March 14, 2014
The Mission of the Twelve
A reading from the Gospel of Saint Matthew 10, 1 – 15:
Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness. The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon called Peter, and his brother, Andrew, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John, Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax collector, James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus, Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.
Jesus sent out these twelve after instructing them thus, “Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town. Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have receive; without cost you are to give. Do not take gold or silver or copper for your belts; no sack for the journey, or a second tunic, or sandals, or walking stick. The laborer deserves his keep. Whatever town or village you enter, look for a worthy person in it, and stay there until you leave. As you enter a house, wish it peace. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; if not, let your peace return to you. Whoever will not receive you or listen to your words–go outside that house or town and shake the dust from your feet. Amen, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gormorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.
We have another snowstorm which began last evening (Wednesday) and it snowed with lots of wind the whole day Thursday. It should stop during the night so that on Friday the sun should shine. I pray that this will be the last snowstorm of this winter. We are only seven days before the beginning of Spring.
Below you will find the message of Our Lord and Savior given to Father Melvin. Jesus spoke to him these words, “I want you to be aware My brother Melvin and all My brothers and sisters that I was the one who called the Twelve Apostles one by one. I called them to come and follow Me during My public life. I gave them special powers and I sent them out to towns and villages to talk about the coming of the Kingdom of God. They had great power to heal and to chase evil spirits. I also taught them where they were to stay while in a town or village. They were to do what I was doing as I visited all around. The Apostles stayed with Me almost three years and they saw all the miracles I did and they heard what I preached to the people everywhere. In this way they came to know the Good News which I brought into the world. They continued to go and preached after My death and resurrection. Once they received the Holy Spirit then they started My Church and I chose Saint Peter as My Church leader.
The Apostles played a great role in the development of My Church. They traveled to different countries and many people believed them and became members of My Church through baptism. Bishops were appointed and priests to lead My followers in all the countries that the Apostles visited. All the Apostles except Saint John are martyrs. They were killed because of their great faith in Me. One who was not there at the beginning of My Church is Judas Iscariot. Today all the bishops and priests of My Church have the great power I gave My Apostles especially the power to celebrate the Holy Eucharist and to absolve the sins of Christians. They receive this power through the ordination that comes from the Apostles. Accept all My leaders as you would accept the Apostles. I bless you all.”
Father Melvin