August 04, 2014
Paul’s Arrival at Antioch in Pisidia
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles 13, 13 – 25:
From Paphos, Paul and his companions set sail and arrived at Perga in Pamphylia. But John left them and returned to Jerusalem. They continued on from Perga and reached Antioch in Pisidia. On the sabbath they entered into the synagogue and took their seats. After the reading of the law and the prophets, the synagogue officials sent word to them, “My brothers, if one of you has a word of exhortation for the people, please speak.”
So Paul got up, motioned with his hand, and said, “Fellow Israelites and you others who are God-fearing, listen. The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors and exalted the people during their sojourn in the land of Egypt. With uplifted arms he led them out of it and for about forty years he put up with them in the desert. When he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance at the end of about four hundred and fifty years. After these things he provided judges up to Samuel the prophet. Then they asked for a king. God gave them Saul, son of Kish, a man from the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. Then he removed him and raised up David as their king: of him he testified, ‘I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will carry out my every wish.’ From this man’s descendants God, according to his promise, has brought to Israel a savior, Jesus. John heralded his coming by proclaiming a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel; and as John was completing his course, he would say, ‘what do you suppose that I am? I am not he. Behold, one is coming after me; I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet.'”
At one of my healing Masses, there was a man with cataracts in one eye and he could not see. I prayed with him and the next day the cataracts were gone and he could see very well. I thank the Lord for healing this person and giving him the graces he needed to live in close union with Jesus.
Below you will find the message of Our Lord and Savior given to Father Melvin. Jesus spoke to him these words,
“I call you My brother Melvin and all My brothers and sisters to listen to Saint Paul, My great friend and a great teacher of mine. He was converted and became a member of My Church by a special happening on the road to Damascus. He heard My voice and came to believe with all his heart.
As the reading says, we find Saint Paul and the others with him in Antioch and they go to the synagogue on the sabbath. One is called to give a talk and Saint Paul gets up and comes to teach the Jews. He especially speaks about the time when the Jewish people were in slavery in Egypt for over 400 years. God was with them although they suffered much. Then after the time was up, God appointed Moses to bring the Jews out of Egypt into the promise land. Great miracles happened such as the crossing of the Red Sea on foot with the water high on both sides of them. God gave the Jews manna in the desert and he fed them for forty years. Then he gave them the country of Israel which was the country of the Canaanites who were expelled by the Jews. In time they had their own kings beginning with Saul and then King David. King David was loved by God and he was told that a descendant of his would be the Savior and we know his name. The Savior is nobody else but I Jesus. It was John the Baptist who pointed Me out as the Lamb of God, the Savior of the world.
I have come and lived among you and I proclaimed the New Kingdom of God but I was killed by the Jewish leaders but after three days I came back to life, never to die again. I am your Friend and Savior and I have all the power to save you all. Come then and believe in Me with all your heart and follow Me.”
Father Melvin
P.S. We had another beautiful day on Sunday with a little wind so it was not too warm. I thank the Lord for these beautiful days.