Podcasts about Judea

When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea ….” Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the Child, and when you have found Him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship Him.” (Matthew 2:3-5a, 7-8)

A first-hand video report shows Palestinian Authority forces terrorizing Jews in Area C of Judea and Samaria—raising serious questions about security, Oslo-era agreements, and what's really unfolding on the ground. Today's podcast examines newly surfaced footage of PA forces blocking roads and training with heavy weapons, alongside stark warnings from Israel's Defense Minister that Judea and Samaria could face an October 7–style attack. With Israeli counterterror operations reducing terrorist attacks by over 80% in 2025, officials stress that sustained IDF presence and buffer zones are essential to prevent terrorist groups from re-establishing themselves. Today's episode also breaks down statistics that the media often ignores: terror trends in 2025, Israel's growing population, rising birth rates among Jews, declining mortality, and a 25% increase in Israel's GDP—all pointing to a very different reality than what the media often portrays. From Israel's recognition of Somaliland's independence and the riots taking place in Iran to demographic shifts and spiritual awakenings inside Israel, The Israel Guys connect the dots between security, sovereignty, and truth on the ground.  Join The Land of Israel Fellowship: https://thelandofisrael.com/ Join The Israel Guys member program: https://israelguys.link/TIGmember Purchase an "Israel" patch hat: https://theisraelguys.store/products/israel-1948-cap Sign up for the men's Pruning trip to Israel: https://serveisrael.com/volunteer/pruning/ Follow The Israel Guys on Telegram: https://t.me/theisraelguys  Follow Us On X: https://x.com/theisraelguys  Follow Us On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theisraelguys Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theisraelguys Source Links:  https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/420199 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/420192 https://thejewishedition.com/topics/health-medicine/2025/12/31/jewish-population-booms-media-see-malaise/ https://x.com/DovLipman/status/2000208282145673618?s=20 https://x.com/FrumTikTok/status/2005854810780717113?s=20 https://belaaz.com/news/at-least-2-killed-by-police-at-mass-protests-against-iranian-regime-in-tehran-elsewhere/  

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star when it rose and have come to worship Him.” (Matthew 2:1-2)

Today’s Topics: 1, 2, 3, 4) Gospel – Luke 1:57-66 – When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but his mother said in reply, “No. He will be called John.” But they answered her, “There is no one among your relatives who has this name.” So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,” and all were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God. Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, “What, then, will this child be? For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.” Memorial of Saint John of Kanty, Priest Saint John, pray for us! Bishop Sheen quote of the day

Reading IIsaiah 9:1-6 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone. You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing, as they rejoice before you as at the harvest, as people make merry when dividing spoils. For the yoke that burdened them, the pole on their shoulder, and the rod of their taskmaster you have smashed, as on the day of Midian. For every boot that tramped in battle, every cloak rolled in blood, will be burned as fuel for flames. For a child is born to us, a son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace. His dominion is vast and forever peaceful, from David's throne, and over his kingdom, which he confirms and sustains by judgment and justice, both now and forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this!Reading IITitus 2:11-14Beloved:The grace of God has appeared, saving alland training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age, as we await the blessed hope, the appearance of the glory of our great God and savior Jesus Christ,who gave himself for us to deliver us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people as his own, eager to do what is good.GospelLuke 2:1-14In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustusthat the whole world should be enrolled.This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria.So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town.And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.While they were there,the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son.She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock.The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear.The angel said to them,“Do not be afraid;for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord.And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel,praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Preaching Point: The gift of frankincense serves as a poignant reminder of Christ's mediatorial work on our behalf and should cause us to offer spiritual sacrifices that are pleasing to God through Christ.Main Text: Matthew 2:1-12 (ESV) 1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: 6 “ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.' ” 7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” 9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

Preaching Point: The gift of myrrh symbolizes Christ's sacrificial death on the cross for our sins, a reality we must reflect on and respond to this Christmas season.Main Text: Matthew 2:1-12 (ESV) 1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: 6 “ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.' ” 7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” 9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

Full Text of Readings [DAY TITLE] The Saint of the day is Holy Innocents The Story of the Holy Innocents Herod “the Great,” king of Judea, was unpopular with his people because of his connections with the Romans and his religious indifference. Hence he was insecure and fearful of any threat to his throne. He was a master politician and a tyrant capable of extreme brutality. He killed his wife, his brother, and his sister's two husbands, to name only a few. Matthew 2:1-18 tells this story: Herod was “greatly troubled” when astrologers from the east came asking the whereabouts of “the newborn king of the Jews,” whose star they had seen. They were told that the Jewish Scriptures named Bethlehem as the place where the Messiah would be born. Herod cunningly told them to report back to him so that he could also “do him homage.” They found Jesus, offered him their gifts, and warned by an angel, avoided Herod on their way home. Jesus escaped to Egypt. Herod became furious and “ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under.” The horror of the massacre and the devastation of the mothers and fathers led Matthew to quote Jeremiah: “A voice was heard in Ramah, sobbing and loud lamentation; Rachel weeping for her children…” (Matthew 2:18). Rachel was the wife of Jacob (Israel). She is pictured as weeping at the place where the Israelites were herded together by the conquering Assyrians for their march into captivity. Reflection The Holy Innocents are few in comparison to the genocide and abortion of our day. But even if there had been only one, we recognize the greatest treasure God put on the earth—a human person, destined for eternity, and graced by Jesus' death and resurrection.Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Friends of the Rosary,Today, December 29, the fifth day of Christmas, the Church commemorates the Massacre of the Innocents by King Herod, the male children under two years old who were executed in Bethlehem as told in Matthew 2:16.Upon hearing of the birth of the King of the Jews, a threat to his murderous rule and the fulfillment of an Old Testament prophecy, Herod, King of Judea, ordered the execution of all the male children in Bethlehem.These children are considered martyrs, Saints of God, by the Church.The feast has been celebrated since before the end of the fifth century.And as we continue Christmas, we celebrate the birth of Christ and yet acknowledge the great suffering that surrounded His earthly life. The devil, his fallen angels, and minions (King Herod, Roman Emperor... and many of today's leaders) did (and continue doing) everything they could to try to destroy God's perfect plan of salvation.They stirred up hatred, jealousy, paranoia, and every other vile sin imaginable in an attempt to destroy our Lord's mission. Their attack began at the time of Jesus' birth and continued during his public ministry.In the end, Jesus' apparent defeat turned into His glorious triumph. So also with these innocent children. God has transformed their cruel and tragic deaths, and they will forever be honored in Heaven.Today, it's also the Optional Memorial of St. Thomas Becket (1118-1170), the Archbishop of Canterbury, who was murdered in his Cathedral by agents of King Henry II of England.Ave MariaCome, 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• ⁠December 29, 2025, Today's Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET

In this landmark 100th episode of Standpoint, host Gabe Groisman sits down with former Secretary of State and CIA Director Mike Pompeo for a no-holds-barred conversation on U.S. foreign policy, Israel, antisemitism and the future of the Republican Party. Pompeo explains why America's alliance with Israel is not just moral, it's essential to national security, regional stability and the survival of Western values. He reveals behind-the-scenes insights into military deterrence, Iranian threats, the Abraham Accords and the tragic lessons of October 7. In a bold defense of the “Pompeo Doctrine” affirming the legality of Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, Pompeo underscores how truth, strength and biblical history must guide America's stance on Israel.

They were not so welcome.   “You shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” - Acts 1:8 (NKJV)

Send us a textThe devotion for today, Monday, December 29, 2025 was written by Donald (Luke) Day and is narrated by Dana Goodenow. Today's Words of Inspiration come from Acts1.8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Support the show

Sorry for questionable audio.In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:‘Prepare the way of the Lord,[a]    make his paths straight.5 Every valley shall be filled,    and every mountain and hill shall be made low,and the crooked shall become straight,    and the rough places shall become level ways,6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'”7 He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 9 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”10 And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?” 11 And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics[b] is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” 12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” 13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.” 14 Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.”15 As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, 16 John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”18 So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people. 19 But Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Herodias, his brother's wife, and for all the evil things that Herod had done, 20 added this to them all, that he locked up John in prison.

