January 4, 2015
The First Disciples
A reading from the Gospel of Saint John 1, 35 – 42:
The next day John the Baptist was there again with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God.” The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about four in the afternoon. Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus. He first found his own brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed). Then he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John; you will be called Kephas” (which is translated Peter).
On Sunday, January 4, is the Feast of the Epiphany this year when the Church celebrates
the adoration of Jesus by the Magi. Up till now it was the Jews who came to see the child Jesus and adored Him. However, with the Magi we have the first Gentiles to come and adore Jesus. This is to tell us that Jesus came for the salvation of both the Jews and the Gentiles. The Gentiles are all these people who are not Jewish. This feast is really the Christmas Feast of the Gentiles and the feast on December 25 is for the Jews. However, the Church celebrates both feasts. The Magi were led to the child Jesus by a star that brought them to Bethlehem exactly to the house where Jesus was living with His Mother Mary and with Joseph.
Below you will find the message of Our Lord and Savior given to Father Melvin. Jesus spoke to him these words,
“I bless you My brother Melvin and all My brothers and sisters who believe in Me and have great love for Me. It is very special indeed that the three Magi came from a country in the East and traveled following a star which they knew referred to My birth in Israel. They left their country and traveled for many days going through Jerusalem where they stopped and asked where I was born. Herod told them that I was born in Bethlehem and they left and followed the star to the house where I was staying.
When it was time for Me to begin My public life, I went to the Jordan River to be baptized by John the Baptist. It was John the Baptist who told two of his followers that I was the Lamb of God. With that the two followers began to follow Me and after I asked them what they were looking for, they came to where I was living and stayed with Me for a full day. One of the two followers was Andrew who became an Apostle of mine. It was Andrew who went to look for his brother Simon and when he found him he told him, “We have found the Messiah.” Yes, he was right for he had found Me, the Savior of the world. Andrew brought his brother Simon to Me and I changed his name. I said that he would be called Peter from now on. He too is an Apostle of mine. Andrew and Peter and My first Apostles who followed Me for three years and I appointed Peter the head of My Church.
My dear brothers and sisters, read these words in the Bible and come to understand that they express the truth about Me and about My Apostles. Come and follow all that I have taught you which is written in the Bible. You have to accept that I founded the Church and that Church is where you have Saint Peter as the first Pope and the Pope of today is known as the successor of Saint Peter, the Bishop of Rome. I bless you all.”
Father Melvin
P.S. It was sunny on Jan. 3 for part of the day. There were clouds floating around.