Podcast appearances and mentions of John the Baptist

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Today's shout-out goes to Michael Mitchell from Jacksonville, FL. Your partnership with us through Project23 helps keep God's Word at the center of lives around the world. This one's for you. Our text today is Mark 9:9-13: And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean. And they asked him, "Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?" And he said to them, "Elijah does come first to restore all things. And how is it written of the Son of Man that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt? But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him." — Mark 9:9-13 The mountaintop moment is over. And as Jesus, Peter, James, and John descend, Jesus gives them strict orders: "Tell no one—until the Son of Man has risen from the dead." What a strange instruction. You've just seen a divine vision—and now you're told to stay silent? But Jesus isn't hiding the truth. He's timing it. Some revelations only make sense after the resurrection. The disciples obey—maybe because they just heard the audible voice of God. But they're confused: “Rising from the dead?” they whisper. “What does that even mean?” Then comes the question that shows their hope and misunderstanding: “Why do the scribes say Elijah must come first?” They were still hoping for a victorious Messiah—one who would conquer, rule, and restore. They knew Malachi 4 said Elijah would come before the “great and awesome day of the Lord.” But they didn't realize that day would come through suffering, not strength. Jesus affirms that Elijah did come—John the Baptist filled that role. And how was he received? Rejected. Mocked. Killed. And Jesus makes it clear—the same will happen to him. The road to glory runs through grief. The path to resurrection winds through rejection. Rejection by the world doesn't mean rejection by God. It may mean you're right where you're supposed to be. Like the disciples, we want crowns without crosses. Glory without grief. But Jesus never promised that. He promised resurrection—and resurrection always follows death. So trust him in the mystery. Even when it hurts. Even when it's quiet. Even when it doesn't make sense. Because when God says, “Not yet,” He's not always saying, “Never.” He's just saying, “Wait—it's not time… yet.” #NotYetDoesntMeanNever, #TrustHisTiming, #Project23 ASK THIS: What “not yet” have you been hearing from God lately? How do you typically respond when God's plan confuses you? Have you ever experienced rejection while doing God's will? How can remembering Jesus' path through suffering change your perspective today? DO THIS: Write down one area in your life where God feels silent or slow. Pray over it today—and say aloud, “Not yet doesn't mean never.” PRAY THIS: Father, I trust you—even when I don't understand your timing. Help me follow Jesus through rejection and believe in the promise of resurrection. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Though You Slay Me"

Gospel Reading: Matthew 16:13-19At that time, when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do men say that the Son of man is?" And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

June 29, 2025 Today's Reading: Matthew 16:13-19Daily Lectionary: Joshua 4:1-24; Acts 9:23-43“Simon Peter replied, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.'” (Matthew 16:16)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.What's the point of Peter's confession? He gets it right. Jesus is not just a reincarnated Moses or Elijah. He's not just another religious figure with good ideas on how to be kind to one another. Jesus asks His disciples, “Who am I?” not to trap them but to reveal to them who He is. Peter confesses that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, the one all of Scripture points to as the one who will save and deliver God's people. There's more to it than that, though, more to Peter's confession than even Peter realizes.This confession is one that is seen with eyes of faith. It's the confession that the church, the baptized community, makes every Sunday in the Creed. It is your and my confession when we remember our baptisms: that we are united to Jesus, the Christ, the Son of the Living God who saved us from our sins. Peter is not handed the keys to the “pope mobile” here to guide the church in confessing. No, friends, this is the beginning of Peter's confession—or rather, his struggle against his own flesh to continue to confess boldly in season and out of season.And then there's Paul. Paul is the persecutor turned pastor to the Gentiles, whose ministry is defined by suffering as Jesus suffered, for the sake of the Gospel and being content in all things. Paul's confession was all things to all people. Not sacrificing the substance or truth, but truly embodying that Christ Jesus, the Son of the Living God, came into the world to save sinners “of whom I am the foremost” (1 Timothy 1:15).Confession of who Jesus is matters. He's not Moses or Elijah or John the Baptist. He is the Christ who took on our flesh and came into the world. The Son of the Living God to save you that this might be revealed to all who hear His Word and open their eyes of faith as Peter's and Paul's were. When you stand and confess the Creed, you see those witnesses around you but know that there's a whole host of witnesses saying it who have gone before you. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Merciful and eternal God, Your holy apostles Peter and Paul received grace and strength to lay down their lives for the sake of your Son. Strengthen us by your Holy Spirit that we may confess Your truth and at all times be ready to lay down our lives for the one who laid down His life for us, even Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.- Justin Chester is a seminary student at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, IN.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.In Clarifying the Great Commission, Rev. Daniel Christian Voth identifies common omissions from our collective understanding of Jesus' farewell discourse—omissions that turn Christ's promises of forgiveness, life, and salvation into a legalistic command. Come and discover a richer understanding of The Great Commission.

