Podcasts about Judea

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.

Luke 2:1-14 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register. 4 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. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.  6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 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. 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."   Why Did Jesus Come?   John 3:16-21 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.  19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.  20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.   Love is Why     Love is not a self-gratifying attraction. Love is self-sacrificing action.    Love is not taking. Love is giving.     Love is not living in lies. Love is living in the truth.     Love does not abandon. Love finishes what is started.

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

Matthew 2:1-12 I Andrew Murch I Off the FenceMatthew 2:1-12 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.” 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, for so it is written by the prophet: “ ‘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.' ” Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them whattime 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.” 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. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 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. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.I. News of Christ threatens those who resist him. (1-9a)a. Those drawing near to Christ come from far way. (1-2)b. Those long expecting Christ are surprisingly troubled. (3-9a)II. Jesus gives joy to those who worship him. (9b-12)a. The wise men experience great joy. (9b-10)b. The true king deserves all worship. (11-12)Whether worshipped or rejected, Jesus reigns.

Click here to WATCH LIVE STREAM Worship Service on our Youtube Channel. “Christmas, Part 2” Matthew 2 Micah 5:2-6 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. 3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel. 4 And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. 5 And he shall be their peace. When the Assyrian comes into our land and treads in our palaces, then we will raise against him seven shepherds and eight princes of men; 6 they shall shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod at its entrances; and he shall deliver us from the Assyrian when he comes into our land and treads within our border.   Matthew 2:1-2 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.”   Numbers 24:17 …a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel…   Matthew 2:3-4 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.   Matthew 2:5-6 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.'”   Micah 5:2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.   2 Samuel 5:2 In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. And the Lord said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel.'”   Matthew 2:7-8 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.”   Matthew 2:9 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.   Matthew 2:10-12 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.   Matthew 2:13-15 Now when they had 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 until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”   Exodus 4:21-23 And the LORD said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles that I have put in your power. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go. 22 Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the LORD, Israel is my firstborn son, 23 and I say to you, “Let my son go that he may serve me.” If you refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son.'” Hosea 11:1 When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.   Galatians 3:16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ.    Matthew 2:16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, 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 that he had ascertained from the wise men.   Genesis 3:15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.   Matthew 2:17-18 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: 18 “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.”   Jeremiah 31:15-17 Thus says the LORD: “A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more.” 16 Thus says the LORD: “Keep your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears, for there is a reward for your work, declares the LORD,   and they shall come back from the land of the enemy. 17 There is hope for your future, declares the LORD, and your children shall come back to their own country.   Jeremiah 33:14-16 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 15 In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 16 In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness.'   Mathew 2:19-21 But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 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.” 21 And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel.   Matthew 2:22-23 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning 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. 23 And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene. John 1:46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”   Jesus is our true deliverer.   Colossians 1:13-14 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.   Jesus is our true comforter.   Matthew 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.   Jesus is our true King.   Isaiah 11:1 There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. Isaiah 53:2-3 For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Respond | Connect | Next Steps The post Christmas 2 appeared first on Charleston Baptist Church.

Australia honors victims of Hanukkah event terror attack. Security cabinet approves recognition of 19 settlements in Judea and Samaria. In deepening row with defense minister, IDF chief staff publicly urges swift approval of Navy commander nominee.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Israel Gantz, governor of the Binyamin Regional Council, and the chairman of the Yesha Council, welcomed the government’s decision to approve 19 new communities in Judea and Samaria. He told reporter Arieh O’Sullivan that the approvals were for existing communities as well as new ones yet to be built. He said that besides two communities being resurrected (Ganim and Kadim) approval for a third one (Sanur) was also in the pipeline. (photo: Nasser Ishtayeh/flash90)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and Philip his brother tetrarch of Iturea, and the country of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilina;Anno autem quintodecimo imperii Tiberii Caesaris, procurante Pontio Pilato Judaeam, tetrarcha autem Galiaeae Herode, Philippo autem fratre ejus tetrarcha Ituraeae, et Trachonitidis regionis, et Lysania Abilinae tetrarcha, 2 Under the high priests Annas and Caiphas; the word of the Lord was made unto John, the son of Zachary, in the desert.sub principibus sacerdotum Anna et Caipha : factum est verbum Domini super Joannem, Zachariae filium, in deserto. 3 And he came into all the country about the Jordan, preaching the baptism of penance for the remission of sins;Et venit in omnem regionem Jordanis, praedicans baptismum poenitentiae in remissionem peccatorum, 4 As it was written in the book of the sayings of Isaias the prophet: A voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.sicut scriptum est in libro sermonum Isaiae prophetae : Vox clamantis in deserto : Parate viam Domini; rectas facite semitas ejus : 5 Every valley shall be filled; and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight; and the rough ways plain;omnis vallis implebitur, et omnis mons, et collis humiliabitur : et erunt prava in directa, et aspera in vias planas : 6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.et videbit omnis caro salutare Dei.

Today’s Topics: 1) Gospel – Luke 1:5-25 – In the days of Herod, King of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah of the priestly division of Abijah; his wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both were righteous in the eyes of God, observing all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren and both were advanced in years. Once when he was serving as priest in his division's turn before God, according to the practice of the priestly service, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to burn incense. Then, when the whole assembly of the people was praying outside at the hour of the incense offering, the angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right of the altar of incense. Zechariah was troubled by what he saw, and fear came upon him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He will drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb, and he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of fathers toward children and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to prepare a people fit for the Lord.” Then Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” And the angel said to him in reply, “I am Gabriel, who stand before God. I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news. But now you will be speechless and unable to talk until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.” Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah and were amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary. But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He was gesturing to them but remained mute. Then, when his days of ministry were completed, he went home. After this time his wife Elizabeth conceived, and she went into seclusion for five months, saying, “So has the Lord done for me at a time when he has seen fit to take away my disgrace before others.” Bishop Sheen quote of the day

====================================================SUSCRIBETEhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNpffyr-7_zP1x1lS89ByaQ?sub_confirmation=1================================================= DEVOCIÓN MATUTINA PARA MENORES 2025“PALABRITAS DE CORAZÓN”Narrado por: Tatania DanielaDesde: Juliaca, PerúUna cortesía de DR'Ministries y Canaan Seventh-Day Adventist Church ===================|| www.drministries.org ||===================21 de DiciembreMuchos kilómetros de viaje«Como José era descendiente del rey David, tuvo que ir a Belén de Judea, el antiguo hogar de David. Viajó hacia allí desde la aldea de Nazaret de Galilea». Lucas 2:4.María y José necesitaban llegar a la ciudad de Belén y, para ello, tuvieron que recorrer unos 120 kilómetros. Hoy en día tenemos aviones, automóviles y autobuses, y esa distancia se puede recorrer en poco tiempo.Pero en aquella época no contaban con estos medios de transporte. Debían caminar o montar animales. Fue un viaje difícil. María estaba embarazada y pronto nacería el Niño Jesús.¿Alguna vez has hecho un viaje largo? Es agotador, ¿no te parece? Nos da ganas de tomar agua, ir al baño, comer algo, estirar un poco las piernas, jugar, volver a ir al baño... Viajar es realmente bueno, pero en algunas situaciones requiere de un gran esfuerzo.El camino de María y José fue difícil. Avanzaban por el camino sin ver la ciudad de Belén, hasta que, a lo lejos, vieron luces y oyeron ruidos. ¡Estaban llegando!Hay una agradable sensación de victoria y alegría cuando logramos algo que realmente queríamos. La pareja se alegró mucho al llegar a Belén, y más todavía cuando nació Jesús y vieron el rostro de Aquel que traería esperanza a la humanidad.Mi oración: Querido Dios, te doy gracias por las victorias que le das a mi familia. 

