Saturday, February 23, 2013
The Coming of the Spirit
Dear Friends,
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles (1:13-14, 2:1-13):
When they entered the city they went to the upper room where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. All these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer, together with some women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers […]
When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.
Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem. At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd, but they were confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. They were astounded, and in amazement they asked, “Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans? Then how does each of us hear them in his own native language? We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene, as well as travelers from Rome, both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs, yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God.” They were all astounded and bewildered, and said to one another, “What does this mean?” But others said, scoffing, “They have had too much new wine.”
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The snowstorm is over and today we will have sunshine. We will have a good few days of beautiful weather. Let us all pray to the Lord to bless Pope Benedict XVI who will leave the papacy on February 28th and let us pray to the Holy Spirit to enlighten the Cardinals in their choice of a new Pope.
Below you will find the message of Our Blessed Mother given to Father Melvin. She spoke to him these words,
“Be filled with the Holy Spirit My son Melvin and all My sons and daughters who call themselves Christians. It was the Father with His Son Jesus who sent the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and upon the women gathered in the upper room in Jerusalem. I was present in that place when the Holy Spirit descended on all those present in the room. The Sacrament of Confirmation derives from this great event of Pentecost. Every Christian must receive the Holy Spirit in order to have the strength, the courage and the graces needed to live the new life in Christ Jesus.
“My Son had to ascend to heaven before the Holy Spirit could come on the Apostles and on all those who believe in Jesus as their Savior. What a change happened to the Apostles once they received the Holy Spirit. Before His coming, they locked themselves in the upper room, as they were afraid of the Jews. After the coming of the Holy Spirit, they opened the doors and Peter went outside to preach to the people gathered there. He had no more fear. All the Apostles were truly enlightened to begin the Church founded by My Son Jesus. Be thankful that the Holy Spirit has come upon the world. I bless you all.”
Father Melvin