+ Evangelio de nuestro Señor Jesucristo según san Mateo 2, 13-15. 19-23Después de la partida de los magos, el Ángel del Señor se apareció en sueños a José y le dijo: «Levántate, toma al niño y a su madre, huye a Egipto y permanece allí hasta que yo te avise, porque Herodes va a buscar al niño para matarlo».José se levantó, tomó de noche al niño y a su madre, y se fue a Egipto.Allí permaneció hasta la muerte de Herodes, para que se cumpliera lo que el Señor había anunciado por medio del Profeta: Desde Egipto llamé a mi hijo.Cuando murió Herodes, el Ángel del Señor se apareció en sueños a José, que estaba en Egipto, y le dijo: «Levántate, toma al niño y a su madre, y regresa a la tierra de Israel, porque han muerto los que atentaban contra la vida del niño.»José se levantó, tomó al niño y a su madre, y entró en la tierra de Israel. Pero al saber que Arquelao reinaba en Judea, en lugar de su padre Herodes, tuvo miedo de ir allí y, advertido en sueños, se retiró a la región de Galilea, donde se estableció en una ciudad llamada Nazaret. Así se cumplió lo que había sido anunciado por los profetas:«Será llamado Nazareno».Palabra del Señor.

We're so glad you are here! Thanks for checking out Sunday's message!-- SUNDAY'S NOTES --After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star at its rising and have come to worship him.” Matthew 2:1-2 CSBWhen they saw the star, they were overwhelmed with joy. Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Matthew 2:10-11 CSBThe day is coming,” says the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah. Jeremiah 31:31 NLTJesus in the manger was God stepping into our mess to bring us the miracle of a new beginning!When God gives you a do over, be careful you don't continue to do the same thing over and over again.The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:23-24 ESVJesus is personal, persistent, aggressive, and gracious in His pursuit of our hearts and His plan for our lives. Count off seven Sabbath years, seven sets of seven years, adding up to forty-nine years in all. Then on the Day of Atonement in the fiftieth year, blow the ram's horn loud and long throughout the land. Set this year apart as holy, a time to proclaim freedom throughout the land for all who live there. It will be a jubilee year for you.Debts were Forgiven If we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 1 John 1:9 NLT To have our sin debt forgiven and the slate wiped clean is a miracle! If you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive you. Matthew 6:15 NLTTo harbor unforgiveness toward others is to pridefully miss on the miracle of God's forgiveness in your own life.The Enslaved were Set Free. I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free. John 8:34-36 NLT The hurt and hold of our broken past and patterns is undone by the power and authority of Jesus in our lives. Land was returned to the original families.I will give you back what you lost to the swarming locusts. Joel 2:25 NLTThe land rested but still produced harvest.Our fresh start won't last if we return to striving when we should be listening and trusting. Jesus came to make us new!Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. Revelation 21:1-6 ESVThe most miraculous new beginning is the new beginning God has prepared for us in forever! -- Jubilee Poem --Amazing Grace how sweet the soundNo longer trapped on sins merry go roundJesus came to save a wretch like me.In this world I'm prone to failureSubject to deceptions jailor But the sinless Son of God has set me free. The gift He gave, a new beginning No longer bound to keep on sinning It's true I once was blind, but now I see.With His life He paid my debtHe took my shame and my regretAnd returned His best to me in Jubilee.-------------------------------------------------Download the 828 Church app!To view our latest e-newsletter, the Midweek Momentum, and subscribe to our weekly updates, go here! https://linktr.ee/828church

We're so glad you are here! Thanks for checking out Sunday's message!-- SUNDAY'S NOTES --After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star at its rising and have come to worship him.” Matthew 2:1-2 CSBWhen they saw the star, they were overwhelmed with joy. Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Matthew 2:10-11 CSBThe day is coming,” says the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah. Jeremiah 31:31 NLTJesus in the manger was God stepping into our mess to bring us the miracle of a new beginning!When God gives you a do over, be careful you don't continue to do the same thing over and over again.The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:23-24 ESVJesus is personal, persistent, aggressive, and gracious in His pursuit of our hearts and His plan for our lives. Count off seven Sabbath years, seven sets of seven years, adding up to forty-nine years in all. Then on the Day of Atonement in the fiftieth year, blow the ram's horn loud and long throughout the land. Set this year apart as holy, a time to proclaim freedom throughout the land for all who live there. It will be a jubilee year for you.Debts were Forgiven If we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 1 John 1:9 NLT To have our sin debt forgiven and the slate wiped clean is a miracle! If you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive you. Matthew 6:15 NLTTo harbor unforgiveness toward others is to pridefully miss on the miracle of God's forgiveness in your own life.The Enslaved were Set Free. I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free. John 8:34-36 NLT The hurt and hold of our broken past and patterns is undone by the power and authority of Jesus in our lives. Land was returned to the original families.I will give you back what you lost to the swarming locusts. Joel 2:25 NLTThe land rested but still produced harvest.Our fresh start won't last if we return to striving when we should be listening and trusting. Jesus came to make us new!Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. Revelation 21:1-6 ESVThe most miraculous new beginning is the new beginning God has prepared for us in forever! -- Jubilee Poem --Amazing Grace how sweet the soundNo longer trapped on sins merry go roundJesus came to save a wretch like me.In this world I'm prone to failureSubject to deceptions jailor But the sinless Son of God has set me free. The gift He gave, a new beginning No longer bound to keep on sinning It's true I once was blind, but now I see.With His life He paid my debtHe took my shame and my regretAnd returned His best to me in Jubilee.-------------------------------------------------Download the 828 Church app!To view our latest e-newsletter, the Midweek Momentum, and subscribe to our weekly updates, go here! https://linktr.ee/828church

God opened the floodgates of the gospel in Antioch, bringing Jews and Gentiles together in Christ, strengthening their faith such that they sacrificially sent aid to suffering believers in Judea.

Mt 2,13-15.19-23.Después de la partida de los magos, el Angel del Señor se apareció en sueños a José y le dijo: "Levántate, toma al niño y a su madre, huye a Egipto y permanece allí hasta que yo te avise, porque Herodes va a buscar al niño para matarlo".José se levantó, tomó de noche al niño y a su madre, y se fue a Egipto.Allí permaneció hasta la muerte de Herodes, para que se cumpliera lo que el Señor había anunciado por medio del Profeta: Desde Egipto llamé a mi hijo.Cuando murió Herodes, el Angel del Señor se apareció en sueños a José, que estaba en Egipto,y le dijo: "Levántate, toma al niño y a su madre, y regresa a la tierra de Israel, porque han muerto los que atentaban contra la vida del niño".José se levantó, tomó al niño y a su madre, y entró en la tierra de Israel.Pero al saber que Arquelao reinaba en Judea, en lugar de su padre Herodes, tuvo miedo de ir allí y, advertido en sueños, se retiró a la región de Galilea,donde se estableció en una ciudad llamada Nazaret. Así se cumplió lo que había sido anunciado por los profetas: Será llamado Nazareno.