1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and Philip his brother tetrarch of Iturea, and the country of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilina;Anno autem quintodecimo imperii Tiberii Caesaris, procurante Pontio Pilato Judaeam, tetrarcha autem Galiaeae Herode, Philippo autem fratre ejus tetrarcha Ituraeae, et Trachonitidis regionis, et Lysania Abilinae tetrarcha, 2 Under the high priests Annas and Caiphas; the word of the Lord was made unto John, the son of Zachary, in the desert.sub principibus sacerdotum Anna et Caipha : factum est verbum Domini super Joannem, Zachariae filium, in deserto. 3 And he came into all the country about the Jordan, preaching the baptism of penance for the remission of sins;Et venit in omnem regionem Jordanis, praedicans baptismum poenitentiae in remissionem peccatorum, 4 As it was written in the book of the sayings of Isaias the prophet: A voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.sicut scriptum est in libro sermonum Isaiae prophetae : Vox clamantis in deserto : Parate viam Domini; rectas facite semitas ejus : 5 Every valley shall be filled; and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight; and the rough ways plain;omnis vallis implebitur, et omnis mons, et collis humiliabitur : et erunt prava in directa, et aspera in vias planas : 6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.et videbit omnis caro salutare Dei.The day of mercy is coming proclaimed by St John the Baptist.

Hacer click aquí para enviar sus comentarios a este cuento.Juan David Betancur Fernandezelnarradororal@gmail.comHabía una vez una pareja llamada Jose y Maria Y como veíamos ayer había emprendido un difícil viaje desde Nazaret hasta Belen. Ya no estaban cerca de los riachuelos de su casa. Ahora estaban en el Desierto de Judea, Donde las montañas de arena y piedra parecen gigantes dormidos y donde la falta de agua hace más difícil pasar por allí. No había sombra. El sol brillaba tanto que José  y maría tenían  que ponerse su manto sobre la cabeza para no quemarse con aquel Sol.El viento Soplaba fuerte y les llenaba la ropa y el pelo de arena fina. Era un trayecto difícil, pero la esperanza siempre estaba acompanandolos peso a las dificultades del camino.En el día 5, José cuidaba la cantimplora de cuero como si fuera un tesoro. Cada sorbito de agua era para María. José, aunque tenía mucha sed, prefería que ella y el bebé estuvieran hidratados.María, al ver a José tan cansado, le compartía de su pan y le decía palabras bonitas para que él no se rindiera. ¡Se daban ánimos el uno al otro!En este día, el burrito ya estaba cansado. Sus patitas subían y bajaban por las piedras del camino. María le acariciaba las orejas y le susurraba: "Gracias, amiguito, ya casi llegamos". Pero el burrito sabía que llevaba una carga muy especial y caminaba con mucho cuidado para no tropezarse y que María no se cayera.Cuando llegó la noche del día 5, José buscó una cueva pequeña entre las rocas para protegerse del viento frío de la noche.Comieron dátiles (unas frutas muy dulces del desierto), pan seco y un poquito de queso.Todo estaba en silencio absoluto. Solo se escuchaba el fuego de la pequeña fogata y el sonido de los grillos. María miraba las estrellas y sentía que una de ellas brillaba más que las demás... ¡como si las estrellas también estuvieran emocionadas por el nacimiento de Jesús!Ellos no tenían miedo. Aunque estaban en medio de la nada, sentían en su corazón una paz increíble. Sabían que Dios era su guía. José revisaba las sandalias de María para ver si estaban bien y preparaba el camino para el día siguiente. Y así sabiendo que estarían a un día de camino de Belen y que Dios los acompañaba se prepararon para dormir

Speaker Mike Johnson got it right: "The Bible is clear. Judea and Samaria are the land of Israel. I don't understand why we debate this anew every single day." While the world stumbles in drunkenness over Israel (Zechariah 12), believers must stand firm on God's promises. The Gog-Magog coalition is forming—Russia, Iran, Turkey, and Sudan aligning exactly as Ezekiel 38-39 predicted.But here's our hope: Titus 2:13 reminds us we're "looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ." This Christmas season, anchor your soul in Christ alone. The stage is set, prophecy is being fulfilled, and our redemption draws near.#ProphecyUpdate #Israel #EndTimes #BlessedHope #Titus213

Gospel Luke 1:5-25 In the days of Herod, King of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah of the priestly division of Abijah; his wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both were righteous in the eyes of God, observing all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren and both were advanced in years. Once when he was serving as priest in his division's turn before God, according to the practice of the priestly service, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to burn incense. Then, when the whole assembly of the people was praying outside at the hour of the incense offering, the angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right of the altar of incense. Zechariah was troubled by what he saw, and fear came upon him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He will drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb, and he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of fathers toward children and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to prepare a people fit for the Lord.” Then Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” And the angel said to him in reply, “I am Gabriel, who stand before God. I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news. But now you will be speechless and unable to talk until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.” Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah and were amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary. But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He was gesturing to them but remained mute. Then, when his days of ministry were completed, he went home. After this time his wife Elizabeth conceived, and she went into seclusion for five months, saying, “So has the Lord done for me at a time when he has seen fit to take away my disgrace before others.” Reflection We have another story about someone being invited by God to participate in the evolution of the salvation of humanity. Individuals called into this role. And it is fascinating that there are a number of them, Abraham for one, Mary, and now Elizabeth.  Where there is a miraculous birth, not just an ordinary birth, but something is given at a moment that is going to have to take time to germinate, to grow and to find fullness. The beautiful image of the way God works with you and with me. An insight comes a new way of seeing something, and all of a sudden it changes everything slowly and evolves until it gives birth to virtue, to a new life. God is always interested in new birth. That's what this season of Christmas is leading us to. The most important image that we could have of God's will to become one of us. Closing Prayer Father, you continue to reveal the natural way in which you invite us to be engaged with you in this work of salvation history. Open us to all the images in Scripture, all the ways in which we have experienced our own personal life, and let us pay attention to these moments of new birth. Of being infused with a new insight in the delight of watching your grace bring it to fullness. We ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the days of Herod, King of Judea,there was a priest named Zechariahof the priestly division of Abijah;his wife was from the daughters of Aaron,and her name was Elizabeth.Both were righteous in the eyes of God,observing all the commandmentsand ordinances of the Lord blamelessly.But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barrenand both were advanced in years.Once when he was serving as priestin his division's turn before God,according to the practice of the priestly service,he was chosen by lotto enter the sanctuary of the Lord to burn incense.Then, when the whole assembly of the people was praying outsideat the hour of the incense offering,the angel of the Lord appeared to him,standing at the right of the altar of incense.Zechariah was troubled by what he saw, and fear came upon him.But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah,because your prayer has been heard.Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son,and you shall name him John.And you will have joy and gladness,and many will rejoice at his birth,for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.He will drink neither wine nor strong drink.He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb,and he will turn many of the children of Israelto the Lord their God.He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijahto turn the hearts of fathers toward childrenand the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous,to prepare a people fit for the Lord.”Then Zechariah said to the angel,“How shall I know this?For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.”And the angel said to him in reply,“I am Gabriel, who stand before God.I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news.But now you will be speechless and unable to talkuntil the day these things take place,because you did not believe my words,which will be fulfilled at their proper time.”Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariahand were amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary.But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them,and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary.He was gesturing to them but remained mute.Then, when his days of ministry were completed, he went home.After this time his wife Elizabeth conceived,and she went into seclusion for five months, saying,“So has the Lord done for me at a time when he has seen fitto take away my disgrace before others.”

