September 13, 2014
Paul before the Sanhedrin
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles 22, 30 – 23, 11:
The next day, wishing to determine the truth about why he was being accused by the Jews, the commander freed him and ordered the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin to convene. Then he brought Paul down and made him stand before them.
Paul looked intently at the Sanhedrin and said, “My brothers, I have conducted myself with a perfectly clear conscience before God to this day.” The high priest Ananias ordered his attendants to strike his mouth. Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall. Do you indeed sit in judgment upon me according to the law and yet in violation of the law order me to be struck?” The attendants said, “Would you revile God’s high priest?” Paul answered, “Brothers, I did not realize he was the high priest. For it is written, ‘You shall not curse a ruler of your people.'”
Paul was aware that some were Sadducees and some Pharisees, so he called out before the Sanhedrin, “My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees; I am on trial for hope in the resurrection of the dead.” When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the group became divided. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection or angels or spirits, while the Pharisees acknowledge all three. A great uproar occurred, and some scribes belong to the Pharisee party stood up and sharply argued, “We find nothing wrong with this man. Suppose a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” The dispute was so serious that the commander, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, ordered his troops to go down and rescue him from their midst and take him into the compound. The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage. For just as you have borne witness to my cause in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness in Rome.”
I am getting ready to send out Our Lady’s Newsletter. I hope by next week I will have sent them all out. There are some who have not renewed their subscription. It only cost $12.00 for Canadians and $15.00 for those outside of Canada. If you wish to receive it with the message Our Blessed Mother gave me on August 15th, the Feast of the Assumption of Our dear Mother, then please write to me as soon as possible.
Below you will find the message of Our Blessed Mother given to Father Melvin. She spoke to him these words,
“I bless you My son Melvin and all My sons and daughters who have great faith in My Son Jesus, Your Savior. My great son, Saint Paul, had great love for Jesus, My Son, and he suffered much because of his great faith. He was arrested in Jerusalem because of all the accusations of the Jews. From Jerusalem he traveled to Rome and it is there in Rome after some years that he was martyred. He worked hard to establish My Son’s Church in many countries of the Middle East and in Europe. The Jews however gave him a lot of trouble because they refused to believe in My Son Jesus and often they wanted to kill Saint Paul.
I call you My children to be strong Christians who pray regularly and love to go to Holy Mass and to receive My Son Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. Follow Him every day and one day you will be with us in heaven. I am praying for you all the time and I send the graces won by My Son during His time of suffering and while He hung upon the cross. I suffered with Him as I stood near His cross until He died for your salvation. Come and follow Him and He will bring you to heaven one day. Follow the commandments and love one another for this is what He asked you to do. I love you all for I am your Mother who cares for you.”
Father Melvin
P.S. We had rain last night but there was no rain today. It was cloudy and windy in the morning but it became clear and sunny in the afternoon. I thank the Lord.