Friday, November 25, 2011
The Sentence of Death
Dear Friends,
Pilate then summoned the chief priests, the rulers, and the people and said to them, “You brought this man to me and accused him of inciting the people to revolt. I have conducted my investigation in your presence and have not found this man guilty of the charges you have brought against him, nor did Herod, for he sent him back to us. So no capital crime has been committed by him. Therefore I shall have him flogged and then release him.” But all together they shouted out, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us.” Now Barabbas had been imprisoned for a rebellion that had taken place in the city and for murder. Again Pilate addressed them, still wishing to release Jesus, but they continued their shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Pilate addressed them a third time, “What evil has this man done? I found him guilty of no capital crime. Therefore I shall have him flogged and then release him.” With loud shouts, however, they persisted in calling for his crucifixion, and their voices prevailed. The verdict of Pilate was that their demand should be granted. So he released the man who had been imprisoned for rebellion and murder, for whom they asked, and he handed Jesus over to them to deal with as they wished. (Passage from the Gospel of St. Luke 23:13-25)
I celebrated the French Mass yesterday morning in the Little Shrine of Our Lady of Prince Edward Island and a good group came. Last evening I was invited out for supper and at 7:00 p.m. I went to the Parish Church in Palmer Road to take part in the Pro-Life meeting, which is held there once a month.
(Below you will find the message of Our Lord and Redeemer given to Father Melvin. Jesus spoke to him these words:)
“I call you, My brother Melvin and all My brothers and sisters living in every part of the world, to take time today and every day to come to contemplation with Me. See what I have suffered during My Passion. I was taken to Pilate, the Governor of the Jewish State, and although he did not find that I had committed any crime, he still condemned Me to death because of the insistence of the people who were prompted by the chief priests and the elders and scribes. They shouted very loud these words against Me, ‘Crucify Him! Crucify Him!‘ So at the end I was sentenced to death on the cross. This was indeed the first Good Friday.
On this Friday, My friends, I would like you to take time and look at the crucifix and see how I suffered with nails piercing My hands and My feet. I hung there for three hours and then died. I agreed to offer Myself in sacrifice to God the Father for your salvation. My suffering shows how horrible sin is that it caused Me so much pain and at the end death.
Come and repent of all your sins and make your commitment to Me to do all you can with the help of My grace to avoid sin in the future. I bless you all.”
Father Melvin