Meditación del Evangelio según San Lucas 1, 5-25 por el biblista P. Norberto Padilla, misionero claretiano.Viernes 19/dic/2025, Gabriel anuncia el nacimiento de Juan Bautista.Canción: Sostenme (2020), de Athenas & Nico Cabrera----------Lectura del santo evangelio según san Lucas 1, 5-25En tiempos de Herodes, rey de Judea, había un hombre llamado Zacarías, del turno de Abías, casado con una descendiente de Aarón, llamada Isabel. Los dos eran justos delante de Dios, y caminaban sin faltas según los mandamientos y las leyes del Señor. No tenían hijos, porque Isabel era estéril y los dos eran de edad avanzada. Una vez que oficiaba delante de Dios, con el grupo de su turno, según el ritual de los sacerdotes, le tocó a él entrar en el santuario del Señor a ofrecer el incienso. La muchedumbre del pueblo estaba afuera rezando durante la ofrenda del incienso. Y se le apareció el ángel del Señor, de pie, a la derecha del altar del incienso. Al verlo, Zacarías se sobresaltó y quedó sobrecogido de temor. Pero el ángel le dijo: "No temas, Zacarías, porque tu ruego ha sido escuchado. Tu mujer, Isabel, te dará un hijo, y le pondrás por nombre Juan. Te llenarás de alegría y muchos se algrarán de su nacimiendo, pues será grande a los ojos del Señor; no beberá vino ni licor, se llenará de Espíritu Santo ya en el vientre materno y convertirá a muchos israelitas al Señor su Dios; irá delante del Señor con el espíritu y el poder de Elías, para convertir los corazones de los padres hacia los hijos, y a los desobedientes, a la sensatez de los justos, preparando para el Señor, un pueblo bien dispuesto". Zacarías replicó al ángel: "¿Cómo estaré seguro de eso? Porque yo soy viejo y mi mujer es de edad avanzada". El ángel le contestó: "Yo soy Gabriel, que sirvo en presencia de Dios. He sido enviado a hablarte para darte esta buena noticia. Pero mira, te quedarás mudo sin poder hablar hasta el día en que esto suceda, porque no has dado fe a mis palabras que se cumplirán en su momento." El pueblo estaba aguardando a Zacarías sorprendido de que tardase tanto en el santuario. Al salir no podía hablarles y ellos comprendieron que había tenido una visión en el santuario. Él les hablaba por señas porque seguía mudo. Al cumplirse los días de su servicio en el templo, volvió a su casa. Días después concibió Isabel, su mujer, y estuvo sin salir cinco meses diciendo: "Así me ha tratado el Señor. Cuando se ha dignado quitar mi afrenta ante los hombres".Palabra del Señor... Gloria a ti, Señor Jesús#SoyClaretiano #Evangelio #MisionerosClaretianos #CMFAntillasIntro: Lámpara Es Tu Palabra, de Ain Karem

+ Evangelio de nuestro Señor Jesucristo según san Lucas 1, 5-25En tiempos de Herodes, rey de Judea, había un sacerdote llamado Zacarías, de la clase sacerdotal de Abías. Su mujer, llamada Isabel, era descendiente de Aarón. Ambos eran justos a los ojos de Dios y seguían en forma irreprochable todos los mandamientos y preceptos del Señor. Pero no tenían hijos, porque Isabel era estéril; y los dos eran de edad avanzada.Un día en que su clase estaba de turno y Zacarías ejercía la función sacerdotal delante de Dios, le tocó en suerte, según la costumbre litúrgica, entrar en el Santuario del Señor para quemar el incienso. Toda la asamblea del pueblo permanecía afuera, en oración, mientras se ofrecía el incienso.Entonces se le apareció el Ángel del Señor, de pie, a la derecha del altar del incienso. Al verlo, Zacarías quedó desconcertado y tuvo miedo. Pero el Ángel le dijo: «No temas, Zacarías; tu súplica ha sido escuchada. Isabel, tu esposa, te dará un hijo al que llamarás Juan. El será para ti un motivo de gozo y de alegría, y muchos se alegrarán de su nacimiento, porque será grande a los ojos del Señor. No beberá vino ni bebida alcohólica; estará lleno del Espíritu Santo desde el seno de su madre, y hará que muchos israelitas vuelvan al Señor, su Dios. Precederá al Señor con el espíritu y el poder de Elías, para reconciliar a los padres con sus hijos y atraer a los rebeldes a la sabiduría de los justos, preparando así al Señor un Pueblo bien dispuesto.»Pero Zacarías dijo al Ángel: « ¿Cómo puedo estar seguro de esto? Porque yo soy anciano y mi esposa es de edad avanzada.»El Ángel le respondió: «Yo soy Gabriel, el que está delante de Dios, y he sido enviado para hablarte y anunciarte esta buena noticia. Te quedarás mudo, sin poder hablar hasta el día en que sucedan estas cosas, por no haber creído en mis palabras, que se cumplirán a su debido tiempo.»Mientras tanto, el pueblo estaba esperando a Zacarías, extrañado de que permaneciera tanto tiempo en el Santuario. Cuando salió, no podía hablarles, y todos comprendieron que había tenido alguna visión en el Santuario. El se expresaba por señas, porque se había quedado mudo.Al cumplirse el tiempo de su servicio en el Templo, regresó a su casa. Poco después, su esposa Isabel concibió un hijo y permaneció oculta durante cinco meses. Ella pensaba: «Esto es lo que el Señor ha hecho por mí, cuando decidió librarme de lo que me avergonzaba ante los hombres.»Palabra del Señor.

