Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Jesus is Betrayed and Arrested
Dear Friends,
A reading from St. Luke’s Gospel (22:47-53):
While [Jesus] was still speaking, a crowd approached and in front was one of the Twelve, a man named Judas. He went up to Jesus to kiss him. Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” His disciples realized what was about to happen, and they asked, “Lord, shall we strike with a sword?” And one of them struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said in reply, “Stop, no more of this!” Then he touched the servant’s ear and healed him. And Jesus said to the chief priests and temple guards and elders who had come for him, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? Day after day I was with you in the temple area, and you did not seize me; but this is your hour, the time for the power of darkness.”
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Early yesterday morning I received the important news that Pope Benedict XVI of Rome had given his resignation. It will become effective on February 28, which is in 16 days. He said that he is weak because of his age as he will be 86 years old in April. Let us pray for him that he will live for some time yet and let us pray every day for the new pope who will be elected around the middle of the month of March.
Below you will find the message of Our Lord, the Son of God, given to Father Melvin. Jesus spoke to him these words,
“When you suffer come to Me My brother Melvin and all My brothers and sisters living in every country of the world. I had started My Passion by prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane where I sweated blood. Then that very night Judas with the guards of the high priests came to the Garden to arrest Me. Judas who had been an Apostle since the beginning is the one who betrayed Me with a kiss. He accepted to do this for 30 pieces of silver. Did he realize that he was betraying the Messiah, the Son of God? I know that his faith was weak. So because of what he did, I told the others that it would have been better if Judas had never been born.
“Just before I was arrested one of the Apostles cut the ear of one of the servants of the high priest and immediately I performed a miracle and healed him. My time had now arrived to suffer My Passion and to die on the cross. It was for all of you that I suffered this horrible death in order to atone for your sins and to open heaven for you. I want you all to see that I am your Savior and if you come and believe in Me and follow Me, you will be with Me in heaven forever. I love you all.”
Father Melvin