Matthew 2:13-23Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, “Out of Egypt I have called my son.”When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah: “A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.”When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child's life are dead.” Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And after being warned in a dream, he went away to the district of Galilee. There he made his home in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, “He will be called a Nazorean.” Three years ago, this commercial was released on Christmas Eve. Take a look. It was not well received. It managed to anger people from across the political spectrum, from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to Charlie Kirk. When that happens, I think a cord has been struck. Rarely do we see anything that unites people so quickly, even if it's in shared frustration.One of the outcomes of the commercial, intended or not, was a flurry of arguments about Jesus and the holy family. The most central question was whether Jesus was a refugee. People fixated on that word, that label.Some said yes, absolutely. The text could not be clearer. Mary, Joseph, and Jesus fled persecution from a violent ruler who threatened their lives. Under cover of night, they made a dangerous escape to another land. How could that not describe a refugee?Others so badly wanted—and still want—to refute the claim and make sure Jesus does not wear the name refugee. The argument goes Egypt was under Roman control, just like Bethlehem. So technically, they didn't cross a national border. Therefore, Jesus was not a refugee. At most, the holy family could be called internally displaced persons.Which… ah yes, that sounds so much better.What a pointless, trivial argument, for several reasons.First, Matthew knew nothing of our modern categories: refugee, internally displaced person, asylum seeker, or anything else. He is not interested in our labels.Instead, Matthew is doing something much bigger. He is positioning Jesus as the new Moses, the chosen one of God who will save Israel and lead God's people into freedom once again. That's why this story echoes the exodus: a power-hungry ruler threatened by a child, violence against the innocent, a flight to and from Egypt, and finally a settling in the land promised by God.But most of all, Matthew is showing us the providence of God. God warns. God directs. God protects. From the very beginning, this child's life is carried by God's faithful care, revealing him as the fulfillment of God's promises to Israel.All of that matters for Matthew's audience and for us. But equally important to the theological claim, and something easily overlooked by people like me who haven't had this experience, is the fact that Jesus' life and ministry were shaped by forced migration. By being on the run. By a dangerous journey away from violence and toward whatever safety could be found in a foreign land.Most of us have no idea what that is like—to leave everything behind, to be that vulnerable, to live at the mercy of strangers in a strange land.There are all sorts of stories that tell us about the dangers migrants face on their journeys. One of the most illuminating I've read comes from Caitlin Dickerson's cover article in The Atlantic called “Seventy Miles in Hell.” Dickerson and a photographer, Lynsey Addario, traveled alongside families as they crossed a perilous jungle passage known as the Darién Gap: a stretch of wilderness between Colombia and Panama that, in recent years, has become one of the most common and dangerous routes toward Central America and, eventually, the United States.Dickerson introduces us to a family she meets at the beginning of the journey. Bergkan and his partner Orlimar are from Venezuela, not yet married, parents to two children: Isaac, who is two, and Camila, eight. This was never the life they imagined. Their dream was to build a future in Venezuela, but poverty and persecution forced them to leave. So they formed a new dream and took drastic measures to make it possible.The night before they set out, Bergkan voiced his fear: What if someone gets hurt? What if a child gets sick? What if someone is bitten by a snake—or worse? On the very first day, sharp inclines tore their shoes. After carrying his two-year-old all morning, along with his partner's bag, Bergkan collapsed to the ground, already exhausted, physically and mentally. He emptied the bag, leaving behind what little they had: old headphones, sandals, a couple pairs of shoes. Along the way, porters offered goods and services at steep prices: five dollars for a bottle of water, a hundred dollars an hour to carry a bag or a child. The journey had already cost the family a thousand dollars per person, with no guarantee they would survive it. Each day brought new threats. The camps were riddled with scams, fear of sexual assault, and the risk of kidnapping. The family eventually made it out of the jungle, but what they witnessed stayed with them: hungry travelers begging for food, nearly naked people desperate for clothing, sick children unable to go on. We don't know what ultimately happened to this family. The last update placed them in Mexico City, unsure of what came next.It was a dream that drove Joseph and Mary to drastic measures too. We're given no details about their journey. But if stories like Bergkan and Orlimar's tell us anything, it could not have been easy. Were porters offering their services along the way? Were they robbed of the gold, frankincense, and myrrh they had just received? Did Mary face the threat of sexual assault? Did Joseph collapse from exhaustion, carrying his child and his partner's belongings?We're told nothing about the years the holy family spent in Egypt. No details. No stories. Just silence.Did Joseph struggle to find work? Did people resent him for it—muttering that he was taking jobs that belonged to someone else? Did they struggle with the Demotic language and told to just learn it? To adapt faster? To be grateful they were there at all?I have to believe that all of that shaped Jesus' life and ministry—that when later he spoke about feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, caring for the sick, and welcoming the stranger he was not speaking in abstractions. “What you do—or fail to do—to the least of these, you do to me. Because it was me and my family.”All of it presses the same truth into us: the holy family did not just flee danger—they also lived the hard, unseen reality of being immigrants.If we had been there—if we had seen the holy family on the road to Egypt—I think we'd like to believe we would have helped them. That we would have offered water. Food. A place to rest. Somewhere safe to stay along the way. We imagine ourselves as the ones who would welcome them in, who would protect a frightened mother and a vulnerable child, who would offer dignity after such a perilous journey.So why do we not do the same now—for the struggling, suffering migrants who, following a dream, flee violence and traverse hell to get here, just as the Holy Family once did?Today, instead of recognizing them, we scapegoat people like them. We call them garbage and their countries hellholes. We create policies not just to deter migration, but to make it harsher, more painful, more dangerous.Matthew forces us to see Jesus and the holy family in every family that follows a dream, that flees persecution, that escapes some kind of hell, and is forced to settle in a new land. Arguing about whether Jesus was a refugee or not is a waste of time. What matters is how we treat the people today who find themselves in the same situation the holy family faced two thousand years ago. What we do to people today, we do to themI understand that immigration policy is complex. But what should not be complex is our commitment to dignity—especially in the way we talk about migrants and the way we respond to their suffering.We live this faith by putting our bodies, voices, and resources where our prayers are. By supporting organizations like Exodus Refugee and Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, who walk with families long after the headlines fade. By advocating for higher refugee admissions and humane conditions that honor the dignity of every person. And by praying in ways that change us—for all those fleeing violence, escaping hell, and daring to believe there might be life on the other side. Icon by Kelly Latimore We meet Jesus and the holy family in every person who follows a dream to a new land. How we treat them reveals what we believe about him.Merry Christmas. Amen.

“Wait No More”Matthew 2:1-121 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;for out of you will come a ruler    who will shepherd my people Israel.'”7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.CONNECT WITH USIf you have any questions or would like to get to know us further, head over to https://www.triumphlbc.org/connect and fill out our online connection card.ABOUT TRIUMPHTriumph wants to see the life and message of Jesus transform your heart, home, and city. To learn more visit https://www.triumphlbc.org/

We've got some way to go.   “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” - Acts 1:8 (NKJV)

Gospel Reading: Matthew 2:13-23When the wise men departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there till I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him." And he rose and took the child and his mother by night, and departed to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, "Out of Egypt have I called my son."Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, was in a furious rage, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time which he had ascertained from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: "A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they were no more." But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, "Rise, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead." And he rose and took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaos reigned over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. And he went and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, "He shall be called a Nazarene."

Después de que los Magos partieron de Belén, el ángel del Señor se le apareció en sueños a José y le dijo: "Levántate, toma al niño y a su madre, y huye a Egipto. Quédate allá hasta que yo te avise, porque Herodes va a buscar al niño para matarlo".José se levantó y esa misma noche tomó al niño y a su madre y partió para Egipto, donde permaneció hasta la muerte de Herodes. Así se cumplió lo que dijo el Señor por medio del profeta: De Egipto llamé a mi hijo.Después de muerto Herodes, el ángel del Señor se le apareció en sueños a José y le dijo: "Levántate, toma al niño y a su madre y regresa a la tierra de Israel, porque ya murieron los que intentaban quitarle la vida al niño".Se levantó José, tomó al niño y a su madre y regresó a tierra de Israel. Pero, habiendo oído decir que Arquelao reinaba en Judea en lugar de su padre, Herodes, tuvo miedo de ir allá, y advertido en sueños, se retiró a Galilea y se fue a vivir en una población llamada Nazaret. Así se cumplió lo que habían dicho los profetas: Se le llamará nazareno.

“Two Bloody Kings”Matthew 2:1-231 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;for out of you will come a ruler    who will shepherd my people Israel.'”7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”14 So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15 where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. 17 Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:18 “A voice is heard in Ramah,    weeping and great mourning,Rachel weeping for her children    and refusing to be comforted,    because they are no more.”19 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 20 and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child's life are dead.”21 So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, 23 and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.CONNECT WITH USIf you have any questions or would like to get to know us further, head over to https://www.triumphlbc.org/connect and fill out our online connection card.ABOUT TRIUMPHTriumph wants to see the life and message of Jesus transform your heart, home, and city. To learn more visit https://www.triumphlbc.org/

Mas Jesús se retiró al mar con sus discípulos, y le siguió gran multitud de Galilea. Y de Judea, de Jerusalén, de Idumea, del otro lado del Jordán, y de los alrededores de Tiro y de Sidón, oyendo cuán grandes cosas hacía, grandes multitudes vinieron a él. Y dijo a sus discípulos que le tuviesen siempre lista la barca, a causa del gentío, para que no le oprimiesen. Porque había sanado a muchos; de manera que por tocarle, cuantos tenían plagas caían sobre él. Y los espíritus inmundos, al verle, se postraban delante de él, y daban voces, diciendo: Tú eres el Hijo de Dios. Mas él les reprendía mucho para que no le descubriesen.

