A Latino pastor said churches are fearful of mass deportations at services as President Donald Trump's administration rapidly cracks down on illegal immigration.

"We're called as pastors to serve all communities," Reverend Dr. Gabriel Salguero told Fox News Digital. "So we don't ask, as pastors, whether people are immigrants and what their status is. We don't have the bandwidth, and we're not Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. We're not police. But we're deeply concerned about how these policies are going to affect children in our Sunday schools and for families that are in our worship service."

Salguero is pastor of The Gathering Place in Orlando, Florida, and president of the National Latino Evangelical Coalition, (NaLEC), which represents thousands of Latino evangelical churches and faith leaders across the nation. 

Since returning to office, President Trump has rapidly begun to fulfill his campaign promise to curb the illegal immigration crisis and deport violent criminal migrants, issuing several executive orders aimed at overhauling U.S. immigration law and policy.

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Thousands of violent criminals have been detained by ICE, according to the White House, with 962 criminal illegal immigrant arrests recorded on Wednesday alone.

Trump has authorized the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to roll back guidelines that restricted ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) enforcement at "sensitive" locations, like schools, churches and hospitals.

"Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest," the DHS said in a statement on January 21 announcing the changes. "The Trump Administration will not tie the hands of our brave law enforcement, and instead trusts them to use common sense."

Salguero's group, NaLEC, has come out against these policy changes, calling them "harmful" and an attack on religious liberty.

The church coalition is supportive of Trump's actions to deport violent criminals, but also has concerns about other immigrants being targeted.

"We want to make sure that in this kind of enforcement, there's not a chill sent up the spine of Latino evangelical churches and communities for those people who are not violent criminals, but are people who are starting small businesses, who are going to school," Salguero told Fox News Digital. 

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"We're looking for a sober approach that deals to violent criminals, secures the border, but finds a way to integrate the majority of immigrants who are trying to do good to this country," he continued.

Fears over Trump's immigration policies had caused attendance and church participation to decline, according to Salguero.

"They said, 'We can't go to church. We don't feel safe. We're not sure how this is going to work out,'" he told Fox News Digital of comments he'd heard.

The faith leader acknowledged that ICE and other immigration officials have a right to enter their worship spaces to enforce the law and should be treated respectfully. His group is training spokespersons for each church who can respond in a calm way if immigration officers visit their church. They are also giving parishioners information about their rights.

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He believes that Latino pastors have a responsibility to both follow the nation's laws and keep their biblical commitment to serving all people.

"For us, this is not a partisan issue. This is a pastoral issue. Christ has called us to walk alongside these families, to love them," he said.

Salguero is a registered independent, but emphasized that Latino evangelicals are not a "monolith" and share a variety of opinions on Trump's immigration plans.

He said NaLEC has spent the past two decades calling on Congress for "common sense, bipartisan immigration reform."

In a press release, NaLEC asked the Trump administration to "reconsider these harmful policies while continuing to work with Congress toward comprehensive immigration reform that is grounded in justice, compassion, and respect for the dignity of all people, regardless of their immigration status." 

At Friday's press briefing, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the administration's crackdown on illegal immigration, referencing a New York Times poll showing "83%" of Americans supported deportations of violent criminal illegal immigrants, and "97%" of the deportations carried out by the Trump administration so far had deportation orders from the previous administration, according to ICE. 

The Department of Homeland Security and White House did not return a request for comment from Fox News Digital. 

Fox News' Joseph A. Wulfsohn contributed to this report.

Pro-life activists sentenced to prison under the Biden administration are speaking out after receiving pardons from President Donald Trump.

"I have never, ever, ever seen any violence on the part of pro-life people," Paulette Harlow said in an exclusive interview with "Outnumbered" co-host Kayleigh McEnany. 

Harlow, 75 at the time of her conviction, was found guilty of federal civil rights conspiracy and violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act.

PRO-LIFE PROTESTERS PARDONED BY TRUMP, FOX CONFIRMS

"There were several things that were said to us. One was that this trial was not about abortion, which was sort of ridiculous, because that’s the reason that we were there, to stop abortions," Harlow said. 

