Pope Francis on Tuesday issued a major rebuke of the Trump administration’s plans for the mass deportations of migrants, stressing that the forceful removal of people simply for their immigration status deprives them of their inherent dignity and "will end badly."

Francis wrote a letter to U.S. bishops, in which he appeared to criticize Vice President JD Vance's religious argument in defense of the deportation policies.

U.S. border czar Tom Homan responded to the pope, saying that the Vatican is a city-state surrounded by walls and that Francis should leave immigration enforcement to him. Homan, a Catholic, also said Francis should focus on fixing the Catholic Church rather than U.S. immigration policies.

"He wants to attack us for securing our border. He's got a wall around the Vatican, does he not?" Homan told reporters. "So he's got a wall around that protects his people and himself, but we can't have a wall around the United States."

DOZENS OF RELIGIOUS GROUPS SUE TO STOP TRUMP ADMIN FROM ARRESTING MIGRANTS IN PLACES OF WORSHIP

As the first Latin American pope, Francis has long held the position of caring for immigrants, pointing to the biblical command to "welcome the stranger" in calling on countries to welcome, protect, promote and integrate people fleeing conflicts, poverty and climate disasters.

Francis and President Donald Trump have long butted heads over the issue of immigration, including prior to Trump's first term, when Francis said in 2016 that anyone who builds a wall to keep migrants out was "not a Christian."

In his letter, Francis acknowledged that governments have the right to defend their countries and keep their communities safe from criminals, but he added the deportation of people who fled their countries due to various difficult circumstances damages their dignity.

"That said, the act of deporting people who in many cases have left their own land for reasons of extreme poverty, insecurity, exploitation, persecution or serious deterioration of the environment, damages the dignity of many men and women, and of entire families, and places them in a state of particular vulnerability and defenselessness," he wrote.

Pointing to the Book of Exodus in the Bible and Jesus Christ's experience, Francis emphasized the right of people to seek shelter and safety in other lands and said the Trump administration's deportation plan was a "major crisis."

Anyone educated in Christianity, he said, "cannot fail to make a critical judgment and express its disagreement with any measure that tacitly or explicitly identifies the illegal status of some migrants with criminality."

"What is built on the basis of force, and not on the truth about the equal dignity of every human being, begins badly and will end badly," he continued.

POPE FRANCIS CALLS TRUMP'S DEPORTATION PLAN A 'DISGRACE'

The president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Archbishop Timothy Broglio, thanked the pope for his letter.

"With you, we pray that the U.S. government keep its prior commitments to help those in desperate need," Broglio wrote. "Boldly I ask for your continued prayers so that we may find the courage as a nation to build a more humane system of immigration, one that protects our communities while safeguarding the dignity of all."

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said last week that more than 8,000 people had been arrested since Trump took office Jan. 20 as part of the president's plan to detain and deport immigrants in the country illegally, although hundreds of those arrested have since been released back into the U.S. Others have been deported, are being held in federal prisons or are being held at the Guantánamo Bay Cuba, detention camp.

Vance, a Catholic convert, has defended the administration's deportation plans by citing a concept from medieval Catholic theology known in Latin as "ordo amoris," which he has said describes a hierarchy of care: prioritizing the family first, then the neighbor, community, fellow citizens and lastly those from other regions.

However, Francis sought to fact-check Vance's understanding of the concept.

"Christian love is not a concentric expansion of interests that little by little extend to other persons and groups," Francis wrote in his letter. "The true ordo amoris that must be promoted is that which we discover by meditating constantly on the parable of the ‘Good Samaritan,’ that is, by meditating on the love that builds a fraternity open to all, without exception."

As Homan referenced, the Vatican is a walled-in, 108-acre city-state inside Rome, and it recently increased sanctions for anyone who enters illegally. The law, approved in December, calls for people to face up to four years in prison and a fine of up to 25,000 euros, or $25,873, if they enter with "violence, threat or deception," including by evading security checkpoints.

The U.S. bishops conference had already released a statement condemning Trump’s immigration policies after his first executive orders.

Anyone "focused on the treatment of immigrants and refugees, foreign aid, expansion of the death penalty, and the environment, are deeply troubling and will have negative consequences, many of which will harm the most vulnerable among us," the statement said.

Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago praised Francis' letter, telling Vatican Media that it showed the pope viewed "the protection and advocacy for the dignity of migrants as the preeminent urgency at this moment."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

A Christian man was freed from an Egyptian prison last month after three years of detention over Facebook posts he shared among an online group of converts from Christianity to Islam. 

Abdulbaqi Saeed Abdo, who is originally from Yemen, was part of a Christian Facebook group that discussed Islamic theology and apologetics, according to Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) International. In 2021, Abdo was arrested for his Facebook post while he was living as a UNHCR registered asylum seeker in Egypt. He faced death threats in Yemen after converting to Christianity. 

ADF International, which is supporting his legal defense and helped secure his release by submitting his case to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, said the case remains open before State Security authorities as the charges against him haven't been dismissed. 

CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION AROUND THE WORLD IS HIGHLIGHTED IN NEW REPORT: ‘PEOPLE ARE BEING SERIOUSLY HURT’

Egyptian authorities reportedly arrested Abdo, along with another Christian man named Nour Girgis, after their affiliation with the Facebook page was discovered. Now, authorities are "spuriously claiming they were involved with terrorism activities," according to ADF International. 

The father of five withstood severe conditions before he was released from prison last month. He was moved between several detention centers throughout his three years of imprisonment, even undergoing a hunger strike within his final six months in an act of desperation. He suffered from poor health in relation to his heart, liver and kidneys. 

"I endured many hardships in prison. It isn’t right that a government should tear me away from my family, keep me in these awful conditions, only because of the faith in which I peacefully choose to believe," Abdo said of his release. 

"I thank everyone who prayed for me while I was in prison, cared about and followed up on my case, and shared the joy of my release from prison," he added. 

Abdo’s son, Husam Baqi, criticized the fact that individuals are "not allowed to believe and express their beliefs freely and are imprisoned or killed for their faith." 

‘WE CHRISTIANS ARE LIKE ANIMALS’: PAKISTANI SEMINARY STUDENT SHARES FIRSTHAND ACCOUNT OF EXTREMIST VIOLENCE

Kelsey Zorzi, the director of advocacy for religious freedom at ADF International, said Abdo's arbitrary detention without a criminal trial, as well as the lack of an opportunity for him to defend himself against the alleged offenses, constitutes a severe violation of his human rights. 

"The peaceful expression of one’s religious convictions cannot constitute a crime – not in Egypt, nor anywhere else in the world," she said. "This case shows the extremity of unchecked government censorship in the online age. The world must take note." 

Ayaan Hirsi Ali, research fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution and founder of the AHA Foundation, previously told Fox News Digital the idea that ordinary people can be locked away for years for simply expressing beliefs in a private Facebook forum is "grotesque." 

"The imprisonment of Yemeni refugee Abdulbaqi Saeed Abdo at the hands of Egyptian authorities is a surreal example of censorial blasphemy policies in action," she said. "It’s also illegal. Egyptian officials have violated this father and husband’s human rights."

Ali is a refugee from Somalia, where she was the victim of female genital mutilation in a Muslim community. Previously a prominent atheist, Ali announced in November that she was converting to Christianity. Because of her outspoken rhetoric against the Muslim Brotherhood, she faces constant death threats. 

"This is the logical conclusion to a trend that empowers authorities to brutalize innocent people for free expression on social media," she added. "From China to Pakistan, from Russia to Syria, from the UK to Egypt—free speech must urgently be defended from our age’s resurgent Stalinism."

It was an arrest of biblical proportions. 

An intoxicated Virginia man who broke into a Bible study session took it upon himself to investigate, thinking it was a human trafficking operation, authorities said. 

David Campbell of Stafford is charged with breaking and entering, assault and public intoxication, the Stafford County Sheriff's office said. 

TRUMP FRIEND AND INFORMAL FAITH ADVISER: ‘GOD IS GIVING AMERICA ANOTHER CHANCE’

Campbell was intoxicated when he called authorities Wednesday evening saying he was upset his neighbors had doubled-parked their vehicles. Instead of taking up the issue with property management, Campbell confronted the neighbors in their residence and "observed" a large group of people, authorities said. 

"He would assume this to be a human trafficking operation and wanted deputies to investigate it," the sheriff's office said. "While reporting the incident, dispatches could hear the caller taunting and cursing at the neighbors."