Saturday, 28 June 2025   For this is he of whom it is written: ‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.'  Matthew 11:10   “For this, he is about whom it has been written, ‘Behold, I, I send My messenger before Your face, who, he will prepare Your way before you'” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus told the people that they had gone out into the wilderness to see more than a prophet. Now, He continues that thought, saying, “For this, he is about whom it has been written.”   As noted in the previous commentary, this means that a specific prophecy was written about John. Thus, in this instance, he is the subject and fulfillment of the prophecy. The Lord, seeing the ministry of John as a precursor to the coming of Christ, spoke of him.   But He did not only do it through Isaiah as noted in the previous verse. He also spoke of John through the words of Malachi, saying, “Behold, I, I send My messenger.”   The words come from Malachi 3:1, where the Lord speaks first of John as a messenger and then Jesus as the Messenger of the covenant –   “‘Behold Me – Sending My messenger, And turned way to My faces And instantly comes unto His temple, The Lord, whom you seek, And Messenger the covenant, Whom you – delighted. Behold! Coming!' Said Yehovah Sabaoth.” Malachi 3:1 (CG)   John is the messenger sent by the Lord. His ministry was to be “before Your face.”   In other words, another is being referred to by the Lord. It was understood from the prophecy that this would be Israel's Messiah. By taking these words and combining them with the other prophecy about John from Isaiah, a logical deduction can be made –   “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God.'” Isaiah 40:3   From these words, the One John was to prepare the way for, was the Lord, Yehovah. Malachi says, “before Your face” concerning the Messiah. Thus, unless one denies a literal reading of the text, it can be deduced that the “Your” is referring to Yehovah. That continues to be seen in the words, “who, he will prepare Your way before you.”   The same word, panah, that is used in Isaiah 40:3 is used in Malachi 3:1. It signifies to turn. In this particular sense, the turning is a form of preparation. Taking both verses and understanding the reference, meaning that of John the Baptist and his work of preparing the way for another, it is understood that he is the herald of the Messiah, who is Yehovah incarnate.   This was the greatness of the ministry of John, and it is one of the reasons why Jesus says that he is more than a prophet. His role in the stream of redemptive history is unparalleled in comparison to any other prophet.   Life application: If you are on the sidelines in your thinking concerning Jesus' deity, you should probably question your salvation. You may have believed in Jesus, but which Jesus were you presented with?   The Jehovah's Witnesses deny the incarnation of Christ. The Jesus they proclaim is not the Jesus of the Bible. The same is true with Mormonism. These heresies, along with other teachings concerning Jesus' deny the truth that Jesus is God incarnate.   However, Scripture clearly presents Him as such. In fact, from an honest reading of competently translated Scriptures, one will come to no other conclusion than the Bible reveals that God would personally intervene in the stream of human existence and restore humanity to Himself.   This may not be fully understood by the reader, but it is a truth that should not be denied. Not fully understanding something does not necessarily equate to unbelief. Paul not only speaks of “another gospel” in Galatians 1:7, but he also refers to both another gospel and “another Jesus” in 2 Corinthians 11:4.   Belief in a false gospel will result in a false security based on a false salvation experience. The gospel conveys the truth that God incarnate, Jesus Christ, accomplished all that is necessary for salvation. Believe this and be saved.   O God, we believe that You united with humanity to restore us to Yourself. We may not understand all that means, but we accept it by faith. You have done it! Thank You, O God, for the coming of Jesus Christ our Lord to redeem us and give us eternal life in You. Amen.  

The Two Most Important Days in Our Lives: Birth and Purpose The Homily focuses on the significance of the Nativity of John the Baptist, . . . . . . one of only three birthdays celebrated in the Catholic liturgical calendar (the others being Jesus Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary). The Homily highlights John's miraculous birth through the prayers of his elderly parents, his divine calling from the womb, and his faithful fulfillment of his life's purpose: to prepare the way for Christ and bear witness to the truth. There are Two Crucial Days in Each Person's Life The Homily also emphasizes the importance of discovering our God-given purpose, recalling that there are two crucial days in each person's life . . . the day we are born and the day we understand why. Through John's example, the homily invites us to seek their purpose in God's plan and to live it out with humility and faithfulness. Listen to: The Two Most Important Days in Our Lives: Birth and Purpose --------------------------------------------------------------------- Quote From The Homily And that is why there is this great saying, which says, there are two days true, important days in our life. The first one is when we are born. The second one is when we realize why we were born. The second one is when we realize the purpose that God has set for us and we start journeying towards that. --------------------------------------------------------------------- The Birth of Saint John the Baptist: Sanish Artist: Bartolomé Estebán Murillo: 1655 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Gospel Reading: Luke 1: 57-66, 80 First Reading: Isaiah 49: 1-6

Please note that the 1st part is in English, and the 2nd part is in Malayalam starting 16:28  mark.Luke 1:1-25 and 67-80 -John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus, is a significant person in many ways.  His parents, the prophecy about him, birth, name, life style, the baptism he did, his message to the world, and death are very significant in the Bible. He is a martyr who was killed because he stood for  truth and the law.The prophecy about John the Baptist made seven centuries before his birth that he would be the forerunner of Christ came true.  His birth, his righteousness, his testimony about Jesus, and his death proves that God will carry out His plans in miraculous ways.  The world may not accept our righteousness, but heaven receives those who dedicate their lives for truth and justice. We just need to be bold and truthful like John the Baptist.  We will get blessed. My name... Cicilysunny@gmail.com

Matthew 16:13-19 - Now … Jesus … asked His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

Mother Miriam explores the unique honor the Church gives to the birth of St. John the Baptist, Christ's forerunner and model of penitential holiness. She contrasts his life of self-denial with today's culture of indulgence, urging gratitude for the grace of baptism. Responding to a listener's email, she also dives into a candid discussion on the charismatic movement, weighing the gift of tongues, “baptism in the spirit,” and warnings from Bishop Athanasius Schneider and Fr. Chad Ripperger. With clarity and care, she calls listeners to test the spirits, cling to tradition, and pursue holiness through humility.U.S. residents! Create a will with LifeSiteNews: https://www.mylegacywill.com/lifesitenews ****PROTECT Your Wealth with gold, silver, and precious metals: https://stjosephpartners.com/lifesitenews+++SHOP ALL YOUR FUN AND FAVORITE LIFESITE MERCH! https://shop.lifesitenews.com/ ****Download the all-new LSNTV App now, available on iPhone and Android!LSNTV Apple Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/lsntv/id6469105564 LSNTV Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lifesitenews.app +++Connect with John-Henry Westen and all of LifeSiteNews on social media:LifeSite: https://linktr.ee/lifesitenews John-Henry Westen: https://linktr.ee/jhwesten Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Today's shout-out goes to Mark Maple from Kokomo, IN. Your partnership with us through Project 23 is helping people find the answer to the most important question that still demands an answer. This study is for you. Our text today is Mark 8:27-30: And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" And they told him, "John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets." And he asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered him, "You are the Christ." And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him. — Mark 8:27-30 Jesus comes with his disciples to Caesarea Philippi—a place known for temples, idols, and false gods. And in the shadow of this spiritual confusion, he asks the most defining question of all time: "Who do people say that I am?" They answer with the popular responses. It's what all the headlines proclaim: "John the Baptist. Elijah. A prophet." Opinions swirled then, just like now. But then Jesus turns to the more personal question: "But who do you say that I am?" This isn't a theology test. It's a heart check. It's not about reciting what others believe. It's about declaring their beliefs. And Peter, with clarity and courage, answers: "You are the Christ." The Anointed One. The Messiah. The fulfillment of every promise. Peter was right to answer this way because this is the most important question he would ever answer. But it's also the most important question we could ever be asked and respond to: "Who do you say Jesus is?" And when asked, you can't hide behind a parent's faith. Or echo your pastor's voice. Or repeat what Christian culture says. Eventually, you must give your answer. Not just with words—but with your life. If Jesus is truly the Messiah, then he must be the Lord of all. Not just a one-time Savior. Not just a once-in-a-while helper. Not just there to rescue you from your mistakes. But Lord of all you life. Lord of your time. Lord of your thoughts. Lord of your decisions. And you must serve him. This confession would alter the rest of Peter's life. And it will change yours, too. But Jesus cannot just be a one-time Savior. He must be a Lord who has complete leadership of your life. If you question the answer to the question—surrender it all to him today. #JesusIsLord, #Mark8Devotional, #ChristConfession ASK THIS: How would you answer Jesus' question today? Why do people hesitate to call Jesus the Christ? In what areas of your life is Jesus not yet King? What does it look like to confess Christ with action, not just words? DO THIS: Write your answer to Jesus' question: “Who do you say that I am?” Then, pray it out loud. PRAY THIS: Jesus, You are the Christ—my Savior and King. Help me live today in a way that reflects that confession with boldness and faith. Amen. PLAY THIS: “Christ Is Enough.”