The Thrill of Hope - Christmas EveDecember 24, 2025Teacher: Pastor Dave BrownJoy turns into rejoicing.Look, Charlie, let's face it. We all know that Christmas is a big commercial racket. — Lucy van Pelt In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. — Luke 2:1-20 I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. — Luke 2:10 The good news is that the one true God has now taken charge of the world…The ancient sickness that had crippled the whole world, and humans with it, has been cured at last, so that new life can rise up in its place. Life has come to life and is pouring out like a mighty river into the world, in the form of a new power, the power of love. The good news was, and is, that all this has happened in and through Jesus; that one day it will happen, completely and utterly, to all creation; and that we humans, every single one of us, whoever we are, can be caught up in that transformation here and now. — N.T. Wright Joy turns into rejoicing. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. — Luke 2:20 Feelings are great liars. If Christians worshipped only when they felt like it, there would be precious little worship. We think that if we don't feel something there can be no authenticity in doing it. But the wisdom of God says something different: that we can act ourselves into a new way of feeling much quicker than we can feel ourselves into a new way of acting. Worship is an act that develops feelings for God, not a feeling for God that is expressed in an act of worship. — Eugene Peterson

Muchos más recursos para tu vida de fe (Santo Rosario, Oración, etc.) en nuestra web https://sercreyente.com________________Domingo, 28 de diciembre de 2025 (Sagrada Familia - Ciclo A)Evangelio del día y reflexión... ¡Deja que la Palabra del Señor transforme tu vida! Texto íntegro del Evangelio y de la Reflexión en https://sercreyente.com/fiesta-sagrada-familia-ciclo-a/[Mateo 2, 13-15. 19-23] En aquel tiempo, cuando se retiraron los magos, el ángel del Señor se apareció en sueños a José y le dijo: «Levántate, toma al niño y a su madre y huye a Egipto; quédate allí hasta que yo te avise, porque Herodes va a buscar al niño para matarlo». José se levantó, tomó al niño y a su madre, de noche, se fue a Egipto y se quedó hasta la muerte de Herodes para que se cumpliese lo que dijo el Señor por medio del profeta: «De Egipto llamé a mi hijo». Cuando murió Herodes, el ángel del Señor se apareció de nuevo en sueños a José en Egipto y le dijo: «Levántate, coge al niño y a su madre y vuelve a la tierra de Israel, porque han muerto los que atentaban contra la vida del niño». Se levantó, tomó al niño y a su madre y volvió a la tierra de Israel. Pero al enterarse de que Arquelao reinaba en Judea como sucesor de su padre Herodes tuvo miedo de ir allá. Y avisado en sueños se retiró a Galilea y se estableció en una ciudad llamada Nazaret. Así se cumplió lo dicho por medio de los profetas, que se llamaría nazareno.________________Descárgate la app de SerCreyente en https://sercreyente.com/app/¿Conoces nuestra Oración Online? Más información en: https://sercreyente.com/oracion¿Quieres recibir cada día el Evangelio en tu whatsapp? Alta en: www.sercreyente.com/whatsappTambién puedes hacer tu donativo en https://sercreyente.com/ayudanos/Contacto: info@sercreyente.com

Mateo 4:16-25El pueblo asentado en tinieblas vio gran luz;Y a los asentados en región de sombra de muerte,Luz les resplandeció.Desde entonces comenzó Jesús a predicar, y a decir: Arrepentíos, porque el reino de los cielos se ha acercado. Andando Jesús junto al mar de Galilea, vio a dos hermanos, Simón, llamado Pedro, y Andrés su hermano, que echaban la red en el mar; porque eran pescadores. Y les dijo: Venid en pos de mí, y os haré pescadores de hombres. Ellos entonces, dejando al instante las redes, le siguieron. Pasando de allí, vio a otros dos hermanos, Jacobo hijo de Zebedeo, y Juan su hermano, en la barca con Zebedeo su padre, que remendaban sus redes; y los llamó. Y ellos, dejando al instante la barca y a su padre, le siguieron.Y recorrió Jesús toda Galilea, enseñando en las sinagogas de ellos, y predicando el evangelio del reino, y sanando toda enfermedad y toda dolencia en el pueblo. Y se difundió su fama por toda Siria; y le trajeron todos los que tenían dolencias, los afligidos por diversas enfermedades y tormentos, los endemoniados, lunáticos y paralíticos; y los sanó. Y le siguió mucha gente de Galilea, de Decápolis, de Jerusalén, de Judea y del otro lado del Jordán.

Sagrada Familia, fiestaSan Mateo 2, 13 – 15. 19 – 23Después de la partida de los magos, el Ángel del Señor se apareció en sueños a José y le dijo: «Levántate, toma al niño y a su madre, huye a Egipto y permanece allí hasta que yo te avise, porque Herodes va a buscar al niño para matarlo». José se levantó, tomó de noche al niño y a su madre, y se fue a Egipto.Allí permaneció hasta la muerte de Herodes, para que se cumpliera lo que el Señor había anunciado por medio del Profeta: Desde Egipto llamé a mi hijo. Cuando murió Herodes, el Ángel del Señor se apareció en sueños a José, que estaba en Egipto, y le dijo: «Levántate, toma al niño y a su madre, y regresa a la tierra de Israel, porque han muerto los que atentaban contra la vida del niño».José se levantó, tomó al niño y a su madre, y entró en la tierra de Israel. Pero al saber que Arquelao reinaba en Judea, en lugar de su padre Herodes, tuvo miedo de ir allí y, advertido en sueños, se retiró a la región de Galilea, donde se estableció en una ciudad llamada Nazaret. Así se cumplió lo que había sido anunciado por los profetas: Será llamado Nazareno.……………Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2M0Ubx3Jh55B6W3b20c3GOApple podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/evangelio-del-d%C3%ADa/id1590423907 Para más información puede consultar nuestro sitio: https://www.vozcatolica.com o escríbanos a info@vozcatolica.com .Si quiere colaborar con este Apostolado lo puede hacer dirigiéndose a: https://vozcatolica.com/ayudanos . Desde ya muchas gracias

Mt 2, 13-15. 19-23Después de que los Magos partieron de Belén, el ángel del Señor se le apareció en sueños a José y le dijo: "Levántate, toma al niño y a su madre, y huye a Egipto. Quédate allá hasta que yo te avise, porque Herodes va a buscar al niño para matarlo". José se levantó y esa misma noche tomó al niño y a su madre y partió para Egipto, donde permaneció hasta la muerte de Herodes. Así se cumplió lo que dijo el Señor por medio del profeta: De Egipto llamé a mi hijo. Después de muerto Herodes, el ángel del Señor se le apareció en sueños a José y le dijo: "Levántate, toma al niño y a su madre y regresa a la tierra de Israel, porque ya murieron los que intentaban quitarle la vida al niño". Se levantó José, tomó al niño y a su madre y regresó a tierra de Israel. Pero, habiendo oído decir que Arquelao reinaba en Judea en lugar de su padre, Herodes, tuvo miedo de ir allá, y advertido en sueños, se retiró a Galilea y se fue a vivir en una población llamada Nazaret. Así se cumplió lo que habían dicho los profetas: Se le llamará nazareno.

Luke 2:1-11 ESV1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. 8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. • • •1. A Savior for all people. • • •Luke 2:10-11 ESV10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. • • •John 3:17 ESV17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. • • •2. A Savior to those who believe. • • •Matthew 1:21 ESV21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” • • •John 1:12 ESV12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, • • •3. A Savior who requires a response. • • •John 3:16 ESV16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. • • •2 Peter 3:9 ESV9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. • • •Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. • • •Application:Jesus not only saves us from our sins, but He saves us for a life-giving relationship with God now and for all eternity!