Lc 1,5-25.En tiempos de Herodes, rey de Judea, había un sacerdote llamado Zacarías, de la clase sacerdotal de Abías. Su mujer, llamada Isabel, era descendiente de Aarón.Ambos eran justos a los ojos de Dios y seguían en forma irreprochable todos los mandamientos y preceptos del Señor.Pero no tenían hijos, porque Isabel era estéril; y los dos eran de edad avanzada.Un día en que su clase estaba de turno y Zacarías ejercía la función sacerdotal delante de Dios,le tocó en suerte, según la costumbre litúrgica, entrar en el Santuario del Señor para quemar el incienso.Toda la asamblea del pueblo permanecía afuera, en oración, mientras se ofrecía el incienso.Entonces se le apareció el Angel del Señor, de pie, a la derecha del altar del incienso.Al verlo, Zacarías quedó desconcertado y tuvo miedo.Pero el Angel le dijo: "No temas, Zacarías; tu súplica ha sido escuchada. Isabel, tu esposa, te dará un hijo al que llamarás Juan.El será para ti un motivo de gozo y de alegría, y muchos se alegrarán de su nacimiento,porque será grande a los ojos del Señor. No beberá vino ni bebida alcohólica; estará lleno del Espíritu Santo desde el seno de su madre,y hará que muchos israelitas vuelvan al Señor, su Dios.Precederá al Señor con el espíritu y el poder de Elías, para reconciliar a los padres con sus hijos y atraer a los rebeldes a la sabiduría de los justos, preparando así al Señor un Pueblo bien dispuesto".Pero Zacarías dijo al Angel: "¿Cómo puedo estar seguro de esto? Porque yo soy anciano y mi esposa es de edad avanzada".El Angel le respondió: "Yo soy Gabriel , el que está delante de Dios, y he sido enviado para hablarte y anunciarte esta buena noticia.Te quedarás mudo, sin poder hablar hasta el día en que sucedan estas cosas, por no haber creído en mis palabras, que se cumplirán a su debido tiempo".Mientras tanto, el pueblo estaba esperando a Zacarías, extrañado de que permaneciera tanto tiempo en el Santuario.Cuando salió, no podía hablarles, y todos comprendieron que había tenido alguna visión en el Santuario. El se expresaba por señas, porque se había quedado mudo.Al cumplirse el tiempo de su servicio en el Templo, regresó a su casa.Poco después, su esposa Isabel concibió un hijo y permaneció oculta durante cinco meses.Ella pensaba: "Esto es lo que el Señor ha hecho por mí, cuando decidió librarme de lo que me avergonzaba ante los hombres".

En tiempos de Herodes, rey de Judea, había un sacerdote llamado Zacarías, de la clase sacerdotal de Abías. Su mujer, llamada Isabel, era descendiente de Aarón.Ambos eran justos a los ojos de Dios y seguían en forma irreprochable todos los mandamientos y preceptos del Señor.Pero no tenían hijos, porque Isabel era estéril; y los dos eran de edad avanzada.Un día en que su clase estaba de turno y Zacarías ejercía la función sacerdotal delante de Dios,le tocó en suerte, según la costumbre litúrgica, entrar en el Santuario del Señor para quemar el incienso.Toda la asamblea del pueblo permanecía afuera, en oración, mientras se ofrecía el incienso.Entonces se le apareció el Angel del Señor, de pie, a la derecha del altar del incienso.Al verlo, Zacarías quedó desconcertado y tuvo miedo.Pero el Angel le dijo: "No temas, Zacarías; tu súplica ha sido escuchada. Isabel, tu esposa, te dará un hijo al que llamarás Juan.El será para ti un motivo de gozo y de alegría, y muchos se alegrarán de su nacimiento,porque será grande a los ojos del Señor. No beberá vino ni bebida alcohólica; estará lleno del Espíritu Santo desde el seno de su madre,y hará que muchos israelitas vuelvan al Señor, su Dios.Precederá al Señor con el espíritu y el poder de Elías, para reconciliar a los padres con sus hijos y atraer a los rebeldes a la sabiduría de los justos, preparando así al Señor un Pueblo bien dispuesto".Pero Zacarías dijo al Angel: "¿Cómo puedo estar seguro de esto? Porque yo soy anciano y mi esposa es de edad avanzada".El Angel le respondió: "Yo soy Gabriel, el que está delante de Dios, y he sido enviado para hablarte y anunciarte esta buena noticia.Te quedarás mudo, sin poder hablar hasta el día en que sucedan estas cosas, por no haber creído en mis palabras, que se cumplirán a su debido tiempo".Mientras tanto, el pueblo estaba esperando a Zacarías, extrañado de que permaneciera tanto tiempo en el Santuario.Cuando salió, no podía hablarles, y todos comprendieron que había tenido alguna visión en el Santuario. El se expresaba por señas, porque se había quedado mudo.Al cumplirse el tiempo de su servicio en el Templo, regresó a su casa.Poco después, su esposa Isabel concibió un hijo y permaneció oculta durante cinco meses.Ella pensaba: "Esto es lo que el Señor ha hecho por mí, cuando decidió librarme de lo que me avergonzaba ante los hombres".

San Lucas 1, 5 – 25En tiempos de Herodes, rey de Judea, había un sacerdote llamado Zacarías, de la clase sacerdotal de Abías. Su mujer, llamada Isabel, era descendiente de Aarón. Ambos eran justos a los ojos de Dios y seguían en forma irreprochable todos los mandamientos y preceptos del Señor. Pero no tenían hijos, porque Isabel era estéril; y los dos eran de edad avanzada. Un día en que su clase estaba de turno y Zacarías ejercía la función sacerdotal delante de Dios, le tocó en suerte, según la costumbre litúrgica, entrar en el Santuario del Señor para quemar el incienso.Toda la asamblea del pueblo permanecía afuera, en oración, mientras se ofrecía el incienso. Entonces se le apareció el Ángel del Señor, de pie, a la derecha del altar del incienso. Al verlo, Zacarías quedó desconcertado y tuvo miedo. Pero el Ángel le dijo: «No temas, Zacarías; tu súplica ha sido escuchada. Isabel, tu esposa, te dará un hijo al que llamarás Juan. El será para ti un motivo de gozo y de alegría, y muchos se alegrarán de su nacimiento, porque será grande a los ojos del Señor. No beberá vino ni bebida alcohólica; estará lleno del Espíritu Santo desde el seno de su madre, y hará que muchos israelitas vuelvan al Señor, su Dios. Precederá al Señor con el espíritu y el poder de Elías, para reconciliar a los padres con sus hijos y atraer a los rebeldes a la sabiduría de los justos, preparando así al Señor un Pueblo bien dispuesto».Pero Zacarías dijo al Ángel: «¿Cómo puedo estar seguro de esto? Porque yo soy anciano y mi esposa es de edad avanzada». El Ángel le respondió: «Yo soy Gabriel, el que está delante de Dios, y he sido enviado para hablarte y anunciarte esta buena noticia. Te quedarás mudo, sin poder hablar hasta el día en que sucedan estas cosas, por no haber creído en mis palabras, que se cumplirán a su debido tiempo».Mientras tanto, el pueblo estaba esperando a Zacarías, extrañado de que permaneciera tanto tiempo en el Santuario. Cuando salió, no podía hablarles, y todos comprendieron que había tenido alguna visión en el Santuario. Él se expresaba por señas, porque se había quedado mudo. Al cumplirse el tiempo de su servicio en el Templo, regresó a su casa. Poco después, su esposa Isabel concibió un hijo y permaneció oculta durante cinco meses. Ella pensaba: «Esto es lo que el Señor ha hecho por mí, cuando decidió librarme de lo que me avergonzaba ante los hombres».…………….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

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[b] 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.'”Matthew 2:1-6 DAWN OF THE KINGNow 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.'”Matthew 2:1-6IT'S PART OF OUR NATURE TO DESIRE TO BE LED.IT'S PART OF OUR FALLEN NATURE TO DESIRE TO LEAD.4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah 5 and said to him, “Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.” 6 But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them. 8 According to all the deeds that they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you. 9 Now then, obey their voice; only you shall solemnly warn them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them.”1 Samuel 8:4-9KINGS RULE THROUGH POWER 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[b] and have come to worship him.”Matthew 2:1-2“Herod trembles at the report of Christ's birth, because tyrants are tormented by the mere shadow of a rival.”John Calvin16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, 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 that he had ascertained from the wise men. Matthew 2:16Augustus famously quipped it was “safer to be Herod's pig than his son.”“Herod's actions fit precisely what we know of his character from history; Matthew is not inventing a villain but unveiling the true nature of power threatened by God.”Craig KeenerKINGS RULE THROUGH HYPOCRISY3 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.'”Matthew 2:1-6They preach Christ to others and remain at home themselves. Thus God's Word becomes a servant of pride rather than a call to repentance.Martin Luther“Those who know the Scriptures best are often the least prepared for the kingdom when it actually arrives.”N.T. Wright22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. James 1:24YOU WILL BECOME LIKE THE PERSON YOU ARE FOLLOWING.KINGS RULE THROUGH SACRIFICE 12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant[c] is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.John 13:12-17WHO WILL YOU FOLLOW?