"To love the mothers and the children, but primarily to see if we could intervene and save the life of the babies. And saving the life of the baby, you often save the life of the mother as well."

Harlow was among several protesters sentenced for participating in an abortion clinic blockade in Washington, D.C., in October 2020. Prosecutors argued that Harlow and others forcefully entered the clinic, blocking doors with furniture, ropes, and their bodies. She was sentenced to 24 months in prison.

"These defendants conspired to use force to prevent fellow citizens from exercising rights protected by law," said U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves for the District of Columbia in a press release. "People cannot resort to using force and intimidation to prevent others from engaging in lawful activity simply because they disagree with the law."

The FACE Act, passed in 1994, prohibits threats, obstruction, and property damage intended to interfere with reproductive health care services. The law was enacted during a period of increasing protests and violence against abortion providers, including the 1993 murder of Dr. David Gunn.

Earlier this month, Trump pardoned more than two dozen anti-abortion activists, telling reporters, "We released 23 people that were unjustly put in and having to do with pro-life. And they will be released, and they’ll be out very shortly. It was disgraceful what happened."

"I was appalled watching Garland. He was isolating us and targeting us because of our pro-life stance. And especially, he was targeting Catholics," said Harlow. 

Republican lawmakers have repeatedly accused the Department of Justice of holding an "anti-Catholic bias" in its handling of pro-life activists. 

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Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., echoed these concerns on X, writing, "No administration in history has targeted Christians like the Biden Admin. We saw one persecution after another, from shutting down churches during COVID to raiding pro-lifers' homes at the crack of dawn. EVERY pro-life prisoner Biden wrongly imprisoned should be pardoned."

When questioned by Hawley about the DOJ’s treatment of Catholics, then-Attorney General Merrick Garland defended the department, stating, "Our department protects all religions, all ideologies. It does not have any bias against any religion of any kind."

Many abortion rights advocates criticized the pardons, arguing they signal Trump's opposition to abortion access. However, Trump has stated on the campaign trail that he would veto a federal abortion ban if it reached his desk.

On social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, he posted: "Everyone knows that I would not support a federal abortion ban under any circumstances and would, in fact, veto it, because it is up to the states to decide based on the will of their voters (the will of the people!)."

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Among those sentenced for the blockade was William Goodman, who described the conditions he faced while serving his 27-month sentence.

"We went over two weeks without toilet paper," Goodman said. "And some of the guys mentioned that some of the men who were there with gender dysphoria, wearing dresses, could get mascara, lipstick, and perfume—but we couldn’t even get toilet paper or basic needs. So there was a lot of neglect."

While prosecutors argued that some of the protesters acted violently, Jean Marshall, a former nurse and sister of Paulette Harlow, denies those claims. Marshall was also sentenced to 24 months.

She described her time in prison as difficult but said she relied on her faith for support.

"We had a Bible study going, and a couple of the women joined," Marshall told McEnany. "They were so enthusiastic and thankful. One of them even said, ‘Now I know why I wound up in prison, so that I could hear this Bible study.’"

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Despite the experience, Marshall said she has no regrets.

"I was so thankful to God that He could use me," she said.

Speaking to Fox News Digital just days before President Donald Trump's inauguration as 47th president, Pastor Robert Jeffress of First Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas, expressed "gratitude to God" about Trump's re-election and his hope for the future of the country.

"I believe most evangelicals, conservative Catholics and conservative Jews all view President Trump's re-election with a feeling of relief and gratitude to God," said the faith leader in an on-camera interview. (See the video at the top of this article.)

"There's a very real sense that our country has been in a downward spiral the last four years, and mainly because of our departure from the Judeo-Christian foundation of our nation," said Jeffress. "To many people, I believe President Trump's re-election represents God giving America another chance — perhaps her last chance — to reverse this downward trajectory."

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And "I'm talking about things that have caused confusion in our country over the last four years," he said. 

