Thursday, December 20, 2012
The Rejection at Nazareth
Dear Friends,
A reading from St. Luke’s Gospel (4:16-22, 28-30):
He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day. He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.”
Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him. He said to them, “Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They also asked, “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?” […]
When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury. They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong. But he passed through the midst of them and went away.
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Our Lord wants to establish a lay movement for families, especially couples. He wants to gather families who bond themselves to Him and follow Him, not as religious but as lay Christians. This group will embody a total spirituality for families based on Jesus’ saying: “Where two or more are gathered in my name, I am in their midst“ (Matt.18,20). The purpose of the Families for Jesus is to help couples live as committed Christians, steeped in the Spirit of Jesus and working to Christianize their homes, communities and workplaces.
Below you will find the message of Our Lord and Savior given to Father Melvin. Jesus spoke to him these words,
“Be happy when people receive you My brother Melvin and all My brothers and sisters who are committed to Me. You know I grew up in Nazareth and when I returned to My home town after I started My public life, I was not accepted by the people because they knew Me. They rejected Me and chased Me away from the town. However, I forgave them and never hated them. When you work for Me, you will be rejected at times by the people and they will mock you. Do not be afraid of them and do not hate them. Pray for these people that they come to believe in Me, their Savior, and love Me together with all those who follow Me. You are dear to Me, My friends, and I love you.“
Father Melvin