Sunday, August 14, 2011
The Anointing at Bethany
Dear Friends,
Now when Jesus was in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came up to him with an alabaster jar of costly perfumed oil, and poured it on his head while he was reclining at table. When the disciples saw this, they were indignant and said, “Why this waste? It could have been sold for much, and the money given to the poor.” Since Jesus knew this, he said to them, “Why do you make trouble for the woman? She has done a good thing for me. The poor you will always have with you; but you will not always have me. In pouring this perfumed oil upon my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. Amen, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be spoken of, in memory of her.” (Passage from the Gospel of Matthew 26:6-13)
I will be at Holy Mass today at the Immaculate Conception Church, Palmer Road, at 11:00 a.m. Next Sunday will be a very special day at the church because we will have the annual picnic of the parish. The picnic attracts more than one thousand people for the whole afternoon. The Mass will be celebrated outside if the weather cooperates. After Mass we will have the big lobster supper at the hall and there will be music and games the whole afternoon. It ends at 6:00 p.m. We pray for a very fine day for August 21. Many people come from far away to attend the picnic.
Below you will find the message of Our Lord and Savior given to Father Melvin. Jesus spoke to him these words,
“I anoint you, My dear brother Melvin and all My brothers and sisters living all over the world. When I was on earth I placed My hands on the sick and they were healed. However, one day while I was in Bethany, a woman came and anointed Me with perfumed oil that was costly. The Apostles, especially Judas Iscariot, objected that this expensive oil should be placed on My head. They wanted it sold and the money given to the poor. They did not know that it was an anointing for My burial. After they removed Me from the cross, they buried Me in the tomb without any anointing. However, I had been anointed some days before.
This was another sign that My death was near. I would be killed by the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem to die for your salvation. I bless you all.”
Father Melvin