"Embracing the transgender agenda, which is confusing our children. Wavering in our support of Israel, our only reliable ally in the Middle East. And following extreme environmental positions that may have actually caused rather than prevented some of the disasters we're seeing."

All of these things, said Jeffress, "have caused people of faith to lament — but they feel very hopeful now that President Trump is about to enter the White House [again] and they're going to be filled with prayers for him."

The pastor will be participating in certain inauguration events, he said, but was not at liberty to name the specifics ahead of those events.

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Jeffress said he hopes all Americans will heed the Bible and pray for all "those who are in authority" and in a governing capacity in this country.

"Now, I know some of our viewers and readers may be saying, ‘Pastor, are you a hypocrite? Would you have said the same thing about Joe Biden?’" said Jeffress. "And in fact, I wrote an op-ed piece for Fox News when Biden was elected, saying we may be lamenting his election, but we need to obey the Bible and pray for him."

Added Jeffress to Fox News Digital, "The Bible says we don't select whom we pray for. We pray for all leaders. And I would remind people that if President Trump wins in his agenda, which I think he will, then all of America wins, not just Republicans but our entire country."

He went on, "President Trump has been a good friend of mine for the last 10 years. I've talked to him recently. I'll talk to him again next week. And I really believe he wants to unite this country."

And "I think people are going to be pleasantly surprised at the unity that he creates in our country," said Jeffress. "Not everybody's going to agree with every policy he initiates, but I think they're going to see that he wants what is best for the country we all love."

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Jeffress said there is "no official" faith advisory role on his part, but rather "an informal friendship that I've cherished for these last 10 years. I just basically like President Trump," he said. "He's a very likable person. And I can tell you, he loves our country." 

He said that "there's no sane reason he would give up a life of luxury to do this, to risk his life like he did twice in the last few months. He does this because he loves America and wants what's best for our country. 

"And I think Americans ought to be able to follow any man or woman who has that kind of feeling about our country."

Jeffress added that America's "greatness is in our goodness. And the Bible says the only goodness we can have is by our right relationship with God. And I hope we'll begin not only this New Year, but this new term of the Trump administration with a new commitment to follow God. If God blesses a nation, nothing can thwart His purpose or our success."

At the same time, Jeffress noted how important it is to recognize very real struggles and challenges — "and I know at the forefront of people's thinking right now are the fires in Los Angeles and the devastation that has caused."

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For tragedies like this, he said, "it's natural for people to ask the ‘why’ question. Why do these things happen? Why do they happen to me? And I would suggest that sometimes this is an unanswerable question. Instead, the real question we ought to be asking is a ‘who’ question. Who is in control of a world that seems out of control?" 

Jeffress shared an example from his own life.

"A few years ago, my wife, Amy, and I were driving in the night, out in the middle of West Texas, out in the darkness during a driving rainstorm — and our headlights malfunctioned and went out. And so we were driving in the darkness.

"I couldn't see six inches in front of me, but I noticed an 18-wheeler behind me and I slowed down, and I allowed it to pass me. And once it was in front of me, I focused on its taillights. And I followed it into the nearest town."

"And when we find ourselves in a maelstrom of confusion and suffering," added Jeffress, "we wonder why these things are happening. There are three lights about God that we can focus in on. First, God is loving. The Bible says God is close to the brokenhearted. Never forget God is love."

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"Secondly, God is sovereign. That means He's in control. Nothing takes Him by surprise.

"And finally, God is powerful enough to take the worst things that happen to us and use them for our own good. The apostle Paul said, ‘For God causes all things to work together for good.’"

"To those who love Him, that doesn't mean everything that happens to us is good, but it means God is so gracious and powerful that He can take the worst things in our life, like a fire, a flood, the breakup of a relationship, an illness — He can take those horrible things and use them for our good."

Added Jeffress, "If we focus on those truths about God when we pass through a storm, then God will deliver us to the other side safely."

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Jeffress is senior pastor of his 16,000-member church in Dallas and is a Fox News contributor. His daily radio program, "Pathway to Victory," is heard on more than 1,400 stations nationwide.

His weekly television program is seen in 195 countries around the world, including on Fox Nation. 