Let’s listen to a historical and spiritual analyses of John the Baptist’s role as the Voice crying out in the Wilderness. Enjoy this Presentation. E124. John the Baptist books available at https://amzn.to/3LCfQy1 Gospel of Matthew available at https://amzn.to/3LEeP8F ENJOY Ad-Free content, Bonus episodes, and Extra materials when joining our growing community on https://patreon.com/markvinet SUPPORT this channel by purchasing any product on Amazon using this FREE entry LINK https://amzn.to/3POlrUD (Amazon gives us credit at NO extra charge to you). Mark Vinet's HISTORY OF NORTH AMERICA podcast: www.parthenonpodcast.com/history-of-north-america Mark's TIMELINE Video channel: https://youtube.com/c/TIMELINE_MarkVinet Website: https://markvinet.com/podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mark.vinet.9 Twitter: https://twitter.com/HistoricalJesu Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/denarynovels Mark's books: https://amzn.to/3k8qrGM Audio Credit: Hearing Jesus podcast with Rachael Groll, episode 381: Preparing the Way (Life Audio, Salem Web Network). Audio excerpts reproduced under the Fair Use (Fair Dealings) Legal Doctrine for purposes such as criticism, comment, teaching, education, scholarship, research and news reporting. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another great story from the first chapter of Luke. Today, we see Mary go to Elizabeth. We have this wonderful image of the unborn John the Baptist leaping in the womb in the presence of the unborn Jesus. The Spirit falls on Elizabeth, and she pronounces blessings. Blessings on Jesus and on Mary, as well as on Mary's faith. Mary had made the right choice, had done what God required and asked. She was faithful. But that encouragement still had to feel nice. Let's not admire from a distance. Let's speak the words of encouragement to each other when we have the chance to speak them. Shameless plug: here's a link to Method(ist) to the Madness, our new, hopefully entertaining podcast about church history. - https://methodisttothemadness.buzzsprout.com/Join us for our daily reflections with Andy. In 10 short minutes, he'll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help you better understand God's Word.You can read today's passage here - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%201%3A%2039-45&version=NRSVUEClick here if you'd like to join our GroupMe and receive this each morning at 7:00 a.m. CST. - https://groupme.com/join_group/107837407/vtYqtb6CYou can watch this in video form here - https://revandy.org/blog/

Zechariah's prophetic words celebrating John the Baptist's birth should give us hope today.Reading Plan: Old Testament - 2 Kings 5-6Psalms - Psalm 77:1-9Gospels - Luke 1:67-80New Testament - 2 Corinthians 10:7-18Visit https://www.revivalfromthebible.com/ for more information.

Why were people so drawn to John the Baptist, and why he is considered the forerunner of Jesus Christ? E123. Dan Snow's History Hit podcast at podcasthttps://amzn.to/4feSBb7 The Immerser: John the Baptist by Joan Taylor at https://amzn.to/3LEQrE4 John the Baptist books available at https://amzn.to/3LCfQy1 Gospel of Luke available at https://amzn.to/3M6sTId Gospel of Matthew available at https://amzn.to/3LEeP8F ENJOY Ad-Free content, Bonus episodes, and Extra materials when joining our growing community on https://patreon.com/markvinet SUPPORT this channel by purchasing any product on Amazon using this FREE entry LINK https://amzn.to/3POlrUD (Amazon gives us credit at NO extra charge to you). Mark Vinet's HISTORY OF NORTH AMERICA podcast: www.parthenonpodcast.com/history-of-north-america Mark's TIMELINE Video channel: https://youtube.com/c/TIMELINE_MarkVinet Website: https://markvinet.com/podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mark.vinet.9 Twitter: https://twitter.com/HistoricalJesu Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/denarynovels Mark's books: https://amzn.to/3k8qrGM Audio Credit: Dan Snow's History Hit podcast 23jun2024 (Episode 1463: John the Baptist with Joan Taylor, professor of Christian Origins and Second Temple Judaism at King's College London). Audio excerpts reproduced under the Fair Use (Fair Dealings) Legal Doctrine for purposes such as criticism, comment, teaching, education, scholarship, research and news reporting.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

St. John the Baptist prepared the way for the coming of Christ how do we prepare the way for Christ coming? How do we prepare for Mass? Listen to my homily to learn more.