When deputies arrived, Campbell, 48, was spotted in the middle of the road and exhibited signs of intoxication, authorities said. 

TRUMP ANNOUNCES EXECUTIVE ORDER CREATING TASK FORCE TO ‘ERADICATE ANTI-CHRISTIAN BIAS’

He complained about the parking situation and demanded the deputies identify everyone inside the home. 

His neighbors told deputies that Campbell forced his way into the home as the group was conversing about the gospel.

"He would nearly strike an ordained minister and threaten to punch another male. Video evidence would confirm this," the sheriff's office said. 

Campbell was being held at the Rappahannock Regional Jail without bond.

The Supreme Court will weigh an effort to establish the nation's first religious charter school with implications for school choice and religious practices. 

The court agreed Friday to hear two cases on the matter, which will be argued together — Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board v. Drummond and St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School v. Drummond. 

In 2023, the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board voted to approve an application by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa for a K-12 online school, the St. Isidore of Seville Virtual Charter School.

SUPREME COURT TO DECIDE IF FAMILIES CAN OPT OUT OF READING LGBTQ BOOKS IN THE CLASSROOM

Oklahoma parents, faith leaders and an education group sought to block the school after the approval. 

In a 7-1 decision, the Oklahoma Supreme Court found a taxpayer-funded religious charter school would violate the First Amendment's provision on "establishment of religion" and the state constitution.

"Under Oklahoma law, a charter school is a public school," Justice James Winchester wrote in the court’s majority opinion. "As such, a charter school must be nonsectarian.

"However, St. Isidore will evangelize the Catholic school curriculum while sponsored by the state."

Alliance Defending Freedom Chief Counsel Jim Campbell told Fox News Digital the case "is fundamentally about religious discrimination and school choice."

SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS LOOMING TIKTOK BAN

"The Supreme Court has been clear in three cases over the last eight years that you can't create a public program like that and then exclude religious organizations," Campbell said. "So, we're going to be arguing before the court that the state of Oklahoma should be allowed to open up the program to religious organizations."

Campbell says the decision would give parents, families and the state "more educational options." 

Oklahoma Republican Attorney General Gentner Drummond, who originally challenged the school's approval, has previously said the school's establishment is unconstitutional. His spokesperson told Fox News Digital in a statement the attorney general "looks forward to presenting our arguments before the high court."

"I will continue to vigorously defend the religious liberty of all 4 million Oklahomans," Drummond said in a statement released in October. "This unconstitutional scheme to create the nation’s first state-sponsored religious charter school will open the floodgates and force taxpayers to fund all manner of religious indoctrination, including radical Islam or even the Church of Satan. My fellow Oklahomans can rest assured that I will always fight to protect their God-given rights and uphold the law."

TENNESSEE AG OPTIMISTIC ABOUT SCOTUS CASE AFTER 'RADICAL GENDER IDEOLOGY' REVERSAL IN LOWER COURT

The Oklahoma case is one of several religious institution cases that have been filed in the Supreme Court. 

In 2017, the high court ruled in favor of a Missouri church that sued the state after being denied taxpayer funds for a playground project as a result of a provision that prohibits state funding for religious entities. 

Likewise, in 2020, the Supreme Court struck down a ban on taxpayer funding for religious schools in a 5-4 decision that backed a Montana tax-credit scholarship program. Most recently, in 2022, the Supreme Court ruled that a Maine tuition assistance program violated the First Amendment's Free Exercise Clause for excluding religious schools from eligibility.

Campbell said given the court's previous considerations of cases involving religious educational institutions, he is "hopeful that the Supreme Court will recognize that the same principle applies here."

"You can't create a charter school program that allows private organizations to participate but tell the religious groups that they can't be included," Campbell said. "So, we're hopeful that the Supreme Court will make it clear that people of faith deserve to be a part of the charter school program as well."

Justice Amy Coney Barrett recused herself from the case, although an explanation was not given. The Supreme Court is expected to hear oral arguments in April. 

School choice has become a hot-button issue, particularly after the 2024 election cycle. President Donald Trump recently signed two executive orders on education, one to remove federal funding from K-12 schools that teach critical race theory and another to support school choice. 

