and to be with Him within. In her spiritual masterpiece, “Interior Castles,” Saint Teresa of Ávila explains that the infinite God does dwell within us. It is our duty to enter into the most secret core of our being, the most interior castle, navigating through our many sins, so that we will enter the deepest center where the fullness of the great King dwells.Reflect, today, upon Jesus' words spoken to the disciples: “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.” Know that this statement applies even more to you. Seek to have the eyes of faith so that you can perceive the true presence of the Savior of the World living within your own soul. Seek Him out, gaze at Him with love, bask in His divine presence and allow that presence to overshadow you, transforming you into the person God wants you to be.My indwelling Lord, I am blessed beyond belief by Your divine presence dwelling within me. Please open my eyes to see You and my ears to hear You so that I will be able to dwell with You Who have come to dwell in me. 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: Stained glass showing Jesus blessing a man By CURAphotography, via Adobe

Fifth week of the Element3 Church series “Jesus The Christ" Message slides available at element3.org/slid