Muchos más recursos para tu vida de fe (Santo Rosario, Oración, etc.) en nuestra web https://sercreyente.com________________Viernes, 19 de diciembre de 2025 (3ª Semana de Adviento)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/isabel-te-dara-un-hijo-y-le-pondras-por-nombre-juan/[Lucas 1, 5-25] En los días de Herodes, rey de Judea, había un sacerdote de nombre Zacarías, del turno de Abías, casado con una descendiente de Aarón, cuyo nombre era Isabel. Los dos eran justos ante Dios, y caminaban sin falta según los mandamientos y leyes del Señor. No tenían hijos, porque Isabel era estéril, y los dos eran de edad avanzada. Una vez que oficiaba delante de Dios con el grupo de su turno, según la costumbre de los sacerdotes, le tocó en suerte a él entrar en el santuario del Señor a ofrecer el incienso; la muchedumbre del pueblo estaba fuera rezando durante la ofrenda del incienso. Y se le apareció el ángel del Señor, de pie a la derecha del altar del incienso. Al verlo, Zacarías se sobresaltó y quedó sobrecogido de temor. Pero el ángel le dijo: «No temas, Zacarías, porque tu ruego ha sido escuchado: tu mujer Isabel te dará un hijo, y le pondrás por nombre Juan. Te llenarás de alegría y gozo, y muchos se alegrarán de su nacimiento. Pues será grande a los ojos del Señor: no beberá vino ni licor; estará lleno del Espíritu Santo ya en el vientre materno, y convertirá muchos hijos de Israel al Señor, su Dios. Irá delante del Señor, con el espíritu y poder de Elías, para convertir los corazones de los padres hacia los hijos, y a los desobedientes, a la sensatez de los justos, para preparar al Señor un pueblo bien dispuesto». Zacarías replicó al ángel: «¿Cómo estaré seguro de eso? Porque yo soy viejo, y mi mujer es de edad avanzada». Respondiendo el ángel, le dijo: «Yo soy Gabriel, que sirvo en presencia de Dios; he sido enviado para hablarte y comunicarte esta buena noticia. Pero te quedarás mudo, sin poder hablar, hasta el día en que esto suceda, porque no has dado fe a mis palabras, que se cumplirán en su momento oportuno». El pueblo, que estaba aguardando a Zacarías, se sorprendía de que tardase tanto en el santuario. Al salir no podía hablarles, y ellos comprendieron que había tenido una visión en el santuario. Él les hablaba por señas, porque seguía mudo. Al cumplirse los días de su servicio en el templo, volvió a casa. Días después concibió Isabel, su mujer, y estuvo sin salir de casa cinco meses, diciendo: «Esto es lo que ha hecho por mí el Señor, cuando se ha fijado en mí para quitar mi oprobio ante la gente».________________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

+ Del Evangelio según san Lucas +Hubo en tiempo de Herodes, rey de Judea, un sacerdote llamado Zacarías, del grupo de Abías, casado con una descendiente de Aarón, llamada Isabel. Ambos eran justos a los ojos de Dios, pues vivían irreprochablemente, cumpliendo los mandamientos y disposiciones del Señor. Pero no tenían hijos, porque Isabel era estéril y los dos, de avanzada edad.Un día en que le correspondía a su grupo desempeñar ante Dios los oficios sacerdotales, le tocó a Zacarías, según la costumbre de los sacerdotes, entrar al santuario del Señor para ofrecer el incienso, mientras todo el pueblo estaba afuera, en oración, a la hora de la incensación.Se le apareció entonces un ángel del Señor, de pie, a la derecha del altar del incienso. Al verlo, Zacarías se sobresaltó y un gran temor se apoderó de él. Pero el ángel le dijo: "No temas, Zacarías, porque tu súplica ha sido escuchada. Isabel, tu mujer, te dará un hijo, a quien le pondrás el nombre de Juan. Tú te llenarás de alegría y regocijo, y otros muchos se alegrarán también de su nacimiento, pues él será grande a los ojos del Señor; no beberá vino ni licor y estará lleno del Espíritu Santo, ya desde el seno de su madre. Convertirá a muchos israelitas al Señor; irá delante del Señor con el espíritu y el poder de Elías, para convertir los corazones de los padres hacia sus hijos, dar a los rebeldes la cordura de los justos y prepararle así al Señor un pueblo dispuesto a recibirlo".Pero Zacarías replicó: "¿Cómo podré estar seguro de esto? Porque yo ya soy viejo y mi mujer también es de edad avanzada". El ángel le contestó: "Yo soy Gabriel, el que asiste delante de Dios. He sido enviado para hablar contigo y darte esta buena noticia. Ahora tú quedarás mudo y no podrás hablar hasta el día en que todo esto suceda, por no haber creído en mis palabras, que se cumplirán a su debido tiempo".Mientras tanto, el pueblo estaba aguardando a Zacarías y se extrañaba de que tardara tanto en el santuario. Al salir no pudo hablar y en esto conocieron que había tenido una visión en el santuario. Entonces trató de hacerse entender por señas y permaneció mudo. Al terminar los días de su ministerio, volvió a su casa. Poco después concibió Isabel, su mujer, y durante cinco meses no se dejó ver, pues decía: "Esto es obra del Señor. Por fin se dignó quitar el oprobio que pesaba sobre mí".Palabra del Señor.

John 11:16 Therefore Thomas, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, so that we may die with Him." Doesn't Thomas give us hope? Sometimes we are like Thomas, the ever-doubting, pessimistic Thomas. But I wonder if there's something more admirable revealed here. I don't know if he was being facetious or not. “Yep, let's all just go with Him. We're all gonna die anyway.” Or if he seriously thought, “If he goes to Judea, they're gonna kill Him, and we might as well die with Him as live without Him.” Have you come to the point that you would rather die with Jesus than live without Him? How often have you been faced with the fact that if you have to love a certain person, it'll kill you? So rather than go with Jesus and die with Him, you decided to preserve your life and live without Him. Interesting thoughts, Yes? What do you think? Apparently the rest of the disciples thought about it, and decided it was better to die with Him than live without Him. What do we have to die to to live to love with Jesus?

Sinónimo hoy de traidor, Judas es conocido como el discípulo ferviente que acaba abandonando a Jesús.Poncio Pilatos, gobernador romano de Judea, tiene que tomar una decisión sobre un problemático predicador llamado Jesús.

DIOOOOOOS ESTAAAAA AQUIIIIIIII ...