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Patrick Madrid takes on a question that a lot of Catholics wrestle with today... "Can I go to a wedding that’s not valid in the eyes of the Church?" Think: same-sex weddings, remarriages without annulments, Catholics marrying outside the Church, etc... Now, Patrick’s not into the “grin and bear it, go anyway for family unity” thing. His gold standard is St. John the Baptist, who literally lost his head rather than support an invalid marriage. But the heart of the episode? A powerful letter from a grandma to her granddaughter, explaining why she can't attend her wedding...not out of hate, but out of deep, eternal, radical LOVE. Let’s just say this is the kind of letter that leaves a mark. THE LETTER: Dear sweet granddaughter, I love you and that will never change. But part of loving you is caring more for your eternal soul than your perceived temporary happiness. I wouldn't be loving you the way Christ calls me to love you if I attend something that celebrates your open rebellion against God, which will lead to His wrath being brought down upon you. Colossians 3:6 says that because of things like sexual immorality, 'the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience.' I love you so much that I want you to be saved from God's wrath. Therefore, I can't participate in a celebration that demonstrates how you deserve it. You may not see this as love right now because I'm sure my words hurt. Do you remember the time you ran into the street as a child when cars were coming? I swept you up and spanked you as a reminder to not run into the street. You didn't like that at the time. It hurt you and you weren't real happy with me in that moment. You didn’t speak to me for a little while and that wasn’t easy on a grandmother’s heart. I know my actions didn't feel loving to you in that moment, but they were out of a deeper love for you than you could understand. The pain you experienced was meant to be a warning that if you run in the street you're going to die. Would it have been more loving to watch you run in the street just because you thought it was fun and gave you momentary happiness? Some will tell you that my absence at this ceremony is a lack of love and shows that I'm just judgmental. Nothing could be further from the truth. As painful as it will be for both of us, my absence is to communicate to you how MUCH I love you. I love you so much that I'm willing to sacrifice some aspects of our temporal relationship for your eternal well-being. The street you’re about to run into is far more deadly than the one you ran into that afternoon when you were a child. No one would've called me loving if I had just sat there and watched you then. Those people would’ve been right if I had watched you then, and I would be wrong to watch you now. I cannot sit there and watch you play in a far more dangerous street. I wish I could sweep you up and pull you out of this current street. But you’re no longer a little child; you’re a grown woman and have to make your own choices. But the consequences of running in this current street are far more dangerous than the street you ran into as a child. I can’t sweep you up and pull you out now, but I also can’t sit and just watch you run into oncoming traffic. I believe my presence could be far more dangerous to you than my absence. I fear that my presence might communicate to you that the street you're playing in isn't as bad as it really is. If this causes a separation between us, my grandmother's heart will hurt. But my love as a Christian grandmother must rise above my familial emotions. I pray my absence will cause you to realize how dangerous your choice is and that any separation between us doesn’t even begin to compare to being eternally separated from God. At celebrations, I want to smile, laugh, and have tears of joy. If I attend this ceremony, none of those things would be possible. I don’t want to sit there downcast and crying tears of sadness. So, when you look out and see my absence, I want you to know that I am not sitting at home angry or in a judgmental spirit. I will be home weeping, praying, and asking God to open your eyes to your sin and bring you to repentance. This is not because I think I’m better than you. I am as much in need of God's saving grace as you are. I too once played in the street of sin and thought I was okay. I thought that because God’s wrath had not yet poured down on me that it never would. I mistook God’s kindness to withhold His immediate wrath as tacit approval of me. What I didn’t know was that God’s kindness to withhold His wrath, that I deserved to be immediately poured out upon me, was meant to lead me to repentance. And God loved me enough to send someone into my life to tell me the truth about my sin so that I might be saved from His coming wrath. Someone loved me enough to confront me, help me see my sin for what it is, and share the gospel with me. They warned me of God’s coming wrath. They showed me how God sent His Son Jesus to die in my place upon the cross and pay for my sins. They told me how Jesus not only died, but He rose again from the grave and defeated death so that I could be delivered from the penalty of death that I deserved because of my sin. And they told me I needed to turn from sin and turn to Jesus as my Lord and Savior. You’ve heard me tell you this truth since you were a child. How many times did I tuck you in and tell you of the love of Jesus and quote John 3:16? I continue to beg you to turn from your sin and come to Jesus. Whatever perceived happiness you feel in that ceremony and the relationship you're in will be fleeting. But if you turn from your sin and come to Christ for salvation, you will receive eternal peace and joy that no one can take from you. If you go forward with this ceremony, I won’t be in that room. But I will always love you and be longing for you to turn from sin and come to Christ for salvation. The truth is, I love you so much that I won’t lie to you, either directly or indirectly, about the dangers of playing in the street of sin. Know that I love you and will long for the day when you see my actions as being like Jesus - to seek and to save the lost. In true loving affection, Nana Patrick was blown away by the letter. He noted that while the letter didn’t specify the exact situation, it could apply to: -A same-sex "wedding" -A remarriage after divorce with no annulment -A Catholic marrying outside the Church without following the canonical form Whatever the case, the core truth remains: Real love doesn’t play nice with lies. Real love tells the truth, even when it costs something. Patrick reminded you of1 John 4:18: “Perfect love casts out fear.” This grandma is fearless. She’s not afraid to hurt feelings to save a soul. That is perfect love.

Morning Prayer for Tuesday, June 24, 2025 (The Nativity of John the Baptist; Proper 7).Psalm and Scripture readings (60-day Psalter):Psalms 127-1281 Thessalonians 2:17-3:13Matthew 14:1-13⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to access the text for the Daily Office at DailyOffice2019.com.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to support The Daily Office Podcast with a one-time gift or a recurring donation.

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for the Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist by Mr. Clement Harrold. Nativity of John the Baptist Solemnity First Reading: Isaiah 49: 1-6 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 139: 1b-3, 13-14ab, 14c-15 Second Reading: Acts 13: 22-26 Alleluia: Luke 1: 76 Gospel: Luke 1: 57-66, 80   Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

The birth of John the Baptist begins his extraordinary ministry where he prepares the people for the coming of our savior, Jesus Christ. (Lectionary #586) June 24, 2025 - Cathedral Rectory - Superior, WI Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com  

The wonderful story of the Forerunner's conception and birth is told in the first chapter of the Gospel according to Luke. Together with the Most Holy Theotokos and Christ Himself, both his conception and his birth are commemorated as Feasts of the Church. His name, Johanan in Hebrew, means "The Lord is Gracious."   The Prologue adds: "The news of the angel's appearing to Zacharias, of his dumbness and of the loosening of his tongue at the exact moment that he wrote 'John', was carried throughout all Israel, coming to Herod's ears. So, when he sent men to kill all the infants around Bethlehem, he sent men off to Zacharias' family house in the hills, to slay John also. But Elisabeth hid the child in good time. The king was enraged at this, and sent an executioner to the Temple to kill Zacharias (for it was then his turn to serve in the Temple again). Zacharias was killed between the court and the Temple, and his blood clotted and solidified on the paving slabs, and remained as an enduring witness against Herod. Elisabeth hid herself and the child in a cave, where she soon died. The young John remained in the wilderness alone, in the care of God and His angels." See September 5

Jesus answers questions from followers of John the Baptist, and weaves Old Testament Truth into real time action, showing that the mission of the Christ is nothing the Darkness was expecting.  -also to our UK listeners please be nice to Rose while she visits y'all... if she's misbehaving feel free to send her back.  