Fox News Digital's Ronn Blitzer and the Associated Press contributed to this report. 

"This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:17).

This verse is from the Gospel of Matthew, one of the three synoptic Gospels in the New Testament of the Bible, and is about the baptism of Jesus Christ — celebrated in the Catholic faith on Jan. 12.

Jesus' baptism "is one of the most pivotal moments in His life, revealing His divine mission, identity and relationship with the Father," David Rives, a Christian author and columnist based in Tennessee, told Fox News Digital. 

During the baptism, "the Spirit descended like a dove and the Father's voice proclaimed, 'This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased,'" Rives said. 

WORLD'S OLDEST PERSON IDENTIFIED AS 117-YEAR-OLD NUN WHO LOVES SOCCER

This line, he said, is "a powerful declaration that resonates across time." It serves to highlight "four key truths about Christ's baptism essential to understanding His identity and mission." 

The first of these key truths, Rives said, is Jesus' "identity as the Son of God and the Messiah." 

"This declaration not only validates Jesus' identity but also announces to the world that He is the long-awaited Messiah, the Anointed One sent to redeem humanity," he said. 

With the baptism of Jesus Christ, He is "revealed as the fulfillment of the prophecies," Rives said. 

The second key truth is the "profound humility" of Jesus Christ, said Rives.

POPE FRANCIS KICKS OFF HOLY YEAR AT VATICAN WITH OVER 32 MILLION VISITORS EXPECTED

"Despite being the sinless Son of God, He chooses to be baptized — an act that, according to the Book of Acts, is symbolic of the washing away of sins," he said. "Even this event was symbolic and prophetic of the indwelling Holy Spirit that is available to believers in Christ." 

Jesus was baptized not due to any sin — "but to fulfill all righteousness," Rives said.

"This act sets the tone for His ministry, showing that He came not to be served, but to serve and identify with those He came to save," he said. 

Rives said that Jesus "is the King who comes not in grandeur, but in meekness, offering His life for the redemption of all humankind." 

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER

Christ's baptism, additionally, marked the start of His public ministry, Rives said – the third key truth. 

Prior to this, "Jesus lived a relatively quiet life in Nazareth." 

"His baptism, however, signals the start of His mission. At this time, He begins to reveal Himself as the Savior through His teachings, healings, and, ultimately, His sacrifice for the sins of the world," Rives told Fox News Digital.

Jesus' baptism was more than just a ritual, Rives said. It was "a pivotal point where His redemptive work begins, leading to His death and resurrection." 

For more Lifestyle articles, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyle

The fourth of these key truths revealed in Christ's baptism, Rives said, is "the fullness of the Godhead presented: The Son is baptized in the Jordan River, the Holy Spirit descends like a dove and the Father's voice speaks from the heavens."

This, he said, is "a powerful scene, revealing God's plan for salvation, as the Father affirms the Son, the Spirit empowers the Son for His mission and the Son humbly submits to the Father's will."

Jesus' baptism is "a beautiful reminder" for Christians as well that they should "work together to present the Good News of the Gospel with the world."

The story of Christ's baptism is a view not only into "the heart of Jesus' ministry, but also the heart of the Gospel itself," Rives said.

"God's incredible love, His redemptive plan and His invitation for us to boldly proclaim our faith in Him – symbolized through the act of baptism," he said.

As tributes pour in from all corners for former President Jimmy Carter, who passed away on Dec. 29, 2024, at age 100, faith leaders across the country are sharing thoughts and insights into Carter's religious beliefs and the ways he demonstrated them.  

In 2018, Carter himself published "Faith: A Journey For All," sharing the lessons he learned throughout his life.

"The most important example of faith in my life has been the marriage vows I exchanged with Rosalynn," Carter wrote in his book.

JIMMY CARTER SPENT NEARLY 2 YEARS IN HOSPICE CARE BEFORE HIS DEATH AT AGE 100

"At the time of our marriage, we could have said, ‘I love you now, and I believe I will always love you and be faithful.’ Instead, we both took an oath before God ‘to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death us do part.'"

Carter also shared that their love and faith made it possible to triumph over differences and challenges they experienced.

Carter taught Sunday school at his home church at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Georgia. 

He continued teaching from time to time throughout his life and, in 2019, Carter spoke from the pulpit on the day of Pentecost.