====================================================SUSCRIBETEhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNpffyr-7_zP1x1lS89ByaQ?sub_confirmation=1====================================================DEVOCIÓN   MATUTINA PARA ADULTOS 2025“CON JESÚS HOY”Narrado por: Exyomara AvilaDesde: Bogotá, ColombiaUna cortesía de DR'Ministries y Canaan Seventh-Day Adventist Church ===================|| www.drministries.org ||===================18 de DiciembreLas piedras desaparecen: la promesa permanece«Jesús salió del templo y, cuando ya se iba, se acercaron sus discípulos para mostrarle los edificios del templo. Respondiendo él, les dijo: ¿Veis todo esto? De cierto os digo que no quedará aquí piedra sobre piedra que no sea derribada"» (Mat. 24: 1-2).El templo de Jerusalén (llamado por los historiadores «el Segundo Templo»), recién reconstruido entonces por iniciativa del rey Herodes el Grande sobre una plataforma sostenida por enormes bloques de piedra, era el orgullo de la nación de Israel. No es de extrañar que los discípulos de Jesús se sintiesen impresionados por su esplendor. Las palabras del Maestro debieron de chocarles, porque el templo representaba para sus compatriotas la presencia de Dios entre su pueblo.Sin embargo, menos de cuarenta años más tarde, en el año 70 d.C., las legiones romanas destruyeron Jerusalén e incendiaron el templo. Un bajorrelieve del llamado arco de Tito, levantado en Roma para conmemorar la victoria de ese general sobre Judea, representa a unos soldados llevando como trofeo el candelabro que iluminaba el lugar santo. Si algo había quedado de Jerusalén, fue completamente arrasado en el año 135 por el emperador Adriano.El famoso «Muro de las Lamentaciones» es solo parte de la inmensa plataforma de piedras que sostenía la explanada sobre la que se asentaba el templo.Por si esta eliminación de vestigios no fuera suficiente, el 18 de octubre del año 2016 el Consejo Ejecutivo de la Unesco «votaba» en París «la no existencia de vínculos entre el pueblo de Israel y las ruinas del Templo de Jerusalén». Como si la realidad histórica, como si la evidencia visible, fuera votable y solo dependiera de la opinión de una mayoría.De este Consejo, formado por 58 países, veinticuatro votaron a favor de borrar cualquier relación entre Israel y el antiguo templo. Solo seis (Estados Unidos, Alemania, Gran Bretaña, Lituania, Estonia y Países Bajos), se pronunciaron en defensa de la evidencia histórica de que Israel tuvo allí su templo. Hubo veintiséis abstenciones y dos ausencias.Esto significa que la destrucción profetizada por Jesús de que no quedaría del templo piedra sobre piedra se ha cumplido, tan literalmente que para muchos ya ha comenzado a desaparecer hasta la memoria de aquellas piedras.El templo había servido como símbolo visible de la presencia invisible de Dios entre nosotros (Éxo. 25: 8). En Jesús, Dios vino a habitar con nosotros (Juan 1: 14). Entonces y ahora Cristo es Emmanuel, «Dios con nosotros» (Mat. 1: 23).Tan fiable como su promesa de que nada quedaría de las piedras del templo, es la de que Jesús estará con nosotros «todos los días hasta el fin del mundo» (Mat. 28: 20). 

Dave Stotts of "Drive Thru History" heads to Bethlehem to explore the humble circumstances surrounding Jesus' birth, from the simple cave-like homes of first-century Judea to the Church of the Nativity, where early Christians marked the ...

Advent // Joy The word for Joy is the Greek word “Chara - Khar-ah,” meaning calm delight or cheerfulness, or “Chairo - Khah-ee-ro,” meaning to be calmly happy or well-off. Philippians 4:4 (KJV)"Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, Rejoice." Matthew 2:1-18 (NLT)“Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, ‘Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.' King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem. He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, ‘Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?' ‘In Bethlehem in Judea,' they said, ‘for this is what the prophet wrote: ‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are not least among the ruling cities of Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.' Then Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned from them the time when the star first appeared. Then he told them, ‘Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!' After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod. After the wise men were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. ‘Get up! Flee to Egypt with the child and his mother,' the angel said. ‘Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.' That night Joseph left for Egypt with the child and Mary, his mother, and they stayed there until Herod's death. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: ‘I called my Son out of Egypt.' Herod was furious when he realized that the wise men had outwitted him. He sent soldiers to kill all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under, based on the wise men's report of the star's first appearance. Herod's brutal action fulfilled what God had spoken through the prophet Jeremiah: a cry was heard in Ramah—weeping and great mourning. Rachel weeps for her children, refusing to be comforted, for they are dead.”      On a day when we announce good news of great joy. It doesn't sound very joyful…It is because of the Nature of this Joy.This is a Joy that is Stronger and Deeper than our Sorrows; A Joy that Cannot be Quenched by the Tragedies of Life; A Joy that can Sustain those who Suffer Great Loss.A Joy that Shines in the Darkness... Whatever the circumstances of our world and our lives, the message given to Joseph by the angel is true, and it's a message of joy—“Give him the name Jesus, because He will save His People from Their sins.” The Joy of Christmas is not just the Joy of personal salvation; it's the Joy of being part of something bigger, grander, and greater—it's the Joy of being able to participate in and cooperate with Christ in the coming and establishing of God's kingdom. It's in our coming together, it's in our unity of heart and purpose, it's in our giving and serving, it's in our intentionality in the midst of our community.It's the Joy of living out of all that we are blessed with to be a blessing to others.It's the Joy of being a participant in the message of salvation to the world. Joy to the World

CHRISTIAN ORACLES. Is that even a thing? Apparently there were early Christians who adapted writings attributed to the Sibyls, prophetesses who channeled messages from the “gods.” What do we make of this? Our esteemed panel, Dr. Judd Burton (BurtonBeyond.net), author of Interview With the Giant; Doug Van Dorn (DouglasVanDorn.com), author of Giants: Sons of the Gods; and Brian Godawa (Godawa.com), best-selling author of the theological thriller Cruel Logic, and two new novels based on the period of the Maccabees in Judea, discuss the historical context, significance, and the interplay between pagan and Christian thought found in the Sibylline Oracles.  We discuss the role of the Sibyls as ancient prophetesses, the legend of Nero Redivivus, and the implications of women as prophets in these texts. We also examine the cultural dynamics of the early church and how the Sibylline Oracles reflect messianic expectations and the incarnation of Christ.  Overall, the discussion highlights the complexity and richness of these ancient writings and their relevance to understanding early Christian theology. 

