June 05, 2014
The Agony in the Garden
A reading from the Gospel of Saint Matthew 26, 36 – 46:
Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took along Peter an the two sons of Zebedee, and began to feel sorrow and distress. Then he said to them, “My soul is sorrowful even to death. Remain here and keep watch with me.” He advanced a little and fell prostrate in prayer, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me, yet, not as I will, but as you will.” When he returned to his disciples he found them asleep. He said to Peter, “So you could not keep watch with me for one hour? Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Withdrawing a second time, he prayed again, “My Father, if it is not possible that this cup pass without my drinking it, your will be done!” Then he returned once more and found them asleep, for they could not keep their eyes open. He left them and withdrew again and prayed a third time, saying the same thing again. Then he returned to his disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Behold, the hour is at hand when the Son of Man is to be handed over to sinners. Get up, let us go. Look, my betrayer is at hand.”
I spoke on the phone today to an African man who had great faith. He loved to say, “Glory be to God” and “I pray to God every day.” He was full of joy and he would like that every person on earth would glorify God every day. He says that he loves to go to church every Sunday and he reads the bible every day. I told him that he was blessed by God and that he should continue to pray and to thank the Lord 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,
“Come and join Me My brother Melvin and all My brothers and sisters as I undergo My Passion. It is in following Me through all the stages of My Passion that you will come to know Me and have a close relationship with Me. My Passion is an expression of My love for each one of you.
My Passion began in the Garden of Gethsemane also called the Garden of Olives just outside the walls of Jerusalem. My Apostles and I went there often at night to rest. So on Holy Thursday the eleven Apostles came with Me. I left them at the entrance to the Garden except three that I took with Me and walked a little further. There I asked them to stay with Me and keep watch with Me. I then went a bit further and fell prostrate and prayed. After My prayer I came to the three Apostles and found them all asleep. I woke them up and said to them “So you could not keep watch with me for one hour?” I went to pray three times speaking to My Heavenly Father about the cup that I had to drink. This cup was My suffering and at the end My death. After praying a third time, I return to the three Apostles and they were again asleep. I woke them up as My betrayer was at hand.
I suffered much in the Garden. It was indeed the suffering of My Agony. I knew what I would suffer after I would be arrested. How they would beat Me and finally crucify Me on the cross. I was in great pain going through all this in the Garden.
I call you My brothers and sisters to join Me at times for an hour as you sit before My cross and see Me hanging there. I needed great power in order to survive until the cross. As you know I did not commit any sin but I took all your sins upon Myself and suffered until death to make atonement for them. I did this because I love you with all My Heart.”
Father Melvin
P.S. We had another beautiful sunny day on Wednesday. The sky was clear until evening and it was warm. It surely looks and feels like summer. Around here these days the fields and roads are covered with yellow flowers and it is beautiful. Praise the Lord.