He is the author of nearly 30 books. 

"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. 

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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.

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"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." 

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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." 

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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.

A California family's unshaken faith emerged in the form of a lone statue of The Virgin Mary — untouched by the relentless flames of southern California's wildfires — her resilience amid the smoldering ruins leading them to sing in praise.

"It was remarkable how everything had gotten fried, but the statue of The Virgin Mary and another statue of Saint Joseph were in perfect condition," Peter Halpin, the family patriarch, told 'Fox & Friends Weekend' on Sunday. 

"Obviously, they were a little singed, but we just took that opportunity to pray," he continued. "Our home is dedicated to the sacred heart of Jesus and always has been and all my family members, my extended family, so we said a prayer to the sacred heart of Jesus, and then we sang that special song that our entire family has known for decades to The Blessed Virgin, and it was a remarkable thing."

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According to Halpin, the family "broke the law" by visiting what remained of their home of 37 years last week. When they discovered that the deadly Eaton fire had diminished the rest to rubble, they leaned on faith, singing in praise alongside their six children and other loved ones in a since-viral video posted to Instagram.

"Our intention was not for this thing to go viral at all," he continued. "It was pretty much just a family thing, but the response from the community has been unbelievable and so heartfelt."

Peter's wife Jackie said she fell to her knees in emotion after her son-in-law snuck up to the site of the home the day before, snapping a photo that revealed the statue was still standing.

She knew then they had to make their own pilgrimage to the site to thank God for the years they spent there.

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"That was my intention," she said. "We're going to pray. We're going to thank God that we're safe, and we have entertained a lot for years. We feel very strongly in the virtue of hospitality, so I just wanted to pray and say, ‘If we can do it again, that would be great.’ 

"The song [in the video] kind of came about on its own, so I just wanted to pray. I just want to be grateful as much as I can for what we've had."

Wildfires continue to tear through southern California with no end in sight, devastating communities and claiming 16 lives so far. 

A soccer-loving nun from Brazil is believed to have become the world's oldest living person at nearly 117 years old, attributing her steadfast Catholic faith for her longevity.

LongeviQuest, an organization that tracks supercentenarians around the globe, released a statement on Saturday declaring Sister Inah Canabarro as the world's oldest person, validated by early life records.

The now-wheelchair-bound nun was crowned the world's oldest living person after Tomiko Itooka died in Japan at age 116 on Dec. 26, 2024.

Her nephew spends time with her every Saturday and sends her voice messages between visits to keep her spirits up after the elderly woman had two hospitalizations. 

"The other sisters say she gets a jolt when she hears my voice," he said. "She gets excited."

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Canabarro was born on June 8, 1908, to a large family in southern Brazil, according to LongeviQuest researchers. But her nephew said her birth was registered two weeks late and that she was actually born on May 27, 1908.

When she was a teenager, she turned to religious work and spent two years in Montevideo, Uruguay, before moving to Rio de Janeiro and eventually settling in her home state of Rio Grande do Sul.

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For her 110th birthday, she was honored by Pope Francis. She is the second-oldest nun ever documented after Lucile Randon, who was the world’s oldest person until her death in 2023 at age 118.

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Along with her commitment to her lifelong faith, she is devoted to local soccer club Inter. The club, which was founded after Canabarro's birth, celebrates her birthday every year as the oldest fan.

Her room is decorated with gifts in the team’s red and white colors, her nephew said.

"White or black, rich or poor, whoever you are, Inter is the team of the people," she said in a video posted on social media celebrating her 116th birthday with the club’s president.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Something beautiful happened late last year. As 2024 wound down, the world celebrated the rebuilding of glorious Notre Dame de Paris, which a mere five and a half years before was engulfed in horrifying flames. At the reopening ceremony in Paris, her bells rang for the first time since the fire.

The pleasing peal called to my mind a poem that raises up something no less beautiful than the French Gothic monument: her builders. This memory in turn led to an epiphany, which is fitting as the Epiphany, or Christian celebration of the revelation of God as human in Jesus Christ, fast approaches. 