Full Text of ReadingsSolemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist Lectionary: 586, 587The Saint of the day is Nativity of Saint John the BaptistSaint John the Baptist's Story Jesus called John the greatest of all those who had preceded him: “I tell you, among those born of women, no one is greater than John….” But John would have agreed completely with what Jesus added: “[Y]et the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he” (Luke 7:28). John spent his time in the desert, an ascetic. He began to announce the coming of the Kingdom, and to call everyone to a fundamental reformation of life. His purpose was to prepare the way for Jesus. His baptism, he said, was for repentance. But one would come who would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. John was not worthy even to untie his sandals. His attitude toward Jesus was: “He must increase; I must decrease” (John 3:30). John was humbled to find among the crowd of sinners who came to be baptized the one whom he already knew to be the Messiah. “I need to be baptized by you” (Matthew 3:14b). But Jesus insisted, “Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:15b). Jesus, true and humble human as well as eternal God, was eager to do what was required of any good Jew. Jesus thus publicly entered the community of those awaiting the Messiah. But making himself part of that community, he made it truly messianic. The greatness of John, his pivotal place in the history of salvation, is seen in the great emphasis Luke gives to the announcement of his birth and the event itself—both made prominently parallel to the same occurrences in the life of Jesus. John attracted countless people to the banks of the Jordan, and it occurred to some people that he might be the Messiah. But he constantly deferred to Jesus, even to sending away some of his followers to become the first disciples of Jesus. Perhaps John's idea of the coming of the Kingdom of God was not being perfectly fulfilled in the public ministry of Jesus. For whatever reason, when he was in prison he sent his disciples to ask Jesus if he was the Messiah. Jesus' answer showed that the Messiah was to be a figure like that of the Suffering Servant in Isaiah. John himself would share in the pattern of messianic suffering, losing his life to the revenge of Herodias. Reflection John challenges us Christians to the fundamental attitude of Christianity—total dependence on the Father, in Christ. Except for the Mother of God, no one had a higher function in the unfolding of salvation. Yet the least in the kingdom, Jesus said, is greater than he, for the pure gift that the Father gives. The attractiveness as well as the austerity of John, his fierce courage in denouncing evil—all stem from his fundamental and total placing of his life within the will of God. Saint John the Baptist is the Patron Saint of: Baptism Learn more about St. John the Baptist! Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Think the Bible is silent on life in the womb? The story of John the Baptist proves God knew you before your first breath.Morning Offering, June 24, 2025Every morning, join Father Brad as he begins the day with prayer and reflection. In a few short minutes, Father Brad guides you in prayer, shares a brief reflection grounding your day in the Church's rhythm of feast days and liturgy, and provides you with the encouragement necessary to go forward with peace and strength. Disclaimer: The ads shown before, during, or after this video have no affiliation with Morning Offering and are controlled by YouTubeLet us do as the saints urge and begin our days in prayer together so as a community of believers we may join the Psalmist in saying, “In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.” (Psalm 5:3-4)________________

Officiant: Mtr. Lisa Meirow, Psalm(s): Psalm 82, 98, Fr. Wiley Ammons, Old Testament: Malachi 3:1-5, Jeff Boe, First Canticle: 16, Second Canticle: 21, Gospel: John 3:22-30, Mtr. Lisa Meirow. Logo image by Antonio Allegretti, used by permission.

Mother Miriam Live - June 24th, 2025 The Nativity of St John the Baptist Speaking in Tongues and the Problems in the Charismatic Movement

Officiant: Fr. Wiley Ammons, Psalm(s): Psalm 80, Fr. Wiley Ammons, Old Testament: Malachi 4:1-6, Fr. Wiley Ammons, First Canticle: 15, Second Canticle: 17, Gospel: Matthew 11:2-19, Mtr. Lisa Meirow. Logo image by Laura Ammons, used by permission.

Friends of the Rosary,Today, June 24, is the Solemnity of the Nativity of John the Baptist, the precursor and forerunner of the Lord.Along with Jesus and Mary, John the Baptist's nativity is one of the three birthdays on the Church's calendar.John had a special place in God's salvific plan. His conception was a miracle; he was sanctified and cleansed of original sin in the womb of his mother, Elizabeth, at the Visitation.Elizabeth was Mary's cousin and Zachary was a priest of the Temple in Jerusalem. As a baby in the womb, John recognized Jesus' presence in Mary's womb when Mary visited Elizabeth soon after the Annunciation. Both women were pregnant at the same time.The Angel Gabriel had visited Zachary and told him that his wife would bear a child, even though she was already past the childbearing age.John was probably born in Ain-Karim, located southwest of Jerusalem. As a young adult, he lived as a hermit in the Judean desert until approximately A.D. 27.At the age of 30, he began preaching on the banks of the Jordan, calling for repentance and baptizing people in the river's waters.When Jesus came to John to be baptized, John recognized Jesus as the Messiah and baptized Him, saying, “It is I who needs baptism from you.”John the Baptist spent his adult life preparing the way for Jesus, proclaiming that “the Kingdom of Heaven is close at hand.”He preached the baptism of repentance that was necessary to prepare for Christ, the Lamb of God, as he identified Him. He preceded and heralded the Redeemer.John continued to preach after Jesus was baptized, but was imprisoned by Herod Antipas after he denounced the king's adulterous marriage with Herodias, wife of his half-brother Philip.John was beheaded at the request of Salome, daughter of Herodias, dying as a martyr and anticipating Christ Jesus' saving death on the cross.Many came to know Jesus through John, namely the Apostles Andrew and John.Ave Maria!Jesus, I Trust In You!Come, Holy Spirit, come!To Jesus through Mary!Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.Please give us the grace to respond with joy!+ Mikel Amigot w/ María Blanca | RosaryNetwork.com, New YorkEnhance your faith with the new Holy Rosary University app:Apple iOS | New! Android Google Play• ⁠June 24, 2025, Today's Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET

Celebrating The Nativity of Saint John the Baptist in the Church Calendar, June 24, 2025.Our general order and lectionary come from the Book of Common Prayer Daily Office.Psalm 85:7-13Luke 1:57-80Today's song: Be Thou My Vision (Eleanor Hull; Mary Byrne)Playlist of songs from Morning Prayer.If you have a prayer request please ⁠submit it here⁠. Sign up ⁠here⁠ for the email list.Morning Prayer and Worship is a production of Steady Stream Ministries, a 501(c)(3) non profit organization. Thank you for your support. ⁠You can go here to find out more⁠.Get an ad-free feed of the podcast with a monthly contribution of any amount!⁠Join our Facebook group here!⁠Photo by Aa Dil.Advent, Rite TwoBecause you sent your beloved Son to redeem us from sin and death, and to make us heirs in him of everlasting life; that when he shall come again in power and great triumph to judge the world, we may without shame or fear rejoice to behold his appearing. Collect of the DayThe Nativity of Saint John the Baptist, Rite TwoAlmighty God, by whose providence your servant John the Baptist was wonderfully born, and sent to prepare the way of your Son our Savior by preaching repentance: Make us so to follow his teaching and holy life, that we may truly repent according to his preaching; and, following his example, constantly speak the truth, boldly rebuke vice, and patiently suffer for the truth's sake; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Isaiah 49: 1-3, 5-7; Luke 1: 57-68; Haydock Commentary + The Great Commentary of Cornelius a Lapide

June 24th, 2025:  St John the Baptist & the Beautiful Sacrament of Marriage; He Must Increase, I Must Decrease; How did St John the Baptist Resemble Our Lord; St John the Baptist Teaches Us Humility

Scripture Reflection for June 24, 2025: Birth of John the Baptist and the End of Roe by Priests for Life