Mary Liked to Ponder Luke 2:1-20 "In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered.  Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David.  He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.  Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people:  to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.”  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.”  So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.  When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child;  and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.  But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.  The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.”There are two things about this verse that I would like to focus on today. The first is how Jesus was born in a manger.  Growing up I didn't understand this.  I felt like if Mary was giving birth to the Son of God, then the least He could do is provide her with a comfortable bed to deliver the baby in.  I felt like it was all so disorganized and I really didn't understand why God didn't plan better.  Now that I am an adult, or actually more accurately, now that I know more about God and the story of Jesus I am able to understand that it was all very well planned out.  God always has a plan.  God had been preparing His people for this birth for a very long time.  He had given very specific details and He was ensuring that all the details were accurate so that His people would know that His son was the Savior.Jesus was not born into luxury because He was not going to be that kind of king.  He was going to be an amazing leader and yet He would also be a servant.  I have a rosary app on my phone and I like how they describe Jesus' birth.  Jesus enters the world in poverty to teach us the detachment from earthly things.  I have also heard others describe that he was born in the stable to teach us humility.  I am not sure why Jesus was born in a stable, but I think it set Him on the path for what kind of person He wanted to be.  If we have a lot of stuff, we don't need to rely on the Lord as we feel we can provide for ourselves.  We also get distracted by all that stuff and then sometimes don't think about God or don't want to give up that time we spend doing other stuff to spend with Him.  When you experience poverty you are also more grateful for the things that you have.  I now know that Jesus' birth happened exactly as it was supposed to and was very well thought out.The second thing I would like to talk about are the word at the end of this section.  Luke 2:19 says, “But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.”  I think Mary does this a lot.  I remember Father Michael Gaitley talking about Mary's heart pondering in his Book 33 Days to Morning Glory.  When the magi, or the shepherds visited Jesus they told Mary and Joseph all that the Angel's said about Jesus.  Mary did not get overwhelmed, she did not freak out, she treasured all they said and she pondered them in her heart.  I am not sure what I would do if I were in her circumstance.  I think I would feel that was a lot of pressure, but it doesn't seem like she felt that way.At the end of chapter 2 in Luke it mentions Mary pondering again.  Do you remember the story of when Mary & Joseph went to Jerusalem for the festival of Passover and then when it ended they started the return home and Jesus wasn't with them?  They were traveling with friends and family and assumed He was with them, but He wasn't.  They were a whole day's journey away before they found out.  When they found Him and asked Him where He was.  In Luke 2:49-51 Jesus said to them, “‘Why were you searching for me?  Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?'  But they didn't understand what he said to them.  Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them.  His mother treasured all these things in her heart.”  I find it interesting that the verse says that Mary and Joseph didn't understand what he said to them.  I wonder if this happened a lot?  At this point Jesus was 12 years old.  I remember watching this scene in the show The Chosen.  I remember Mary looked up to the Lord and said, “Not yet,” or “I'm not ready yet,” or something like that.  I can imagine that is how she felt.  I can imagine how difficult it is when our kids grow up and move out of the house.  I have several friends whose kids went to college over the last few years and they are sad they don't see them every day.  I can imagine Mary being concerned that Jesus was going to grow up and have to leave home to fulfill his destiny too soon.  I don't know how much of Jesus' life and destiny was revealed to Mary, or when it was revealed.  She new from before His conception that He would be the Son of God, but was she able to understand what that meant?  Was she given an understanding of all He would have to go through?  I wonder if she knew from the beginning that he was going to have to sacrifice himself for us?  Do you see why Mary would have a lot to ponder.  I can imagine when others told her things, like the shepherds, she might not have understood the gravity of the situation.  The definition for ponder is to think about something carefully, especially before make a decision or reaching a conclusion.  A synonym for it is to meditate.  It makes sense that Mary would spend a lot of time pondering things.  As I said the other day, it is hard enough being the parent of any child.  I can imagine the pressure would be so much greater if we were parenting God's child.  There are so many things about Mary that we could look up to.  Pondering is one of them.  Instead of making decisions or leaping to conclusions before we have all the facts, maybe we can slow down and do some pondering.  We could take some time and ask God what He thinks we should do, or how we should think about things.  When we hear something that is upsetting or overwhelming, maybe we could ponder it for a bit before we react.  I know this won't always be easy.  I don't think it was always easy for Mary either.  I think it is something to consider, though.  Think about what normally happens when you get upset.  For me, I hear something upsetting, and if I react right away, I am not reacting as my best self.  I may say unkind things, or maybe I am sarcastic or rude.  However, after I react and I have time to calm down and really think about it, I realize that I should have done things differently.  What if we all took time to ponder more this year?  How would our relationships be different if we pondered more before we reacted?  I wonder if we would grow in wisdom if we took the time to ponder why things were happening and the meaning behind them?  Dear Heavenly Father, I ask that you bless all those listening to this episode today.  Lord, we ask that you help us to ponder more this year.  Help us to slow down and not let life just pass us by.  We ask that you help us to ponder the things that happen to us and why they are happening.  Help us to be willing and mindful participants in our own lives.  Don't let us just sleepwalk through life on autopilot.  Help us to take it all in and enjoy it.  Lord, we ask that this Christmas season be amazing for all of us and that you bless those who need your blessings, Lord.  Please help those who are struggling and help them to feel loved.  We love you, Lord, you are amazing.  We are so very grateful to you, and we ask all of this in accordance with your will and in Jesus' holy name, Amen.Thank you so much for joining me on this journey to walk boldly with Jesus, and this week for joining me in preparing our hearts and minds for celebrating the coming of our Savior, Lord Jesus Christ.  I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and I will be here to spend time with you again on Monday.  Have a blessed weekend! www.findingtruenorthcoaching.comCLICK HERE TO DONATECLICK HERE to sign up for Mentoring CLICK HERE to sign up for Daily "Word from the Lord" emailsCLICK HERE to sign up for my newsletter & receive a free audio training about inviting Jesus into your daily lifeCLICK HERE to buy my book Total Trust in God's Safe Embrace

Professor Barry Strauss. Following the Gallus revolt in 351 AD, Rome eventually renamed Judea to Syria Palaestinato erase Jewish connection to the land. Control shifted to the Byzantines and then the Muslims in the 7th century, significantly altering the religious and political landscape of Jerusalem. 2010 MASADA

Read OnlineJesus said to his disciples: “Beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues, and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans.” Matthew 10:17–18These words capture the essence of the martyrdom of Saint Stephen, the Church's first martyr, whom we honor today. The day after celebrating the birth of Christ, the Church, in her wisdom, reflects on the reality of persecution as a consequence of worshiping the newborn King.The Jewish community in Jerusalem was diverse, with traditional Hebraic Jews and Hellenistic Jews who were influenced by the Greco-Roman culture. As Jews began to convert to Christianity, a new unified community of believers emerged. Despite this unity, tensions arose, particularly when Hellenistic widows were neglected in the daily distribution of bread. To address this, the Apostles appointed seven deacons, with Stephen being the first, likely a Hellenist himself.Stephen, described as “a man filled with faith and the Holy Spirit,” performed great wonders among the people. When confronted by Hellenistic Jews, he defended the faith with wisdom and courage, leading to his being dragged before the Sanhedrin. His eloquent defense angered his opponents, resulting in his stoning. In his final moments, Stephen commended his spirit to Jesus and prayed for his persecutors.At first, his martyrdom seemed a tragic loss that sparked a wave of persecution and scattered the Christian community throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria. This dispersion, however, spread the Gospel beyond Jerusalem, leading to many new converts. What appeared to be a tragedy became a catalyst for the growth of the early Church.As we honor Saint Stephen, reflect on the truth that God permits evil only to draw greater good from it. If you face suffering or persecution, let today's feast inspire hope. Trust in God's plan, reject fear, and embrace His will, knowing that He can use every cross for His glory. Saint Stephen, you were a man filled with grace and power, deeply committed to Jesus and the proclamation of the Gospel. Please pray for me, that I will have your courage and faith so that God can use me to further His Kingdom by drawing many souls to Him. Saint Stephen, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: Giovanni Andrea de Ferrari, CC0, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Join The Land of Israel Fellowship and gain access to all the Bible teachings from Judea and receive your personal invitation to join the exclusive live online gatherings with families around the world every week. The Land of Israel Fellowship go to: https://thelandofisrael.com/membership-tiers/ Session #74: Parsha Vayeishev

