Monday, April 8, 2013
Trial before the Sanhedrin
Dear Friends,
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles (5:21b-32):
When they heard this, they went to the temple early in the morning and taught. When the high priest and his companions arrived, they convened the Sanhedrin, the full senate of the Israelites, and sent to the jail to have [the Apostles] brought in. But the court officers who went did not find them in the prison, so they came back and reported, “We found the jail securely locked and the guards stationed outside the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” When they heard this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were at a loss about them, as to what this would come to. Then someone came in and reported to them, “The men whom you put in prison are in the temple area and are teaching the people.”
Then the captain and the court officers went and brought them in, but without force, because they were afraid of being stoned by the people. When they had brought them in and made them stand before the Sanhedrin, the high priest questioned them, “We gave you strict orders (did we not?) to stop teaching in that name. Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and want to bring this man’s blood upon us.” But Peter and the apostles said in reply, “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our ancestors raised Jesus, though you had him killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as leader and savior to grant Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins. We are witnesses of these things, as is the holy Spirit that God has given to those who obey him.”
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Yesterday was the Feast of Divine Mercy brought about by St. Faustina and the Feast was created by Blessed John Paul II. We are all called to pray the Divine Mercy chaplet every day.
Below you will find the message of Our Lord, the Son of God, given to Father Melvin. Jesus spoke to him these words,
“Be bold in teaching about Me My brother Melvin and all My brothers and sisters who believe in Me and are part of My Kingdom. The Apostles were not afraid to go to the temple and teach the people about Me. They had been arrested by the officers of the high priest but an angel came during the night and opened the doors of the prison and let them out and told them to go back to the temple to teach. This is exactly what the Apostles did without any fear. The high priest and his companions wanted another trial of the Apostles and went they sent the officers to get the Apostles they found that none of them were in prison. The prison was locked but there was nobody inside. Later they found out that the Apostles were in the temple and they went and arrested them again.
“My dear friends do not be afraid to show your faith to those you meet. Some might laugh at you and mock you, but do not mind because that is what some did to the Apostles. If you are not accepted in one place then go to another. You will find some people will be ready to listen to you. I bless you all.”
Father Melvin