Daily Dose of Hope June 24, 2025   Scripture - Matthew 16:13-28   Prayer:  Holy God, Thank you for this day and thank you for the ways you provide and care for us.  We rejoice in your powerful and mighty name.  As we read through the Scripture today and reflect on what it means for us, help us hear a new word from you.  Help us set aside the distractions of the day and really listen for your voice.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently doing a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we are covering the second portion of Matthew 16.   Jesus has taken his disciples on a retreat of sorts, and they have traveled away from Judea, further north into Gentile territory.  Maybe it's to get away from the crowds, maybe it's so they can speak more freely.  Caesarea Philippi is pretty far north in Israel.  It was a quiet place at the headwaters of the Jordan River but also a place filled with idol worship and signs of Roman occupation everywhere.  And it's here that Jesus decides he is going to settle his identity with these men.  So he asks each of them, “Who do people say I am?”    Over the two years that the disciples had been with Jesus, people had all kinds of thoughts about who Jesus was.  Some thought he was the precursor to the Messiah, others (like King Herod) thought he was John the Baptist reincarnated, others thought he might be one of the prophets returned.  But Jesus presses them, “who do you say I am?”  Now, it doesn't matter what the others say – who is it you say I am?  That's really the question for all of us, isn't it.  It doesn't matter who others say Jesus is.  If I were to do a man on the street interview right now, I'm sure I'd get all kinds of answers to who is Jesus?  A teacher, a healer, a crazy person, Son of God, the Savior.  But it doesn't matter what others say, what matters is what you believe and what YOU say about Jesus.  And that's what Jesus is asking his disciples.  What do you say about me?  What are you willing to confess about me?  This was really a rubber meets the road question for them, as it is for us.  What are you willing to confess about me, to others, publicly?   Jesus asked all of them but it was Peter who spoke up.  And he says, “You are the Messiah, Son of the Living God.”  The word Messiah means anointed one or God's anointed.  And the term “Messiah” was the Hebrew word for God's anointed, the term “Christ” was the Greek word for it.  Messiah and Christ mean the same thing, different languages.  I know this might come as a surprise to some of us but Christ is not Jesus' last name.  It is a title.  And Peter is giving Jesus this title, you are the Messiah, the anointed one.   What's the big deal with being anointed?  In ancient Israel, when someone was given a position of authority, oil was poured on his head to signify his being set apart for God's service. I Samuel 10:1 is an example, Then Samuel took a flask of olive oil and poured it on Saul's head and kissed him, saying, "Has not the Lord anointed you ruler over his inheritance?  Kings, priests, and prophets were anointed in this way. Anointing was a symbolic act to indicate God's choosing.  Although the literal meaning of anointed refers to the application of oil, it can also refer to being chosen or set apart by God, even if oil is not literally used.  So, Peter is saying you are the anointed one, chosen, set apart by God, the Messiah.   But there is more to this.  Throughout the OT, there are many, many verses that point to the Messiah delivering the Hebrew people from captivity, from pagan kings.  The Jews expected the Messiah to deliver them from Roman occupation via military might.  That was the expectation.  The Christ, the Messiah is the one who God sent to deliver his people, to make things right for them – the one they had been waiting for hundreds of years.  So when Peter says this, you are the Messiah, he probably doesn't quite understand how Jesus is going to deliver them.  No one really got it that the Messiah would be the one to deliver people, not from the Roman occupiers, but from their own sin.    Peter says that Jesus is Messiah but then he says that Jesus is the Son of the living God.  Just to clarify something, in the OT, there are a number of men, particularly prophets, who are called a son of God.  That was not an uncommon title for a Godly man.  But that is not what Peter is saying, Peter says that Jesus is THE son of the living God.    Let's clarify something here because I think we can get confused - Jesus is not God's Son in the sense of a human father and a son. God did not get married and have a son. God did not mate with Mary and, together with her, produce a son. Jesus is God's Son in the sense that He is GOD in human form – John 1:1, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  Keep in mind, the term “Word” is referring to Jesus.  Jesus was there in the beginning.  Jesus was there with God in the beginning.  Jesus was there with God and Jesus is God.  Brain cramping yet?  Let's read v. 14, The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.  So, the “Word”, Jesus, became human and lived among us.  Of course, that is the Christmas story, Jesus became a human being, was born to a woman named Mary, who became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit.  When the angel comes to Mary in Luke and explains the situation, he tells her that this holy one you will give birth to will be called the Son of God.   This clearly separates Jesus from the prophets. He is not a son of God but the Son of the living God.  Jesus walks with a very distinct, specific authority.  I mean, look at his miracles.  He heals people with a word or touch.  He rebukes a storm and it listens to him.  He could read people's minds.  He raises Lazurus from the dead.  He doesn't argue with demons.  Think about it – when Jesus encounters a demon, they tremble.  Colossians 1, The son is the image of the invisible God…  He walks in a distinct, divine authority.  Because he is the Son of the living God – the second person of the Godhead.    So, Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the Living God, and he is Lord.  I didn't count this myself, but I read that Jesus is referred to as Lord almost 300 times in the New Testament.  Lord was the most common title for Jesus in the early church.  Why is that significant?  When the Hebrew Bible, what we call the OT, was translated from Hebrew to Greek, the term Yahweh (which was the Hebrew word for God) was translated to Lord in the NT.  That means, to say that Jesus is Lord is to say that Jesus is God.  It is saying that Jesus is divine – he is God – and Caesar is NOT, a claim that was quite dangerous at the time.    To say that Jesus is Lord means that Jesus has claim over all things; he is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  He is LORD over all things – over the cosmos, over the whole earth, over all nations and their leaders, he is Lord over Vladimir Putin, he is Lord over Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, he is Lord over all the celebrities in Hollywood, he is Lord over Florida and Brandon, he is Lord over each of us.    Now, here is where I'm going to get kind of personal.  At least I'm giving a warning.  What I've found working in ministry is that people like the idea of Jesus as Savior.  Yes, I've said yes to Jesus as my Savior so I'm going to heaven.  That feels good and it should.  But man, do people struggle with this concept that Jesus is Lord.  Because saying Jesus is Lord is one step further.  It's saying that he is Lord over everything and he is Lord over my family and me.  That means, I defer to him in every area of my life.  I trust him with everything.  That means, before I make a decision, I ask Jesus for his will.  It means I have given my job over to him, my children and grandchildren over to him; it means I have given the words I speak, my actions, my thoughts over to Jesus.  My finances belong to him.  That means that tithing isn't an issue because, well, it all belongs to Jesus anyway.  I have no claim on my life.  I belong to Jesus.    I struggled with this for years.  In a culture that tells us that its all about us, how hard WE work, the fruits of our labor, its OUR money, OUR children, OUR lives.  Maybe it sounds weird, but turning over my money to Lord Jesus wasn't that difficult.  I made a decision.  We are supposed to tithe so we are going to do it and I had been around people who tithed for a long time.  What was hard for me was giving my marriage to Jesus, giving my kids to Jesus.  I might have had a bit of a control issue.  And if you have a control issue – teenagers will humble you.  And it was in the midst of some real struggles that I just turned it all over to him.  They are your kids first, Lord.  They were never mine to begin with.  If I make it sounds easy, it isn't but it's life changing.  It's a shift in perspective that really brings a tremendous amount of peace.  Alright, that was pretty important, but so is the next portion of text.  Jesus is beginning to reveal to the disciples that he will die; he will be leaving them.  They aren't quite getting it.  And when they do get a hint of where he is going, Peter isn't happy.  And the Scripture says that Peter took Jesus aside and rebuked him.  Here is where we miss something significant in English.  In the Greek, this word rebuke is much stronger.  Peter is really laying into Jesus here, saying “This is not the way it's going to be.  You are supposed to be the messiah who saves us from the Romans. This is not what we signed up for.”  And Jesus' response to him is interesting.  Jesus rebukes Peter right back, same word in the Greek, and says, “Get behind me, Satan!”  He tells him that he is setting his mind on human things, not on the things of God.  This is one of those moments in Scripture that highlights the vast distance between us and God. Though Jesus is God with us (he was God in human form), we cannot tame him or make him over into our image. We would like a savior who is a winner, and one who makes us winners, but Jesus insists on identifying with the lowliest of losers. He will allow himself to be judged and condemned as a blasphemer by Jewish religious leaders. He will allow himself to be mocked, tortured, and executed as a criminal by the Romans. And that's not all. Jesus actually expects his disciples to follow him on this path of suffering and death.  After telling them that they don't understand the mind of God, he says this very hard thing, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life[f] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.  We tend to think of taking up our cross as dealing with really annoying circumstances.  In Jesus' day, no one thought of beating one's cross as a persistent annoyance or burden. So bearing our cross does not mean we need to have patience with difficult neighbors or coworkers.  Furthermore, Jesus is not talking about the suffering that is part of living in a broken world, things like serious illnesses, broken relationships, and even natural disasters. That isn't what he is talking about.  Nor is he telling us to seek out suffering or martyrdom. We don't have to become monks and live in the desert.  Jesus did not go seeking suffering, although he ended up having to endure it for his mission.  To a person in the first century, the cross meant one thing and one thing only: death by crucifixion. And the Romans made the people who were about to be killed carry their own cross to the execution location.  It was humiliating and horribly painful and the condemned person had no choice but to submit. Bearing one's cross was and is a show of complete and utter submission. A call to bear one's cross as part of following Jesus, then, is a call to be as submitted to Christ as the condemned criminal was to his death.  When Jesus says this, he's claiming authority. Following Christ means disowning the self and giving allegiance to him instead. And it means giving him allegiance down to the very depths of our being.   Are you willing to surrender all to follow Jesus?  What needs to change in your life and thinking to be more consistent with the ways of Jesus Christ? Blessings, Pastor Vicki      

Officiant: Mtr. Lisa Meirow, Psalm(s): Psalm 82, 98, Fr. Wiley Ammons, Old Testament: Malachi 3:1-5, Jeff Boe, First Canticle: 16, Second Canticle: 21, Gospel: John 3:22-30, Mtr. Lisa Meirow

The Morning Blend celebrates the Solemnity of the Birth of John the Baptist. Brenda and Brian enjoy the honey but pass on the locusts. Start your day with great interviews, music and news from Mater Dei Radio.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.