Merry Christmas! I pray your celebration of Christmas today will be blessed. What part of the Christmas story is your favorite? Is it the incredible birth of Jesus to a young virgin girl? Her role in life was anything but easy, but Scripture says she was blessed among women. Or you could choose the story of the angels appearing to the shepherds. What a sight that must have been! I keep imagining how frightened those shepherds were at first. And we know after they saw the baby Jesus, they told everyone all about it. I wonder if their friends and family believed them? I wonder if it just seemed like a foolish tale to those who heard it? But have you ever thought about the mothers of the baby boys who were slaughtered by Herod because of his paranoia? When he heard from the wise men that a king of the Jews was born, he wanted to make sure no one would ever threaten his reign as King of Judea, and so he insanely ordered all baby boys under two years old in the Bethlehem region to be slaughtered. What about the mother who gets a loud knock on her door—or her door busted down—as Roman soldiers come in and snatch her baby boy from her? Maybe he was just beginning to walk; maybe it was her first child; maybe she had been barren for a long time and finally this baby was born to her. And now, she watches helplessly as he is ruthlessly taken from her and slaughtered. Why? Because there was some remote chance he might be the king Herod heard about. Was she given any explanation? I doubt it. Had she even heard the Christ-child had been born in Bethlehem? Probably not. What reason was there to kill her baby because of this unknown king baby? All she is left with are questions and grief and empty arms. The prophet Jeremiah predicted it: A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more (Matthew 2:18). It was a high price paid by many mothers that first Christmas. Yet the baby Jesus was born to die and his mother watched him die about 34 years later, perishing on a cross, paying the debt for your sins and mine. Think anew this Christmas about all that took place that first Christmas, so that you and I could have forgiveness and peace through the death, burial, and resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Share a commentThe hush before the first carol was not empty—it was charged. We step into the holy place with Zacharias, incense curling upward, when Gabriel appears and declares that the long night is ending. This is where Christmas begins: with a promise spoken into fear, a calling placed on an aging couple, and the first shockwave of good news that will roll from a quiet temple to a manger and beyond.We walk through the world of Herod's Judea and the deep ache of barrenness that marked Zacharias and Elizabeth, showing how faith endures when culture misreads suffering. Then the scene opens: a once-in-a-lifetime priestly duty, a famous messenger blazing with authority, and a message rooted in Malachi's prophecy. Their son will prepare the people, turn hearts, and ready a nation for the Messiah. Along the way, we explore why angels matter without making them the main act—how Scripture positions them as servants of God's redemptive plan and why the first New Testament use of “good news” comes from an angelic voice.Doubt doesn't disqualify; it gets refined. Zacharias asks for proof, and Gabriel answers with presence: I stand in the presence of God. The sign is silence—hard, humbling, and holy—until promise becomes reality. When John is born, the sunrise from on high is named and the dawn truly breaks. If you've wrestled with unanswered prayers, wondered about angelic ministry, or wanted to see how the Christmas story actually starts, this journey through Luke 1 will steady your hope and sharpen your vision.If this story stirred your faith, share it with a friend, subscribe for part two on Gabriel's message to Mary, and leave a review so others can find the good news that still breaks the dark.Support the showStephen's latest book, The Disciples Prayer, is available now. https://www.wisdomonline.org/store/view/the-disciples-prayer-hardback

Eve Harow shares an interview she did with Franny Waisman on the new Live the Land podcast to explore what it truly means to know the Land of Israel, not just as a destination, but as a living source of history, faith, and identity. Drawing on decades as a tour guide and advocate in Judea and Samaria, Eve shares personal insights on courage, connection, and the power of walking the land beyond the headlines.

Share a commentThe hush before the first carol was not empty—it was charged. We step into the holy place with Zacharias, incense curling upward, when Gabriel appears and declares that the long night is ending. This is where Christmas begins: with a promise spoken into fear, a calling placed on an aging couple, and the first shockwave of good news that will roll from a quiet temple to a manger and beyond.We walk through the world of Herod's Judea and the deep ache of barrenness that marked Zacharias and Elizabeth, showing how faith endures when culture misreads suffering. Then the scene opens: a once-in-a-lifetime priestly duty, a famous messenger blazing with authority, and a message rooted in Malachi's prophecy. Their son will prepare the people, turn hearts, and ready a nation for the Messiah. Along the way, we explore why angels matter without making them the main act—how Scripture positions them as servants of God's redemptive plan and why the first New Testament use of “good news” comes from an angelic voice.Doubt doesn't disqualify; it gets refined. Zacharias asks for proof, and Gabriel answers with presence: I stand in the presence of God. The sign is silence—hard, humbling, and holy—until promise becomes reality. When John is born, the sunrise from on high is named and the dawn truly breaks. If you've wrestled with unanswered prayers, wondered about angelic ministry, or wanted to see how the Christmas story actually starts, this journey through Luke 1 will steady your hope and sharpen your vision.If this story stirred your faith, share it with a friend, subscribe for part two on Gabriel's message to Mary, and leave a review so others can find the good news that still breaks the dark.Support the showStephen's latest book, The Disciples Prayer, is available now. https://www.wisdomonline.org/store/view/the-disciples-prayer-hardback

Well, hey—Merry Christmas Eve to you as we prepare our hearts to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We'd like to share the Christmas story from Luke Chapter 2, verses 4–20. And just a note, we've made some minor edits for length purposes in this excerpt from the King James version of the story. “Joseph went up from Galilee out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, to be taxed, along with his wife Mary, who was great with child. While they were there, the days were accomplished that she could be delivered, and she brought forth her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. There were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were afraid. And the angel said unto them, ‘Fear not for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people for unto you is born this day in the city of David a savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: You'll find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, ‘Glory to God and the highest and on earth, peace, goodwill toward men.' As the angels returned into heaven, the shepherd said to one another, ‘Let us go into Bethlehem and see this thing, which the Lord has made known to us.' They came with haste and found Mary, Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they shared the news with everyone they met, and all who heard it wondered at the things that the shepherd told them. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart, and the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen as it was told unto them.” God bless you and yours this Christmas. Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.

⁠⁠Support us on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠---"Herod the king, in his raging, charged he hath this day: his men of might, in his own sight, all young children to slay." So goes the Coventry Carol, a traditional English Christmas song commemorating the Massacre of the Innocents in Bethlehem. According to the Christian Gospel of Matthew, the jealous ruler of Judea so feared the arrival of the messiah that he ordered this slaughter of his own infant subjects. Herod's name rings through the ages with tyranny and evil. But who was Herod the Great?This episode of Gladio Free Europe explorers the life and afterlife of Jewish history's most consequential monarch. Liam and Russian Sam situate King Herod in his historical context, as a pious Jewish monarch and a Hellenistic warrior-king. Born into an ambitious family descended from the conquered backwater of Edom, nobody expected Herod would ever assume control of the Hasmonean Kingdom of Judea. But as the Mediterranean world collapsed into a century of bloody turmoil, Herod used dynastic conflicts in both Jerusalem and in Rome to propel himself to the greatest heights of power. After he was suddenly named King of the Jews by the Roman Senate, Herod had to contend with ruling the most fractious kingdom in the Near East, and the most defiant corner of the vast Roman Empire.Though his ancestors were converts to Judaism, brought into the Israelite fold at the point of a sword, Herod reigned as a pious Jew. Even scholars who doubted his commitment to the faith acclaimed his act of rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem, the center of all Jewish ritual. Though a Roman puppet who never attempted to liberate his subjects from foreign domination, Herod brought enormous prosperity and glory to his kingdom. The land that he once ruled is still marked by great works, built in Hellenistic fashion both to honor his God and to honor his own glory.Despite his great successes, Herod was cruel, vindictive, and unceasingly murderous. Although his role in folklore derives from fiction and rumor rather than actual acts, his reputation for cruelty is well-deserved. Deeply paranoid and acutely aware of his own vulnerabilities, Herod dispatched every threat to his reign with unflinching violence. Even his own wives and children could not escape this violence. After his death, Herod would be immortalized not for his contributions to his kingdom and his faith, but instead for his wickedness. This episode will touch on the origins of Hanukkah and of Christmas to understand the career of one of the most fascinating and terrifying figures of the ancient world.