According to the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea sometime towards the end of King Herod the Great’s reign. Let’s learn more about what happened. Ee44. The Catholic Talk Show available at https://amzn.to/3QvHoZ3 Gospel of Matthew available at https://amzn.to/478RJjn ENJOY Ad-Free content, Bonus episodes, and Extra materials when joining our growing community on https://patreon.com/markvinet SUPPORT this channel by purchasing any product on Amazon using this FREE entry LINK https://amzn.to/3POlrUD (Amazon gives us credit at NO extra charge to you). Mark Vinet's HISTORY OF NORTH AMERICA podcast: www.parthenonpodcast.com/history-of-north-america Mark's TIMELINE video channel: https://youtube.com/c/TIMELINE_MarkVinet Website: https://markvinet.com/podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mark.vinet.9 Twitter: https://twitter.com/HistoricalJesu Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/denarynovels Mark's books: https://amzn.to/3k8qrGM Sources: The Catholic Talk Show podcast featuring Ryan DellaCrosse, Ryan Scheel, and Fr. Rich Pagano — Episode 23dec2019: 5 Things You Didn't Know About Christmas & The Birth of Christ. Audio excerpts reproduced under the Fair Use (Fair Dealings) Legal Doctrine for purposes such as criticism, comment, teaching, education, scholarship, research and news reporting.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John 11:12-13 The disciples then said to Him, "Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover. Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was speaking of literal sleep. We can't see what Jesus sees in any situation any more than the disciples could understand what Jesus understood about Lazarus' situation. Their limitations were understandable as are ours. This should teach us to trust Him and not lean on our own understanding. Let's remember, from their perspective, going back to Judea wasn't a good idea. Death awaited them. So when Jesus spoke of awakening Lazarus from sleep, they still thought, then there's no need to go. If sleep was the problem, then the recovery can happen without Jesus. From Jesus' perspective, death was mocking Him, and God had put this in His path. It was time to reveal His authority over death. If sin and death is the problem, then the waiting, going, and the power of Jesus were indispensable—He had to go, regardless of the dangers. Jesus showed us that even as death stared Him in the face, He was not afraid to look death in the face. Let's remember today that God's love conquers all our fears.

To become a follower of Jesus, visit: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/MeetJesus (NOT a Morning Mindset resource) ⇒ TODAY'S DAILY SPONSOR: Sponsoring in honor of my father, John, who beat cancer through faith, endurance and love. You can sponsor a daily episode of the Morning Mindset too, by going to https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/DailySponsor ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Luke 2:1–5 - 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. (ESV) ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE MORNING MINDSET: (not tax-deductible) -- Become a monthly partner: https://mm-gfk-partners.supercast.com/ -- Support a daily episode: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/daily-sponsor/ -- Give one-time: https://give.cornerstone.cc/careygreen -- Venmo: @CareyNGreen ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FOREIGN LANGUAGE VERSIONS OF THIS PODCAST: SPANISH version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Spanish HINDI version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Hindi CHINESE version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Chinese  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ CONTACT: Carey@careygreen.com  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ THEME MUSIC: “King’s Trailer” – Creative Commons 0 | Provided by https://freepd.com/ ***All NON-ENGLISH versions of the Morning Mindset are translated using A.I. Dubbing and Translation tools from DubFormer.ai ***All NON-ENGLISH text content (descriptions and titles) are translated using the A.I. functionality of Google Translate.

In this episode, host Lynne Hilton Wilson uncovers little-known details of the Nativity story by bringing together the unique accounts found in the books of Luke and Matthew. Dive deeper into Luke's intimate portrait of Mary—her lineage, her spiritual preparation, the symbolism of her “highly favored” calling, and the cultural realities she faced as a young mother in ancient Judea. Then explore Matthew's distinctive focus on Joseph—his royal Davidic heritage, his revelatory dreams, his quiet strength, and the legal and spiritual responsibilities he carried in protecting the Holy Family. Lynne illuminates how these two perspectives weave together a richer, more complete tapestry of the birth of Christ. This episode goes beyond the familiar Christmas narrative to highlight historical context, overlooked verses, and surprising insights that reveal the faith, courage, and divine guidance surrounding Jesus's arrival into the world. Perfect for viewers looking to deepen their understanding of the Nativity and appreciate the beauty in both Mary's and Joseph's stories.

Subscribe now to ditch the ads. Chag Sameach! Danny and Derek are joined by independent scholar Joseph Scales to talk about the history of Hanukkah. They discuss the rivalry between the Seleucid and Ptolemaic empires that preceded the conflict; the Maccabean/Hasmonean revolt and the family's ascension to power within Judea; the Judean expansion; and much more. Originally published November 27, 2021

And he [Zechariah] asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered. And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him. (Luke 1:63-66)

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com    The Mahotmetan writers suggest that Elizabeth was 89 years old… what does that say in the natural?      Luke 1: 5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.  **Blameless but childless Historically in these times it meant that Elizabeth was cursed, a sinner punished by God.   Only God knows your heart, your prayer your need   You can be blameless and wonder to God… what is happening.   You can be blameless and others won't see it.   advanced in years. GK Pro-bay-ee-No elderly saints    8 So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. There are over 20,000 priests and Zachariah is old… probably has given up on many of his dreams… Being able to go into the Holy of Holies Having a Child   10 And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. 11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, (STARE AT HIM) standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.   He's praying but not for a child… that has long passed!    Luke 1:18 And Zachariah said to the angel, By what shall I know and be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years. 19 And the angel replied to him, I am Gabriel. I stand in the [very] presence of God, and I have been sent to talk to you and to bring you this good news. 20 Now behold, you will be and will continue to be silent and not able to speak till the day when these things take place, because you have not believed what I told you; but my words are of a kind which will be fulfilled in the appointed and proper time.

Scripture: Matthew 2: 1-17 The Magi Visit the Messiah 2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi[a] 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.'[b]” 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. The Escape to Egypt 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.”[c] 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:

2000 years ago Rome and Judea united to kill Christ in fulfillment of the scriptures, and today — 2000 years later — they are still united against the true body of Christ until the very end. So learn the truth behind this dualistic scheme and come out of Babylon before it's too late. * 00:00 - Introduction* 13:38 - Typology* 23:31 - A History of Evil* 1:27:42 - Final Thoughts This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.danceoflife.com/subscribe

“In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, magi from the east came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star in the east and have come to pay him homage.” When they had heard the king, […]

Luke 1:39-45"At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,for he has been mindful      of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed,      for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him,     from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;      he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones     but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things     but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel,     remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever,      just as he promised our ancestors.”

QUOTES FOR REFLECTION “And I'm not talking about the distant future, where super intelligence leads us to traveling the galaxies and overcoming death and All that. I mean the nearer term future...in a world where we keep accelerating towards better and better and more capable AI...I think AI is uncategorically the best hope for accelerating prosperity. It will touch everything.” ~Guillaume Verdon, better known for his X handle “Beff Jezos”, as heard on episode 8“The Accelerationists” of the podcast The Last Invention, hosted by Gregory Warner. “Turning and turning in the widening gyreThe falcon cannot hear the falconer;Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world… The best lack all conviction, while the worstAre full of passionate intensity…A vast image …Troubles my sight:Somewhere in sands of the desertA shape with lion body and the head of a man,A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,Is moving its slow thighs, while all about itReel shadows of the indignant desert birds.The darkness drops again; but now I knowThat twenty centuries of stony sleepWere vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?”~Written about the bleakness of the future by William Butler Yeats in 1919 in the aftermath of WWI, the height of the global flu pandemic of 1918-19 which nearly killed his pregnant wife, the wake of the Easter uprising in Ireland against the British crown, and the beginning (in his view) of the collapse of the civilization Europe had spent the last 1600 years building.SERMON PASSAGE selected passages (NIV)Exodus 16 3 The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord's hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.” 4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions.” Deuteronomy 8 3 He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Micah 5 2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” Luke 2 1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.4 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. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 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. 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” 15 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.” 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.  John 6 35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty…” 51 “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”…58 “This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.”

