January 21, 2015
Jesus’ Testimony to John
A reading from the Gospel of Saint Luke 7, 24 – 35:
When the messengers of John had left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John. “What did you go out to the desert to see–a reed swayed by the wind? Then what did you go out to see? Someone dressed in fine garments? Those who dress luxuriously and live sumptuously are found in royal palaces. Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom scripture says:
“Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, he will prepare your way before you.”
I tell you, among those born of women, no one is greater than John; yet the least in the Kingdom of God is greater than he.” All the people who listened, including the tax collectors, and who were baptized with the baptism of John, acknowledged the righteousness of God, but the Pharisees and scholars of the law who were not baptized by him, rejected the plan of God for themselves.
Then to what shall I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? They are like children who sit in the marketplace and call to one another,
‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance.
We sang a dirge, but you did not weep.’
For John the Baptist came neither eating food nor drinking wine, and you said, ‘He is possessed by a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking and you said, ‘Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”
I wish to thank those who have sent me money to pay the court. I receive just about half of the money I need. I ask you again if you can help me to pay the amount I need by Friday. I still need $1,500. May the Lord bless you all for I need to pay this money in order to receive the money to build the monasteries and the big Shrine of Our Blessed Mother.
Below you will find the message of Our Lord and Savior given to Father Melvin. Jesus spoke to him these words,
“I call you all especially My brother Melvin and all My brothers and sisters to believe My words that I addressed to the Jewish people concerning Saint John the Baptist. You know he called the people to come to the Jordan River and be baptized by him as a sign of repentance in order to be ready when I, the Messiah, comes to teach and to redeem them. Many people went to Saint John the Baptist and were baptized by him. You know that Saint John was selected even before he was born to be My great prophet. At his circumcision his father Zachariah prophesied about his son saying, ‘You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, to give his people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins.’ At a young age Saint John the Baptist left home and went to live in the desert and be united with the Father. He was a man of prayer and he was well prepared by My Father to do the work He had asked him to do. He did a great job to introduce Me to the people as the Lamb of God. He saw the Holy Spirit come down on Me and he heard the voice of the Father. All this happened right after Saint John the Baptist baptized Me in the Jordan River. It is written that he died a martyr’s death when King Herod’s wife asked for his head on a platter. He is a great saint in heaven.
Let us thank Saint John the Baptist for what he did and you must call upon him to pray for you all to have strong faith in Me as he had. I bless you all.”
Father Melvin
P.S. We had a cloudy day but it was not very cold.