Matthew 2:21-23 NLT21 So Joseph got up and returned to the land of Israel with Jesus and his mother. 22 But when he learned that the new ruler of Judea was Herod's son Archelaus, he was afraid to go there. Then, after being warned in a dream, he left for the region of Galilee. 23 So the family went and lived in a town called Nazareth. This fulfilled what the prophets had said: “He will be called a Nazarene.”

Gospel  Luke 1:57-66 When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but his mother said in reply, “No. He will be called John.” But they answered her, “There is no one among your relatives who has this name.” So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,” and all were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God. Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, “What, then, will this child be? For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.” Reflection It's interesting that this transition involved two men, John the Baptist and Jesus the Messiah. And when you look at it carefully, you recognize that they were both so important in being able to create a new image of who God is. A God not distant, not in the temple only, but somehow breaking free of that structure and filling people's hearts with love, understanding, compassion. What an amazing transformation and how amazing John was in making sure this happened. He took us through the liminal space of transition that we still are somehow always engaged in, because each person has to go through it. That's the gift to this figure of John. Closing Prayer Father, always we find ourselves as we grow in consciousness, going through thresholds of new insights, new revelations. Bless us in this work of transformation. It is the call of the gospel, is each of us announcing the fullness of the Kingdom of God. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every December 25th, around the world, happenings are quite different and diverse, place to place. Celebrating Christmas is unique to each culture, but the meaning of it all we share. In Norway, Christmas Eve is the main event with bells ringing at five in the evening, followed by family dinners.In Mexico, Christmas begins on December 16th, and on the ninth evening, Christmas Eve, children walk to the local church to place a figure of the Christ child in a manger.Like nature, God put wonderful color in our world family, and Christmas has its own traditions in diverse places. Yet in each heart, the Christ child is center. Luke 2:4–5 says, “So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth and Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem, the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.” Wherever we celebrate, the baby in the lowly manger in Bethlehem calls to us through time. This season, reflect on that special night so long ago, and remember to give extra love to your family and friends. Let's pray. Lord, you love all people everywhere. Help us to do the same as we remember our brothers and sisters around the world at Christmas time. In Jesus' name, amen.  Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.

No tuvo ni voz ni voto en el asunto: nació para ser rey. Debido a la muerte prematura de su padre, lo nombraron rey el día mismo de su nacimiento, 17 de mayo de 1886. Así que su madre María Cristina de Austria gobernó en su lugar, como regente, hasta 1902, cuando él cumplió los dieciséis años. Pero se le consideró rey de España desde casi siete meses antes de nacer, cuando su madre, ya viuda, estaba esperando su nacimiento, junto con todo el reino, sin saber si sería varón, y por lo tanto el heredero al trono en lugar de la Princesa María de las Mercedes, que era la hija mayor.1 Desde luego, se trata de Alfonso XIII, el abuelo del rey Juan Carlos I y el bisabuelo del rey Felipe VI. El comienzo y el fin de su reinado pueden entonces resumirse de la siguiente manera: Debido a la muerte de su padre Alfonso XII, víctima de la tuberculosis tres días antes de cumplir apenas veintiocho años de edad, Alfonso XIII llegó al trono español cuando nació, y lo ocupó desde que se le declaró mayor de edad en 1902 hasta que se proclamó la Segunda República el 14 de abril de 1931. Ese mismo día, tras las elecciones municipales en las que triunfaron los partidos republicanos, se reunió por última vez como rey con su Consejo de Ministros, y les leyó su renuncia. Acto seguido, Alfonso XIII se marchó rumbo al exilio, conduciendo él mismo su propio Duesenberg J, un coche deportivo descapotable que era una maravilla de la automoción con más de 200 caballos de fuerza.2 Tres días después, el pueblo español leyó a su vez, en el diario ABC, aquel histórico manifiesto de despedida de Alfonso XIII, que comenzaba con estas palabras: «Las elecciones celebradas el domingo me revelan claramente que no tengo hoy el amor de mi pueblo.»3 Así como Alfonso XIII hijo de Alfonso XII, Jesucristo el Hijo de Dios también nació para ser rey. Y, al igual que el pueblo español, el pueblo judío tuvo que esperar con paciencia el día de su nacimiento. Pero a diferencia de Alfonso XIII, cuando Jesús nació, su pueblo no lo reconoció como tal,4 sino sólo unos sabios del Oriente que viajaron hasta Judea para adorarlo como el que había nacido rey de los judíos.5 Y no llegó entonces a ocupar el trono ni presentó su renuncia por escrito en sus juicios ante el Consejo de los judíos ni ante el gobernador romano Poncio Pilato. Se limitó a decir: «Mi reino no es de este mundo», y eso porque Pilato le preguntó si era el rey de los judíos.6 Pero sí renunció a la vida misma cuando la entregó por su pueblo, que somos nosotros, en la cruz del Calvario, con un letrero encima de la cabeza que lo identificaba prematuramente como rey,7 ya que desde el principio Dios dispuso que Cristo resucitaría, se desterraría, subiría al cielo y volvería posteriormente montado en un caballo blanco para ocupar el trono de toda la tierra, conduciendo Él mismo a los ejércitos del cielo en su regreso a modo de entrada triunfal como Rey de reyes y Señor de señores.8 Carlos ReyUn Mensaje a la Concienciawww.conciencia.net 1 Moniek, «The Latent Queen: Maria de las Mercedes» (La reina latente: María de las Mercedes), History of Royal Women (Historia de mujeres de la realeza), 16 enero 2015 En línea 2 julio 2019. 2 Manuel J. Prieto, «Alfonso XIII fue rey desde antes de nacer y se exilió conduciendo su propio coche» En línea 1 julio 2019. 3 «Al país», Diario ABC, Madrid, 17 abril 1931 En línea 4 julio 2019. 4 Jn 1:11 5 Mt 2:1-12 6 Jn 19:28-40 7 Mt 27:37; Mr 15:26; Lc 23:38; Jn 19:19-20 8 Zac 14:1-4; Hch 1:9-11; Jud 14-15; Ap 1:7; 11:15; 19:11-16

When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her childshe gave birth to a son.Her neighbors and relatives heardthat the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her,and they rejoiced with her.When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child,they were going to call him Zechariah after his father,but his mother said in reply,“No. He will be called John.”But they answered her,“There is no one among your relatives who has this name.”So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called.He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,”and all were amazed.Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed,and he spoke blessing God.Then fear came upon all their neighbors,and all these matters were discussedthroughout the hill country of Judea.All who heard these things took them to heart, saying,“What, then, will this child be?For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.”