"After He was crucified and resurrected, He is still with us through the Holy Spirit," said Carter about Jesus Christ. 

"So whenever we feel the presence of Jesus in our heart, that's the Holy Spirit."

He added, "And whenever we feel God in our hearts, that's the Holy Spirit. So it's the easiest thing to explain, but it's easy to forget also."

Carter was a long-serving member of the Southern Baptist Convention until 2009, when he sent a resignation letter to the convention.

In media interviews, Carter cited the increasingly "rigid" views of the organization.

WHY PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER WAS FAMOUS FOR PEANUTS

"I have finally decided that, after 65 years, I can no longer be associated with the Southern Baptist Convention," he wrote.

"Our prayer is that we can avoid this divisive action, and adhere to the traditional beliefs that, for generations, have sustained our ancestors and us in a spirit of unity and cooperation."

He continued as a deacon and Sunday school teacher.

Reverend Franklin Graham, CEO of both Samaritan's Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, said others should pray for the entire Carter family.

"He served as our nation’s 39th president during a turbulent time in the '70s and '80s when we were facing inflation and an oil shortage, and a hostage crisis in Iran," said Graham in a statement shared with Fox News Digital on Sunday evening, which he also posted on his Facebook page.

"He and my father, Billy Graham, had a close relationship, and we were honored to have him join us for the dedication of the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte in 2007," Graham added.

"Jimmy Carter grew up going to church and was baptized at age 11," said Pastor Jesse Bradley of Grace Community Church outside Seattle, Washington. "His parents were devoted, but he later admitted that his relationship with God was superficial."

For more Lifestyle articles, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyle

Added Bradley, "There was a renewal in his life in 1967, and he began reading his Bible consistently, becoming an earnest follower of Jesus."

He also said that the former president "lived out his faith as a courageous and inspirational proponent of racial reconciliation. He was also passionate about taking practical action, with a commitment to providing for people in need. Since 1984, President and Mrs. Carter were advocates of affordable housing for everyone through Habitat for Humanity."

Said Bradley, "Carter's life reminds us to be intentional with unity. Build authentic friendships, as we genuinely enjoy and appreciate each other … Remember that there is nothing more important than to know Jesus as your Savior and love your neighbor daily."

Rabbi Pinchas Taylor, director of the American Faith Coalition and based in Florida, told Fox News Digital on Sunday evening, "Carter was the first American president to publicly light a Hanukkah menorah, inaugurating the National Menorah ceremony in 1979."

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER

At the time, added Taylor, "the United States was grappling with the Iran hostage crisis, yet Carter found inspiration in the Hanukkah message of hope and resilience, emphasizing the universal values of freedom and faith. His impromptu words during the ceremony reflected a profound understanding of the menorah's symbolism — that even in the darkest moments, light and unity can prevail."

He continued, "This act not only marked a milestone in religious pluralism — but also helped popularize public menorah lightings worldwide."

Walker Wildmon, vice president of the American Family Association in Tupelo, Mississippi, and CEO of AFA Action, the government affairs affiliate of AFA, told Fox News Digital, "Throughout his life, President Jimmy Carter has exemplified the heart of a servant. His contributions in the arena of humanitarian and disaster assistance are abundant."

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

He added, "He has also modeled the importance of family throughout his life and career. We pray that God grants President Carter and his family peace during this time."

Everyone loves Christ in the cradle. The image of baby Jesus in the Bethlehem barn warms our hearts. Each December we recreate the moment on our lawns and beneath our Christmas trees. Stores sell plastic donkeys and wooden mangers. People collect hand-carved images of Mary, Joseph, and the newborn child.

We love the Christ in the cradle.

We are fine with Christ the gentle Messiah. Children sitting on his lap. Sheep gathered around him. The apostle John reclining on his chest. Mary anointing his feet. No one has an issue with a pleasant rabbi who offers sage advice, feeds crowds, and replenishes wine at a wedding. 

HOW TO SAY ‘MERRY CHRISTMAS’ IN 10 LANGUAGES TO FRIENDS AROUND THE WORLD

Christ in the cradle? Wonderful. Christ the kindhearted? Delightful. But Christ the coming King? On a stallion? Roaring out of heaven? Crowned with the crowns of his enemies? On a mission to destroy those who destroy his children? 

