Friday, July 13, 2012
The Scourging of Jesus
Dear Friends,
A reading from the Gospel of St. John (19:1-16):
Then Pilate took Jesus and had him scourged. And the soldiers wove a crown out of thorns and placed it on his head, and clothed him in a purple cloak, and they came to him and said, “Hail, King of the Jews!“ And they struck him repeatedly. Once more Pilate went out and said to them, “Look, I am bringing him out to you, so that you may know that I find no guilt in him.“ So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple cloak. And he said to them, “Behold, the man!“ When the chief priests and the guards saw him they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!“ Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him. I find no guilt in him.“ The Jews answered, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.“ Now when Pilate heard this statement, he became even more afraid, and went back into the praetorium and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?“ Jesus did not answer him. So Pilate said to him, “Do you not speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you and I have power to crucify you?“ Jesus answered him,“You would have no power over me if it had not been given to you from above. For this reason the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.“Consequently, Pilate tried to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release him, you are not a Friend of Caesar. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.“ Then he handed him over to them to be crucified
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I went to see the doctor yesterday afternoon and he told me that I did not have a virus as I was told. I have a stone in my gall bladder. I will have to go and see a specialist on July 27 and he will tell me what he will do. Please pray that this stone goes away.
(Below you will find the message of Our Lord and Redeemer given to Father Melvin. Jesus spoke to him these words.)
“I love you My brother Melvin and all My brothers and sisters for whom I suffered My Passion and died on the cross. After My arrest the Jews brought Me to Pontus Pilate and they asked him to crucify Me. At first Pilate had Me scourged with whips. I was bleeding all over My body and it was painful. After that they prepared a crown for My head made of thorns. They forced it on My head and the thorns entered into My head and blood came out. It was after all this that Pilate took Me out and he said, ‘Behold the man.’ But the Jews shouted, ‘Crucify Him, Crucify Him.‘ After that Pilate handed Me over to the Jews to be crucified.
I call you all My brothers and sisters and especially on Fridays spend time with Me at the foot of My cross. I suffered horribly and I gave My life for your salvation. Never forget that I love you and I want you with Me at all times. Pray for those who do not believe in Me that they may open their hearts to receive the gift of faith I have for them. I send many graces to you every day. I bless you all.”
Father Melvin