In this episode, we end our journey at the Stable, the humble place where God chose for us to meet His Son. We reflect on the stable of our own hearts, how Jesus chooses to meet us in our own poverty now, and why His very presence brings healing. We also talk about how when we sit in our emptiness, release control, and surrender each part of our lives to God, He is able to work more powerfully in our lives. Finally, we ponder Mary's quiet and loving gaze upon the Christ Child and how we are invited to slow down and notice Jesus smiling back at us.  Friends, we've deeply enjoyed journeying with you this year. As we take a break, please know you are in our prayers. We will see you on January 19th, 2026 when Season 18 begins! Have a blessed and merry Christmas!   Heather's One Thing - Our Abiding Together staff: Camille, Kate, and Kristina! Heather's Other One Thing - The Sisters of Life new St. Francis convent in Steubenville Heather's Third One Thing - Every Sacred Sunday's Edition of the  Catechism of the Catholic Church Sister Miriam's One Thing - Our listeners and Patreon supporters. Thank you! Sister Miriam's Other One Thing - Philosophy and Healing (with Fr. Matthew Rolling) from the Restore the Glory Podcast Michelle's One Thing - The beauty of the different religious orders!   Finally, we arrive at the Stable — the poorest of places, and yet, the holiest of all. Here, in straw and silence, the Infinite takes on skin. The cry of a newborn splits the night open, and suddenly, everything is sacred again The invitation into the mess  Into our own poverty… The cry of our humanity … Worship is not what we think it will look like.    Other Resources Mentioned:  The Nativity Painting by Caravaggio Living from the Heart Jesus Gave You by Dr. James Friesen   Journal Questions: Where do I find myself in "unsatisfactory condition"? What are the scandalous places within me that I want to keep away from the Lord? How am I managing my own creativity rather than welcoming the Holy Spirit into my creativity? What beliefs am I carrying deeply about God? How does God want to heal these beliefs? Where am I afraid? How can I make space for Jesus and spend time with Him in this Christmas season?   Discussion Questions: How are you tempted to sanitize the Mystery of the Incarnation in your own life? Where in my life do I need a new perspective? When have you experienced God coming to you in a way you weren't expecting Him to? How am I seeking control in this season? How can I surrender that control? What are the stables of my life that God is inviting me into deeper surrender?   Quote to Ponder: "I am so glad Jesus was born in a stable, because my soul is so much like a stable. It's poor and in unsatisfactory condition - Yet, I believe that if Jesus can be born in a stable, maybe he can be born in me." (Dorothy Day)   Scripture for Lectio: "In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn." (Luke 2:1-7)   Sponsor - Fully Mediterranean: Our sponsor today is Fully Mediterranean, a company dedicated to helping people discover the Mediterranean diet and lifestyle, a way of eating and living that is both deeply nourishing and beautifully simple. At Fully Mediterranean, they believe that good health and good food go hand in hand—and that both of these begin in the same place: around the table, where we slow down, gather, connect, and are reminded of God's goodness in the everyday moments of life. It's where we feed not only our bodies, but also our relationships. And it's often where we rediscover joy, connection, and presence. Fully Mediterranean was built on a mission to help people discover a simple, nourishing way of eating and living—a way that brings peace, beauty, and balance into everyday. Their approach is not about pressure or perfection. It's about gently integrating habits that help you live fully, with a sense of gratitude and mindfulness that aligns beautifully with our Catholic faith. What makes the Mediterranean lifestyle so special is that it's not just a way of eating; it's a way of living. It's a lifestyle shaped by mindfulness, by community, and by gratitude. It's about slowing down, savoring what God provides, and sharing meals with the people He places in our lives. It's about choosing foods that nourish the body He entrusted to us—vibrant  vegetables, wholesome grains, fresh herbs, lean proteins, and healthy fats—while also embracing the joy and connection that come from preparing and enjoying meals with others. Fully Mediterranean provides practical, realistic tools, guidance, and inspiration to help you bring these values into your kitchen and everyday life. Through recipes, programs, workshops, and practical nutrition guidance, we help women simplify healthy eating, feel confident in the kitchen, and rediscover the joy that comes from preparing meals that are both good for the body and soul-satisfying. In a world filled with noise, pressure, and quick fixes, the Mediterranean lifestyle offers something gentler and more grounded—an invitation to live intentionally, joyfully, and wholeheartedly. It encourages us to choose foods that honor the bodies God created, to gather more often with the people we love, and to find celebration in simple, nourishing routines. Whether you're looking to support your long-term health, gain energy for your daily responsibilities, or create more meaningful rhythms in your home, Fully Mediterranean is here to guide you every step of the way. We want to help you build a lifestyle that supports your well-being and draws you closer to living the full, abundant life God desires for you.  Because at Fully Mediterranean, we believe that when you nourish your body well, you nourish every part of your life. And when you gather at the table with gratitude, intention, and love, you reflect God's goodness in the most natural, beautiful way. If you're ready to bring more peace, health, and joy into your kitchen—and your life—we invite you to explore all that Fully Mediterranean offers. Discover delicious recipes, practical tips, and inspiring resources designed to help you integrate the Mediterranean way of living into your daily routine with ease and grace. Join us and use the code Abidingtogether20 to receive 20% off any of our products, including our course, ebooks and Substack membership. Join the 30-day Mediterranean challenge starting January 1st for just $8. Visit us at www.fullymediterranean.com, Substack: fullymediteranean.com.substack.com and @fullymediterranean   Chapters:   00:00 Fully Mediterranean  01:37 Intro 02:30 Welcome to the Stable 05:56 Guiding Quote and Scripture Verse 07:12 The Poverty of Our Hearts 11:26 Surrendering the Messy Parts of Our Lives 15:30 Healing Our Image of God 19:31 What it Means to Ponder 21:37 Making Space in the Midst of a Busy Season 28:27 Season 18 Announcement! 28:58 One Things   Music used under license i94Cr0 

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. … And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with Child. (Luke 2:1, 3-5)

Hope for Right Now Podcast – Trust in the Impossible: An Advent Series, John the Baptist While Walking with Purpose founder Lisa takes time to write our next women's Bible study, Laura is keeping the Hope for Right Now podcast going strong with a four-week series: Trust in the Impossible: An Advent Series. Advent is meant to be a time of interior reflection—the weeks we prepare our hearts and homes to receive the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. But with the secular world's demands and distractions, keeping our eyes on what matters can be challenging, and the season of quiet we dream about feels impossible. What if this Advent, we said no to the overwhelm of the secular world and yes to the overshadowing of the Spirit? Each week, Laura introduces a Biblical figure from the gospel of Luke, whose story reveals the secret to a simple, peace-filled Advent—one where we yield to God's will, respond in faith, and trust in the impossible.   Today's Biblical figure: John The Baptist. If you tend to neglect John the Baptist during Advent, be sure to tune in and discover why he is significant to the gospel, but also to us right now, in these last days before the birth of Christ. Open your Heart to our key Scripture. Luke 1:57-66 Open your Bible to other Scriptures referenced in this episode. Luke 11:28: Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it! Isaiah 40:3–5: A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” Matthew 3:1–3: In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness; prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” Luke 1:41–44: Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry … For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy. Invite Him in with this episode's questions for reflection. Using the list of internal/external obstacles provided in our show mentions, allow yourself to be guided by the Spirit. Ask Him to reveal the primary obstacle in your way.  Show mentions. Lisa Brenninkmeyer, Seven Priorities That Make Life Work. Sign up for our winter book club that begins January 12, 2026. Father Chris Alar, Divine Mercy: John the Baptist: His Real Role Internal obstacles Pride and arrogance: Overconfidence in our own ability can lead to a rejection of God's guidance. Fear: Fear of failure, humiliation, what others will think, or not being worthy or able to fulfill a calling. Doubt and unbelief: The lack of faith that makes trusting in God's plan and power challenging. Sin: Unconfessed sin creates a barrier to a close relationship with God. Self-sufficiency: The belief that we can get by without divine help. Lack of forgiveness: A huge hinderance to your spiritual progress.  External/circumstantial obstacles Worldly distractions and desires: Focusing on material possessions or the cares of this life more than God. Distractions and being too busy: A busy schedule can leave little time or energy for spiritual devotion. External pressure and societal expectations: The world can be tough, and it may not understand or support your faith.  Lack of clarity or understanding: Misinformation, wrong teachings, or a failure to understand God's will can create confusion. Listening to others instead of God: Over-reliance on human advice rather than seeking God's direction is a common problem. Let's stay connected. Don't miss an episode. Subscribe to our podcast on your favorite platform.  Want to keep the conversation going? Join our private Facebook community. Stay in the know. Connect with us today.  We are committed to creating content that is free and easily accessible to every woman—especially the one looking for answers but unsure of where to go. If you've enjoyed this podcast, prayerfully consider making a donation to support it and other WWP outreach programs that bring women closer to Christ. Learn more about WWP on our website. Our shop. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

Matthew 2:1–8 - Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea @in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, [2] saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” [3] When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; [4] and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. [5] They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: [6] “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” [7] Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. [8] And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” (ESV) THE EVENING MINDSET IS COMING! Beginning January 1 - 2026 - A new DAILY podcast will be available to help you wind down, reset your mind on God’s truth, and prepare for a night of rest and rejuvenation. “The Daily Mindset” will launch on the podcast player of your choice on January 1, 2026. Subscribe now so you don’t miss an episode: https://EveningMindset.com