September 12, 2014
Paul Imprisoned
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles 22, 22 – 29:
The Jews listened to Paul until he said this, but then they raised their voices and shouted, “Take such a one as this away from the earth. It is not right that he should live.” And as they were yelling and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, the cohort commander ordered him to be brought into the compound and gave instruction that he be interrogated under the lash to determine the reason why they were making such an outcry against him. But when they had stretched him out for the whips, Paul said to the centurion on duty, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman citizen and has not been tried?” When the centurion heard this, he went to the cohort commander and reported it, saying, “What are you going to do? This man is a Roman citizen.” “Yes,” he answered. The commander replied, “I acquired this citizenship for a large sum of money.” Paul said, “But I was born one.” At once those who were going to interrogate him backed away from him, and the commander became alarmed when he realized that he was a Roman citizen and that he had him bound.
Today there are many Catholic men and women who are living together but they have never been married. This way of living is sinful. One day I was speaking to a couple who had never been married and I told them that Jesus wanted them to receive the sacrament of marriage. I explained that it was not difficult for they only had to go and see their parish priest and he will organized everything. They did this and within a month they were married in church. The Lord blessed their union.
Below you will find the message of Our Lord and Savior given to Father Melvin. Jesus spoke to him these words,
“I love you My brother Melvin and all My brothers and sisters who believe in Me as your Redeemer. There are many Christians who suffer today in many parts of the world. Some are thrown in prison and even some are beheaded. One who suffered in the past was Saint Paul. The Jews wanted to kill him and he was taken by the soldiers and brought to the compound. They wanted to whip him and as they were preparing to do so, Saint Paul told them that he was a Roman citizen and so they had no right to do so. They immediately stopped their preparation and let him free. The Commander asked him how he became a Roman citizen. He told them that he was born a Roman citizen. So the commander became alarmed when he realized that he was a Roman citizen.
I was there with Saint Paul and I am the one who told him to tell them about his citizenship. In this way he was protected and he was not whipped. However, he will suffer greatly in the future. I call you all My friends never to be afraid of the future but remain close to Me and I will protect you. I love you all.”
Father Melvin
P.S. It was nice and sunny this morning but it became cloudy in the afternoon and we should have rain this evening. The farmers need rain and they should be happy.