The world is less familiar with this view of Jesus. Yet this is the Jesus the world will soon see.

Did you know that the second coming is mentioned more than three hundred times in the Bible, an average of once every twenty-five verses?

Scripture gushes with the news of Christ’s return like water in full spate. To the depressed disciples Jesus assured, "I will come again" (John 14:3 nkjv). When Jesus ascended, the angel told the witnesses, "[Jesus] will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven" (Acts 1:11). Paul referred to "the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Tim. 6:14). Peter affirmed, "The day of the Lord will come" (2 Peter 3:10). Jude announced, "See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones" (Jude14). 

We are in the season of Advent. Advent leads us to the beautiful culmination of Christmas, where we celebrate the incarnation of God.

ADVENT 2024: AS PEPPERDINE PRESIDENT, WE LEARNED THROUGH HARDSHIP CHRIST BRINGS LIGHT TO END THE DARKNESS

Are we ready for the hope of what will come when Jesus, the very child born in Bethlehem will once again come to reign for eternity?

We wait but we must be ready.

Ready for the arrival of our coming King. Ready. Waiting. Vigilant.  Like the soldiers who guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. The men and women who stand guard there display a level of unparalleled fidelity. They devote eight hours to the preparation of their uniforms. Gloves are worn wet to improve the grip on the rifle. Shanks are attached to the inside of each shoe so the soldier can click his or her heels.

The sentinel repeats the same walk over and over: twenty-one steps, then a twenty-one-second pause, the rifle is shifted to the other shoulder, then twenty-one more steps. He or she repeats this until being relieved at the changing of the guard. 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION

During the summer months, the soldier is on duty for thirty minutes. During the winter, 60 minutes. They fulfill their task in the heat of August and the chill of January. The routine never varies, not even at night when the cemetery is closed. When Hurricane Isabel moved through the area in 2003, the soldiers never stopped. Not once. Trees fell and the wind-whipped, but they kept their post.

They have maintained this vigilance every day of every year since 1921.

Remarkable. 

Question: If they can display such allegiance rightly given to unknown, dead soldiers, can we not do the same for our living, coming, ruling King? If these sentries are willing to patrol in honor of those who sacrificed, can’t we do even more for our King, who gave the greatest sacrifice? We are members of his battalion. We are enlisted in his regiment. We are returning with him someday. Can we not serve him on this day?

Let me be specific. What can you do today in honor of your King? What kindness can you perform? What offense can you forgive? What temptation can you resist? What gift can you offer? What discipline can you begin? What sacrifice can you make? What act of love can you show? 

Let’s behave like the people we have been called to be soldiers in the returning army of the King of kings.

The Christ of the cradle is now the Christ with the crown. He is coming soon.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM MAX LUCADO

Christmas, Navidad in Puerto Rico, extends far beyond Dec. 25. 

The island proudly proclaims itself as having the "longest holiday season in the world," according to the website Discover Puerto Rico. 

On average, the holiday festivities in Puerto Rico last about 45 days, per the source, commencing right after Thanksgiving, and stretching all the way through mid-January. 

HOW TO SAY ‘MERRY CHRISTMAS’ IN 10 LANGUAGES TO FRIENDS AROUND THE WORLD

The holiday season in Puerto Rico is full of rich traditions beloved by families. 

One tradition those who visit Puerto Rico will immediately notice during the holiday season is decorations. 

In Puerto Rico, decorations are typically put up by Thanksgiving, and kept up until the season concludes in mid-January, with opportune picture moments at every corner. 

Parrandas, Christmas caroling, is a holiday staple. 

17 SECRET TRAVEL TIPS FOR FALL AND WINTER THAT AREN'T SO SECRET AFTER ALL

Carolers choose houses of family and friends to visit, typically starting around 10 p.m., performing aguinaldos (traditional Christmas songs), with not only their voices, but often with instruments as well, according to Discover Puerto Rico. 

The group you begin caroling with is likely not the same group you end with. 

In Puerto Rico, when carolers visit a house, they'll often stop inside for conversation, food and drink before moving to the next residence. 

Usually, the residences of the house visited will join the group for the next house, according to Discover Puerto Rico. 