"Cathedral Builders," written by Welsh poet John Ormond and published in the journal "Poetry Wales" in 1965, lyrically reminds us of a very simple truth with profound consequences. It is often ordinary people who create the most extraordinary beauty, particularly when the undertaking is grand in scope. 

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Ormond exalts the sanctifying work of countless craftsmen whose identities are known only to history, but whose toil built the great cathedrals of medieval Europe. Most of them knew they wouldn’t live to see the final fruits of their massive multi-generational endeavor. They climbed their ladders anyway.

With soaring yet simple language befitting the ethereal work of earthy men, Ormond lionizes unheralded laborers who "hoisted hewn rock into heaven" by day and then "came down to their suppers and small beer" in the evening. So understood, a cathedral is no more sublime than her humblest builder. Each is an icon to the other.

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I thought of "Cathedral Builders" as I reflected upon the 2,000 or so workers it took to rebuild Notre Dame within French President Emmanuel Macron’s ambitious five-year deadline. Unlike their medieval counterparts, the vast majority of these artisans lived to see their loving mission completed. 

Yet like these ancestors, they created lasting beauty by pledging their lives to something outside of and greater than themselves. Amidst still-burning embers in 2019, life imitated art when these cathedral builders once again chose to make art of their lives. Notre Dame is their masterpiece.

That choice, I believe, is exactly of the ennobling kind of second-century theologian St. Irenaeus had in mind when he said "the glory of God is man fully alive." Aesthetic achievement aside, is there a lesson for the rest of us, those who lack the talent to make clerestories soar? I think so.    

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Most of us aren’t called to build cathedrals of stone, but all are called to build cathedrals of our lives. Some acts will be soaring – the spire atop the cathedral – for instance, a soldier sacrificing his life in combat to save his brother-in-arms. Other acts will be simple – the mortar on a lowly footpath appearing like a smile to a passing stranger on the street.

But great and small, all are acts of love, of willing the good of the other and stone by figurative stone, they surely will build a cathedral over one’s lifetime. It may not be tangible or visible to man like Notre Dame de Paris, but it is no less real, and no less lovely. Besides, invisible to man is not invisible. 

Therein lies the beauty of "Cathedral Builders," and what is most inspirational about Notre Dame’s exemplary builders. By reminding a weary world to see both the small in the great and the great in the small, they provide a blueprint for not only a cathedral well-made, but something far more important: a life well-lived.

That is my epiphany as the Epiphany approaches. I am grateful for poet John Ormond, for the valiant laborers of Notre Dame de Paris and all who strive to build cathedrals of their lives. They remind us that there is beauty in both the soaring and the simple.

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Dear President-elect Donald Trump,

My name is Ofri Bibas Levy. While you may not know me personally, you have surely heard of my brother Yarden Bibas, his wife Shiri, and Ariel and Kfir, their two red-headed children who have captured hearts worldwide. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented you with a photo of young Ariel holding his drawing of Batman, with the words "I'm flying and saving people who are stuck in a hole"—just as he and so many others remain trapped today.

These children and their parents lived an ordinary family life—a busy routine of parents with two young children—until they were taken from us more than a year ago. There is still hope: intelligence confirms that more than HALF of the 100 hostages still in captivity are alive, but their time is rapidly running out. My family members are among those we can still save, but only if we act now.

On Oct. 7, 2023, they were violently torn from their daily lives. Yarden, their father, made the heartbreaking choice to separate from his family in a desperate attempt to protect them, but despite his efforts, his young sons Ariel and Kfir were kidnapped along with their mother, Shiri. The footage of their abduction—showing the terrified children clutched in their mother's arms—became a haunting symbol of Hamas's cruelty. Two months later, Hamas's brutality reached new depths when they released a psychological warfare video showing them tormenting Yarden in captivity, cruelly telling him his wife and children were dead—trying to break his spirit.

Recently, the world marked International Children's Rights Day, a commemoration first initiated by the Rev. Charles Leonard of the Universal Church in Chelsea, Mass., 168 years ago. On this significant day, the United Nations adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child—a powerful convention that places children's well-being above all other considerations. This declaration binds all of us to protect children from torture, exploitation, abuse, and neglect.

