Joshua 8:30-31 30 Then Joshua built on Mount Ebal an altar to the Lord, the God of Israel, 31 as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded the Israelites. He built it according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses—an altar of uncut stones, on which no iron tool had been used. On it they offered to the Lord burnt offerings and sacrificed fellowship offerings. —------------------------ On this second Sunday of Advent, we explore the birthplace of John the Baptist in Ein Karem, just outside of Jerusalem. Join Kathleen as she goes into the Church of John the Baptist that now sits at the site as she discusses this place of peace and reflection. This is where scholars believe Elizabeth and Zachariah went to ponder God’s miraculous gift of a child in their old age. It was in this place near a vineyard that Elizabeth and Zachariah sat and sought out God’s peace and serenity. Shalom, which means peace, can also refer to a sense of order. When one’s relationships are is disorder, it’s difficult to live in shalom. Zachariah experienced this disorderliness when he didn’t trust the angel’s miraculous message, and he needed a place of reflection and quiet to put the inner pieces of his life in order. Life’s complexity can often cause us to live in a disordered way, but God can reorder our lives as we draw near to him. One way to do this is to read Zachariah’s Benedictus prayer from Luke 1:67-80. Learn more about the Church of John the Baptist here: https://www.custodia.org/en/sanctuaries/ain-karem-saint-john-baptist Read the Benedictus prayer here: https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/audiences/2003/documents/hf_jp-ii_aud_20031001.html Learn more about the meaning of peace through the Bible Project here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLYORLZOaZE 💟 Help us to keep developing the Magdala Project. Your donation is essential to us🫶 https://bit.ly/magdala-donate ℹ️ Discover more about Magdala 👉 https://bit.ly/magdala-en-yt Support us by purchasing our products: 🌍 Israel shop (worldwide shipping): https://bit.ly/magdalashop-en-yt 🇲🇽 Mexico Shop (shipping only in Mexico): https://bit.ly/magdalashop-en-yt 📢 Subscribe to our Newsletter 👉 https://bit.ly/magdala-newsletter 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Be part of the Magdala Family: intercessor, ambassador, volunteer... 🫶 https://bit.ly/magdalafamilymosaic 📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/experiencemagdala/ 👍 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/magdalenglish © Copyright of New Gate to Peace Foundation 2023