Thursday, November 22, 2012
Jesus before the Sanhedrin
Dear friends,
A reading from St. Mark’s Gospel (14:53-65):
They led Jesus away to the high priest, and all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes came together. Peter followed him at a distance into the high priest’s courtyard and was seated with the guards, warming himself at the fire. The chief priests and the entire Sanhedrin kept trying to obtain testimony against Jesus in order to put him to death, but they found none. Many gave false witness against him, but their testimony did not agree. Some took the stand and testified falsely against him, alleging, “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with hands and within three days I will build another not made with hands.'” Even so their testimony did not agree. The high priest rose before the assembly and questioned Jesus, saying, “Have you no answer? What are these men testifying against you?” But he was silent and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him and said to him, “Are you the Messiah, the son of the Blessed One?” Then Jesus answered, “I am; and ‘you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.'”
At that the high priest tore his garments and said, “What further need have we of witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?” They all condemned him as deserving to die. Some began to spit on him. They blindfolded him and struck him and said to him, “Prophesy!” And the guards greeted him with blows.
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We had a find day yesterday, as it was sunny almost the whole day. The temperature was about 6 degrees.
Below you will find the message of Our dear Lord and Savior given to Father Melvin. Jesus spoke to him these words:
“I love you My brother Melvin and all My brothers and sisters living on the face of the earth. As you read My Passion you see how the leaders of the Jews treated Me. First they accused Me of all kinds of falsehood and at the end when the chief priest asked me this question: ‘Are you the Messiah, the son of the Blessed One?’ I told them the truth that they would see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming with the clouds of heaven. At this the chief priest condemned Me and so did all the people there. They spat on Me. They blindfolded Me and struck Me and the guards greeted Me with blows.
“If you had been there at this trial what would have been your reaction? Would you have condemned Me too? Many living today would have done just like those people present at My trial. I forgive them and I ask you all to pray for them.”
Father Melvin