[5]
”2 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[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.”
LUKE 2 1-20
2 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[a] 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.[6]
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.”
NEW TESTIMONY
MATTHEW 2 -1-13
[7]
”
The Return to Nazareth
19 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 20 and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.”
NEW TESTIMONY
MATTHEW 2 , VERSE 19 AND 20
[8]
NL TIMES
DUTCH CABINET PLEASED WITH NEW STRICT ASYLUM MEASURES:
PLAN SET GO TO PARLIAMENT
20 DECEMBER 2024
The Dutch Cabinet has approved three asylum reform laws proposed by Minister of Asylum and Migration Marjolein Faber. The proposed legislation includes the introduction of a two-tier system for asylum seekers, the elimination of permanent asylum permits, and stricter rules on family reunification.
According to Faber, the measures aim to reduce the number of new asylum seekers and their families entering the Netherlands and to ensure recognized refugees return to their home countries when conditions there improve. “By reducing inflow and increasing return, we can relieve the pressure on the Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND), asylum shelters, and the housing, healthcare, and education sectors,” Faber said in a statement following the Cabinet meeting.
The proposals are contained in three bills that will now be sent to the Council of State for review. Once the Council issues its advice, the legislation will need approval from both chambers of Parliament.
The two-tier system would categorize asylum seekers based on their likelihood of being granted protection, with stricter rules and shorter stays for those in the second category. The elimination of permanent asylum permits would mean refugees could no longer stay indefinitely, with their status subject to periodic reviews based on conditions in their home countries. The restrictions on family reunification aim to limit the number of family members who can join refugees already in the Netherlands.
Faber’s earlier attempt to reduce asylum numbers through emergency state laws failed after resistance from Parliament, particularly the Senate, where the coalition lacks a majority. That proposal sought to bypass parliamentary approval, sparking widespread opposition.
Despite these setbacks, Faber expressed confidence in the new measures. “I am moving forward. If adjustments are needed, we will look into them,” she said.
The proposals have drawn criticism from legal experts, the judiciary, and the Council of State, who argue that parts of the plan may conflict with international obligations. Advocacy groups and lawyers have also raised concerns about the potential impact on the rights of asylum seekers and refugees.
Faber declined to address specific criticisms, stating only that “all kinds of issues are, of course, being discussed and taken seriously.”
The minister remains optimistic about the progress of the reforms. “I’ll just wait for the advice calmly. You probably know me as a positive person,” she said.
Within the coalition government, the plans have faced skepticism from the New Social Contract (NSC) party, which has repeatedly questioned the feasibility and legality of the reforms. Faber, however, dismissed the concerns, saying, “Yes, they are critical, but that is allowed.
END