Sunday, June 16, 2013
Testimony to Jews in Rome
Dear Friends,
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles (28:17-24):
Three days later he called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had gathered [Paul] said to them, “My brothers, although I had done nothing against our people or our ancestral customs, I was handed over to the Romans as a prisoner from Jerusalem. After trying my case the Romans wanted to release me, because they found nothing against me deserving the death penalty. But when the Jews objected, I was obliged to appeal to Caesar, even though I had no accusation to make against my own nation. This is the reason, then, I have requested to see you and to speak with you, for it is on account of the hope of Israel that I wear these chains.” They answered him, “We have received no letters from Judea about you, nor has any of the brothers arrived with a damaging report or rumor about you. But we should like to hear you present your views, for we know that this sect is denounced everywhere.”
So they arranged a day with him and came to his lodgings in great numbers. From early morning until evening, he expounded his position to them, bearing witness to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus from the law of Moses and the prophets. Some were convinced by what he had said, while others did not believe. Without reaching any agreement among themselves they began to leave; then Paul made one final statement. “Well did the Holy Spirit speak to your ancestors through the prophet Isaiah, saying: ‘Go to this people and say: You shall indeed hear but not understand. You shall indeed look but never see. Gross is the heart of this people; they will not hear with their ears; they have closed their eyes, so they may not see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and be converted, and I heal them.’ Let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.”
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With this passage above I have finished with the Acts of the Apostles. We have seen much of what Saint Paul did when he was on earth.
Below you will find the message of Our Lord and Savior, the Son of God, given to Father Melvin. Jesus spoke to him these words,
“I suffered much for you, My brother Melvin and all My brothers and sisters who have now received many graces from Me. My suffering and death on the cross was the price I had to pay to redeem you. Another one who suffered much is Saint Paul, one of My great Apostles. He was taken to Rome in chains and he was to be judged by the Emperor, but he had to wait years before this happened. In the meantime he would meet with people, and the first group he met were the Jews. Some accepted what Saint Paul said, while others did not believe. He met too with the Gentiles and many of them came to believe in Me, their Savior. At the end you know that Saint Paul was beheaded, although he had done nothing wrong. He together with Saint Peter are the great martyrs of Rome where the Pope lives. Continue to pray for the new pope. His name is Pope Francis, the name he took from Saint Francis of Assisi. I have selected him and he will work very well for Me and for My Church. I bless you all.”
Father Melvin