CHRISTMAS TREES IN GERMANY WERE DECORATED WITH APPLES INSTEAD OF ORNAMENTS IN THE 1600S FOR ‘ADAM AND EVE DAY’

A night of serenading loved ones can last quite a while, often stretching into the early morning hours of the following day, according to the source. 

The biggest day of the holiday season in Puerto Rico actually isn't Christmas, but instead, the night before. 

In Puerto Rico, Dec. 24 is Nochebuena. On that day, loved ones gather for the exchange of gifts, caroling and a large feast. 

Many families will also attend a midnight Mass on the day, known as Misa de Gallo. 

FLIGHT ATTENDANTS REVEAL THE SURPRISING DAY TO TRAVEL AHEAD OF THE CHRISTMAS RUSH

After Christmas passes, the festivities go on in Puerto Rico. 

Another big event in the holiday lineup is Three Kings Day on Jan. 6, a holiday that "commemorates the visit that the Three Wise Men paid to Jesus after his birth," according to Discover Puerto Rico. 

On the eve of the day, children fill up a shoebox with grass to be left for camels to munch on while the Three Kings leave behind gifts for them, according to PuertoRico.com. 

For a particularly festive Three Kings Day, Juana Díaz is the place to go, as it hosts the largest celebration in Puerto Rico for the holiday. In Juana Díaz, there is an annual festival and parade in honor of Three Kings Day that brings together over 25,000 people every year, according to Discover Puerto Rico. 

Then, eight days later is Octavitas, a post-holiday celebration where families get together and celebrate one last time for the season. 

The end of the holiday season is marked with the San Sebastián Street Festival.

This festival, spanning over multiple days, takes place in Old San Juan, and is filled with live music, dancing, shopping and parades. 

"When Christ came into the world, he said: 'Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; in holocausts and sin offerings you took no delight. Then I said, "As is written of me in the scroll, behold, I come to do your will, O God"'" (Hebrews 10:5-7).

These verses are from the New Testament's Epistle to the Hebrews. They're Jesus' first words at Christmastime, Jeremiah J. Johnston, PhD, told Fox News Digital. 

This Sunday marks the Fourth Sunday of Advent, the final week in the preparatory period before Christmas. 

MARTIN SCORSESE PROFILES ST. MAXIMILIAN KOLBE, PATRON SAINT OF PRISONERS AND DRUG ADDICTS

Johnston is an elected member of the New Testament scholarly guild Studiorum Novi Testamenti Societas, president of the Christian Thinkers Society and pastor of apologetics and cultural engagement at Perstonwood Baptist Church in the Dallas area.

"The scriptures reveal a conversation between Jesus and God at His incarnation," he said. "Quoting Psalm 40:6-8, the author of Hebrews portrays the preexistent Christ speaking through the psalmist."  

Jesus' birth was during a time of "religious and political exhaustion," Johnston said. 

"Late Second Temple Judaism had expanded God's commandments into 613 laws of which 248 were positive ('do…') and 365 negative commands ('do not…')," he said.

This, he said, turned the practice of religious faith into a mechanical "burden of endless rules" that lacked heartfelt devotion. 

Additionally, the situation was bleak for most people living in the Roman Empire during Jesus' time, Johnston noted. 

The average life expectancy was just 20 years, he said — and about a quarter of the population was in dire need of medical attention.

MARTIN SCORCESE BRINGS ST. SEBASTIAN'S STORY OF STEADFAST FAITH, MARTYRDOM, TO FOX NATION

"As much as 40% of the population lived in slavery," Johnston said. "The much-celebrated 'Pax Romana' failed to deliver true peace." 

True peace was achieved in the world not through religious rituals or political power, but because Jesus followed God's will on behalf of humanity, he said. 

"His first recorded words, as echoed in Hebrews 10:7, reveal this mission: 'Then I said, "Here I am – it is written about me in the scroll – I have come to do your will, O God."'" 

During Christmastime, "these words remind us that God desires wholehearted obedience, not empty rituals," he said. 

In the verse, the use of the phrase "in the scroll" is a show of Jesus' commitment to scripture, Johnston told Fox News Digital. 

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER

"From His first words to His final moments before death, Jesus consistently upheld the fulfillment of God's Word," he said. 