Where is this commitment to these young children? Our shy, cheerful little Ariel was forced to mark his fifth birthday in Hamas tunnels, under the watchful eyes of murderous terrorists, far from the family and friends who love him. For over a year, we've been tormented by not knowing the conditions endured by him and his baby brother Kfir. Kidnapped when he was just nine months old, Kfir has already spent his first birthday in captivity and will soon mark his second birthday this January in terrorist hands—if we don't act quickly enough. Time is of the essence—while we know many hostages are still alive, their conditions deteriorate with each passing day. These innocent men, women, and children are fighting to survive under horrific conditions, making every moment of delay not just painful, but unforgivable.

I turn to you, Mr. Trump, in desperation and plea: Help us where we have all failed. Use your unique, uncompromising, and creative approach to bring Kfir, Ariel, Shiri, and Yarden back to us. Returning all 100 hostages from Gaza is not just morally and ethically right—it's our human obligation. 

After so many agonizing months, there are finally talks of a deal. We must seize this opportunity to secure the release of all hostages held by Hamas—the men, women, elderly, and children—and reunite them with their families. Time is of the essence to push this deal forward, and the return of the hostages is a prerequisite for stability in the Middle East. There will be no peace until we bring them home: the living—who constitute more than half of those taken—for rehabilitation, and the dead for proper burial.

We appreciate the efforts of the American administration and others over the past year, and we ask you, President-elect Trump, to lend us your voice and your hand so that Kfir and Ariel can celebrate their next birthday at home with us and their friends. It is their right and our duty. So many precious lives can still be saved.

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. 

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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As Christmas approaches, the message of glimmering hope in the darkness might feel more relevant than ever. Whether inspired by the weight of a corrupt world, personal sorrow or the gloom that lingers during the short days of winter, people seem increasingly drawn to finding the light.

That's the message to take away from Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the Archbishop of New York who leads midnight Mass this Christmas.

Cardinal Dolan shared this sentiment during an exclusive sit-down interview with Maria Bartiromo at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City, where he reflected on signs that Americans are rejecting the "caricature" of faith as "nasty, destructive, harmful and antiquated," prompting sales of the Bible and other books on spirituality to rise.

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"There seems to be a newfound appreciation for the role of faith, especially in our country," he told the "Sunday Morning Futures" host.

"I think President Trump tapped into that. I've had talks with him before in the past. He was pretty blunt [that] he can't say that he was raised as a very zealous Christian, but he takes his Christian faith seriously. He has a lot of memories about Norman Vincent Peale, the famous preacher here in New York, down… on Fifth Avenue, and I think he means it."

He continued, "I think the assassination attempts kind of renewed in him, 'There's something beyond me that I think is watching over me, and it's got a task for me.' And what he expresses personally seems to be expressed more and more throughout the world. And that's part of America."

Perhaps there is something bigger watching over the world, he suggested, pointing to former President Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II, two figures whose contributions helped define the latter part of the 20th century. They both survived assassination attempts very close to one another, each going on to help make the world what it is today.

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"When the two of them met for the first time, Ronald Reagan said to Pope Saint John Paul II, ‘Mother Teresa told me that she thinks the Lord spared me because the Lord has something special in mind for me, and Pope Saint John Paul II smiled and said, ’She told me the same thing.' They both believed that, and look what they were able to accomplish. The world was changed for the better because of them," he reflected.

Cardinal Dolan walked the grounds of St. Patrick's Cathedral with Bartiromo, showing her a photo of a drawing from imprisoned Hong Kong freedom fighter, Jimmy Lai, depicting Christ on the cross. 

As billions across the world prepare to celebrate the Christmas and Hanukkah holidays, Dolan says his message this midnight mass will focus on the "triumph of light."

"The Lord's always inviting us to go out of ourselves. That gives us hope."

"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. 

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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.

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"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. 

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"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.

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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. 

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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. 

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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. 

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