We're so glad you are here! Thanks for checking out Sunday's message!-- SUNDAY'S NOTES --The prophetic fulfillment in the conception and birth of Jesus testify to the miracle of God's power!But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel, whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you on my behalf. Micah 5:2 NLTAt that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David's ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child. And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them. Luke 2:1-7 NLTGod's has the power to do both the improbable and impossible according to His will and purpose. To presume we know how God should act is to mistrust His sovereign wisdom and love. Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9:36 NLTI pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God's power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God's right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else, not only in this world but also in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. Ephesians 1:19-22 NLTTo believe God can't or doesn't do miracles today is to completely miss on the impact of His power and compassion! I dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!” The LORD is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him. Lamentations 3:21- 25 NLTOur hope is forever in the compassion and power of our ever-present, all-knowing, miracle working Messiah!-POEM-Our merciful messiah came in a mangerWith hidden strength soon to be shown. Immanuel here to save and to heal,His power and presence, He came to make known. The God who created the stars and the heavensCreated my inner most being too. A universe so large it's hard to conceiveWith tiny electrons for creations glue.God's power is boundless, beyond descriptionHis love is vast, and yet intimately near. Awe and honor are owed to our SaviorStill He calls us to come, no reason to fear.This world is caught in a cosmic conflictThe fight is for every heart and soulThe prince of darkness, the architect of brokenKill, steal, and destroy his only goal. Our fallen world in the pangs of deathIncludes various hellish hurts and painMany are we in need of a miracle Exactly the reason Immanuel came. The babe born at Christmas is here to heal Discontentment, addiction, broken bodies and heartsHis sovereign discernment guides His compassionHis Grace and mercy never miss the mark. -------------------------------------------------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 --The prophetic fulfillment in the conception and birth of Jesus testify to the miracle of God's power!But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel, whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you on my behalf. Micah 5:2 NLTAt that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David's ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child. And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them. Luke 2:1-7 NLTGod's has the power to do both the improbable and impossible according to His will and purpose. To presume we know how God should act is to mistrust His sovereign wisdom and love. Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9:36 NLTI pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God's power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God's right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else, not only in this world but also in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. Ephesians 1:19-22 NLTTo believe God can't or doesn't do miracles today is to completely miss on the impact of His power and compassion! I dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!” The LORD is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him. Lamentations 3:21- 25 NLTOur hope is forever in the compassion and power of our ever-present, all-knowing, miracle working Messiah!-POEM-Our merciful messiah came in a mangerWith hidden strength soon to be shown. Immanuel here to save and to heal,His power and presence, He came to make known. The God who created the stars and the heavensCreated my inner most being too. A universe so large it's hard to conceiveWith tiny electrons for creations glue.God's power is boundless, beyond descriptionHis love is vast, and yet intimately near. Awe and honor are owed to our SaviorStill He calls us to come, no reason to fear.This world is caught in a cosmic conflictThe fight is for every heart and soulThe prince of darkness, the architect of brokenKill, steal, and destroy his only goal. Our fallen world in the pangs of deathIncludes various hellish hurts and painMany are we in need of a miracle Exactly the reason Immanuel came. The babe born at Christmas is here to heal Discontentment, addiction, broken bodies and heartsHis sovereign discernment guides His compassionHis Grace and mercy never miss the mark. -------------------------------------------------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

CHRISTIAN ORACLES. Is that even a thing? Apparently there were Christians who adapted writings attributed to the Sibyls, prophetesses who channeled messages from the “gods.” What do we make of this? Our esteemed panel, Dr. Judd Burton (BurtonBeyond.net), author of Interview With the Giant; Doug Van Dorn (DouglasVanDorn.com), author of Giants: Sons of the Gods; and Brian Godawa (Godawa.com), best-selling author of the theological thriller Cruel Logic, and two new novels based on the period of the Maccabees in Judea, discuss the historical context, significance, and the interplay between pagan and Christian thought found in the Sibylline Oracles.  We discuss the role of the Sibyls as ancient prophetesses, the legend of Nero Redivivus, and the implications of women as prophets in these texts. We also examine the cultural dynamics of the early church and how the Sibylline Oracles reflect messianic expectations and the incarnation of Christ.  Overall, the discussion highlights the complexity and richness of these ancient writings and their relevance to understanding early Christian theology. 

To become a follower of Jesus, visit: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/MeetJesus (NOT a Morning Mindset resource) ⇒ TODAY'S DAILY SPONSOR: The cost of today’s episode is financially supported by David, from Ohio, who listens every morning. You can sponsor a daily episode of the Morning Mindset too, by going to https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/DailySponsor ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Luke 1:57–66 - Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. [58] And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. [59] And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, [60] but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.” [61] And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.” [62] And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. [63] And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered. [64] And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. [65] And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, [66] and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him. (ESV) ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE MORNING MINDSET: (not tax-deductible) -- Become a monthly partner: https://mm-gfk-partners.supercast.com/ -- Support a daily episode: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/daily-sponsor/ -- Give one-time: https://give.cornerstone.cc/careygreen -- Venmo: @CareyNGreen ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FOREIGN LANGUAGE VERSIONS OF THIS PODCAST: SPANISH version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Spanish HINDI version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Hindi CHINESE version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Chinese  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ CONTACT: Carey@careygreen.com  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ THEME MUSIC: “King’s Trailer” – Creative Commons 0 | Provided by https://freepd.com/ ***All NON-ENGLISH versions of the Morning Mindset are translated using A.I. Dubbing and Translation tools from DubFormer.ai ***All NON-ENGLISH text content (descriptions and titles) are translated using the A.I. functionality of Google Translate.

He's the villain of the Nativity. An alleged killer of innocents, remembered as one of history's great monsters. But the truth about Herod the Great is far more dramatic, far more complex, and far more shocking.On today's special episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes asks: who was the real Herod behind the legend and the infamy? Joined by Professor Benedict Eckhardt, Dr Kimberly Tchaikovsky and Professor Helen Bond, he charts the gripping rise of one of antiquity's most formidable and misunderstood rulers. From perilous beginnings to becoming Rome's chosen King of Judea, Herod's story blends Greek-style tragedy with ruthless Roman politics and features encounters with towering figures like Julius Caesar, Cleopatra and Mark Antony. Join us to step into the turbulent world of Roman Judea and discover how Herod defied the odds to seize his throne.MOREThe Wise Men:Listen on AppleListen on SpotifyThe Great Jewish Revolt:Listen on AppleListen on Spotify Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Aidan Lonergan. The producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.All music courtesy of Epidemic SoundsThe Ancients is a History Hit podcast.Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. You can take part in our listener survey here:https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, host Lynne Hilton Wilson uncovers little-known details of the Nativity story by bringing together the unique accounts found in the books of Luke and Matthew. Dive deeper into Luke's intimate portrait of Mary—her lineage, her spiritual preparation, the symbolism of her “highly favored” calling, and the cultural realities she faced as a young mother in ancient Judea. Then explore Matthew's distinctive focus on Joseph—his royal Davidic heritage, his revelatory dreams, his quiet strength, and the legal and spiritual responsibilities he carried in protecting the Holy Family. Lynne illuminates how these two perspectives weave together a richer, more complete tapestry of the birth of Christ. This episode goes beyond the familiar Christmas narrative to highlight historical context, overlooked verses, and surprising insights that reveal the faith, courage, and divine guidance surrounding Jesus's arrival into the world. Perfect for viewers looking to deepen their understanding of the Nativity and appreciate the beauty in both Mary's and Joseph's stories.