"Unlike the four Old Testament sacrifices mentioned in Hebrews, which often lacked accompanying faith, Jesus' sacrifice was voluntary and wholehearted." 

God, Johnston said, "repeatedly rejects hollow religious acts without sincere devotions." 

Unlike the animal sacrifices, "Jesus willingly gave His life to fulfill God's eternal will, as planned before the world's foundation," he said.

For more Lifestyle articles, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyle

This, he said, is evidence that "what God desires is not outward performance, but inward faithfulness," Johnston said. 

As the world prepares to celebrate the birth of God's son, people should "reflect on the deeper meaning of Jesus' words and actions," Johnston said. 

These verses, he said, "capture the essence of Jesus' mission." 

"Only through the incarnation could Jesus do away with sin and accomplish God's will in His death, burial and physical resurrection," he said. 

"His life reminds us that true worship involves heartfelt obedience, not hollow traditions — something we could never achieve on our own, without His atoning-help." 

During the last week of Advent and leading into Christmas, "may we follow Jesus' example by offering our lives in sincere devotion to God, magnifying His love and peace through our actions and relying on Him," he said. 

So many holidays incorporate the theme of love. When you hear the word love, your mind probably goes to Valentine’s Day. That’s a common and understandable association, but I think it’s built on a misunderstanding of, to use the cliche, the true meaning of Christmas. 

Charlie Brown had it right: in many ways, Christmas has "gone commercial." No matter where we go, we’re inundated with messages about what to buy, where to shop, and how to spend money during the holidays. Sadly, it seems that Christmas has become merely a reason to shop. 

While there is tremendous value in giving gifts, a superficial and commercial focus misses the central message of Christmas. The message that began the tradition of gift giving in the first place. 

ADVENT 2024: AS PEPPERDINE PRESIDENT, WE LEARNED THROUGH HARDSHIP CHRIST BRINGS LIGHT TO END THE DARKNESS

It’s time we reclaim the real reason for our Christmas celebrations. It’s time we remember that Christmas is first and foremost about love. 

John 3:16 says, "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." This is the most quoted, most well-known verse in the Bible. But many of us fail to realize these words' incredible impact on the Christmas season. 

That’s why I want to draw your attention to a little, often overlooked word in this most famous of verses: "that." This word says so much about God and about the nature of love. God loved the world, loved each of us, so much that. This love acted powerfully to restore what was broken, bridging a gap between a fallen humanity and a loving and holy God.

He didn’t stop feeling love. That love prompted Him to radical action. It prompted Him to give up His beloved Son to be Emmanuel, God with us. It prompted Christmas. That's the thing about love. If love is genuine, it always prompts action. Just as God acted to restore us from the ultimate sin which led to our separation from Him, we as Christians are called to act in such a way that we are restoring biblical justice to a broken world. 

That’s why we give gifts each Christmas. It’s a tangible way to show those closest to us that we love them.

But if love stops with those closest to us, we are not truly living out God's love. Notice the object of God’s love in John 3:16. It’s the world—a world that notably did not love God in return, a world that did and does everything possible to live apart from God. 

And yet God loved. 

You see, God’s love is intertwined with biblical justice. Love extends to everyone, even those we disagree with and don’t particularly like. The story of Christmas makes it clear: Love crosses divides, overcomes obstacles and makes a difference. It actively confronts wrongs, protects the vulnerable and builds a foundation for reconciliation. 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION

Each of us is called to this kind of love this Christmas season. And there truly is no better time to put it into practice because, despite the frantic shopping and consumeristic messages, the holiday season is ripe with opportunities to demonstrate love for others.

So, this year, seek out opportunities to get involved in service projects that make a difference in the lives of those in your community. Instead of spending more money on presents for family and friends, find creative ways to bless those who can’t afford gifts this year. Get a group together and go caroling at the local nursing home. 

But go and make a difference. Go and live out that love that has given us the reason for our celebration. This is what makes the Christmas season so special. I believe it gives us this magical time of year and the wonder we felt as children.

It isn’t just the presents and the lights and the time spent with loved ones, though those are deeply good. It is also the acts of love and sacrifice. The little moments where we have the chance to really be the hands and feet of Jesus to those around us by practicing love through our actions. 

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM REV. SAMUEL RODRIGUEZ