Monday, February 06, 2012
The Conditions of Discipleship
Dear Friends,
Below you will find the passage from the Gospel of St. Luke 9:23-27.
Then Jesus said to all, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself? Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. Truly I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”
I concelebrated Holy Mass yesterday morning with our parish priest at the Immaculate Conception Church, Palmer Road. After Mass, I went to the hall where they had prepared a great lunch. One only has to pay a small amount to have a full meal. Today, Monday, I will go to the Manor in Alberton to celebrate Holy Mass with the elderly people living there. I will also bring Holy Communion to those who are bedridden. About three quarters of the people living there are Catholics. I have some of my relatives there too.
(Below you will find the message of Our Lord and Redeemer given to Father Melvin. Jesus gave him this message.)
“I bless you, My brother Melvin and all My brothers and sisters, who are My disciples. You have decided to follow Me according to My words in the Bible. The first thing you have to do is to take up your cross every day and follow Me. This means to accept all your sufferings and problems that you have and to offer them to Me. I will take them all and I will help you. Do not be centered on yourself but be centered on Me and you will please Me by doing what I ask you to do. Some people are ashamed of Me and so are afraid to speak about Me or to bring the people My word. If you act this way, then I will be ashamed of you. You know that one day I will return to earth to judge the living and the dead and if you have been ashamed of Me, how can you be saved? Stay united to Me and do not be afraid of what people say but pray for them. All those who follow Me will be with Me in heaven one day. I love you all.”
Father Melvin