June 24, 2025

PAVING THE WAY HOME:   YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@pavingthewayhome85 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/paving-the-way-home-podcast/id1517252693 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0sywWGWjqXFSErvxOcNeEt?si=jjRM2DjsQvGUJppEQqFS_g   Email: info@pavingthewayhome.com   HOLY FAMILY MISSION If you wish to support the work that Holy Family Mission do, you will find details on how to do so here - https://www.holyfamilymission.ie/supportus

24 June 2025

The Nativity of John the Baptist is a Christian high-ranking liturgical feast day observed annually on 24 June by the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, Anglicanism, and Lutheranism. It is one of only two feast days marking a saint's earthly birth (the other being the nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary on 8 September); all other saint’s days mark their deaths or some other important event. The sole biblical account of the birth of John the Baptist comes from the Gospel of Luke which states that John was born six months before Jesus; thus, the feast of John the Baptist’s birth was fixed in the 4th century A.D. on 24 June, six months before Christmas. In the Roman calendar, 24 June was the date of the summer solstice, and Saint John's Eve is closely associated with Midsummer festivities in Europe. Traditions in France & Quebec, include bonfires (Saint John's fires), feasting, processions, church services, and gathering wild plants. Dan Snow's History Hit podcast at podcasthttps://amzn.to/4feSBb7 The Immerser: John the Baptist by Joan Taylor at https://amzn.to/3LEQrE4 John the Baptist books available at https://amzn.to/3LCfQy1 Gospel of Luke available at https://amzn.to/3M6sTId Gospel of Matthew available at https://amzn.to/3LEeP8F ENJOY Ad-Free content, Bonus episodes, and Extra materials when joining our growing community on https://patreon.com/markvinet SUPPORT this channel by purchasing any product on Amazon using this FREE entry LINK https://amzn.to/3POlrUD (Amazon gives us credit at NO extra charge to you). Mark Vinet's HISTORY OF NORTH AMERICA podcast: www.parthenonpodcast.com/history-of-north-america Mark's TIMELINE Video channel: https://youtube.com/c/TIMELINE_MarkVinet Website: https://markvinet.com/podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mark.vinet.9 Twitter: https://twitter.com/HistoricalJesu Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/denarynovels Mark's books: https://amzn.to/3k8qrGM Audio Credit: Dan Snow's History Hit podcast 23jun2024 (Episode 1463: John the Baptist with Joan Taylor, professor of Christian Origins and Second Temple Judaism at King's College London). Audio excerpts reproduced under the Fair Use (Fair Dealings) Legal Doctrine for purposes such as criticism, comment, teaching, education, scholarship, research and news reporting.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Evening Prayer for Monday, June 23, 2025 (Proper 7; Eve of the Nativity of John the Baptist).Psalm and Scripture readings (60-day Psalter):Psalms 124-126Daniel 2:1-14, 25-28, 31-45Acts 19:21-41⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to access the text for the Daily Office at DailyOffice2019.com.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to support The Daily Office Podcast with a one-time gift or a recurring donation.

Mother Miriam Live - June 23rd, 2025 The Vigil of St John the Baptist Mother's Fundraising Challenge The Daughters of Jerusalem Weep over Jesus Elisha Curses the Mocking Boys Abstaining from the Marital Act during Lent

Why does God create interconnected stories? - Fr. Lucas Laborde. Click here for today's readings.Have you seen instances of God's interventions in your life, or in stories you've heard or read about? What have you learned from those? What keys can you find in this passage about why such interventions can be missed, or misinterpreted, or, on the contrary, used in a good way?

Starting the morning off with God is the key to strength and success in your day!Join me in praying the Catholic morning offering, as well as hear meditations, learn about the saint of the day,  and hear today's Scripture readings from Holy Mass.Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 2010, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.The Morning Glory Consecration Prayer is excerpted from "33 Days to Morning Glory:  A Do-It-Yourself Retreat in Preparation for Marian Consecration" by Michael E. Gaitley, MIC, © 2011 Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M., p. 137.If you have any comments, please email me at Deanna.pierre25@gmail.com.Support the show

Morning lessons: Psalm 127, 128; 1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:13; Matthew 14:1-13.  Unless the Lord builds the house, their labor is in vain who build it.

Evening lessons: Psalms 129, 130, 131; Daniel 3; Acts 20:1-16.  “Many a time have they fought against me from my youth on,” may Israel now say.

In this sermon entitled "The Engine That Drives Behavior," Pastor Brandon unpacks the bold message of John the Baptist in Matthew 3:5–12, calling the nation of Israel to genuine repentance. But repentance wasn't just about sorrow or surface-level change—it was a radical call to change their thinking about the deeply ingrained teachings of Rabbinic Judaism. John confronts the false assumptions that had taken root: - That being Jewish guaranteed entrance into the Kingdom. - That the Messiah would affirm their traditions. - That external law-keeping was enough for righteousness. - That salvation could be earned or inherited by Israel through "the merits of the fathers." - That Gentiles had to convert to Judaism and keep the Noahic laws to be saved. - That there were multiple ways to be spiritually reborn and none of them included how Jesus explained it. John's call to repentance challenged Israel to abandon these theological distortions from the rabbis and recognize their need for Messiah—the Lamb of God. This repentance was not theoretical. In Luke 3:10–14, John outlines what true repentance looks like: justice, integrity, generosity, and contentment—right belief producing right behavior. True change doesn't start with action—it starts with conviction, with the truth renewing the mind. This message explores how belief (change of one's mind in relationship to truth) is the engine that drives godly behavior, and how embracing God's truth transforms not just what we believe—but how we live.

In this sermon entitled "The Engine That Drives Behavior," Pastor Brandon unpacks the bold message  of John the Baptist in Matthew 3:5–12, calling the nation of Israel to genuine repentance. But repentance wasn't just about sorrow or surface-level change—it was a radical call to change  their thinking about the deeply ingrained teachings of Rabbinic Judaism. John confronts the false assumptions that had taken root: - That being Jewish guaranteed entrance into the Kingdom. - That the Messiah would affirm their traditions. - That external law-keeping was enough for righteousness. - That salvation could be earned or inherited by Israel through “the merits of the fathers.” - That Gentiles had to convert to Judaism and keep the Noahic laws to be saved. - That there were multiple ways to be spiritually reborn and none of them included how Jesus explained it.  John's call to repentance challenged Israel to abandon these theological distortions from the rabbis  and recognize their need for Messiah—the Lamb of God. This repentance was not theoretical. In Luke 3:10–14, John outlines what true repentance looks like:  justice, integrity, generosity, and contentment—right belief producing right behavior. True change doesn't start with action—it starts with conviction, with the truth renewing the mind. This message explores how belief (change of one's mind in relationship to truth) is the engine  that drives godly behavior, and how embracing God's truth transforms not just what we believe—but how we live.