January 7, 2015
The Cure of a Demoniac
A reading from the Gospel of Saint Luke 4, 31 – 41:
Jesus then went down to Capernaum, a town of Galilee. He taught them on the Sabbath, and then were astonished at his teaching because he spoke with authority. In the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out in a loud voice, “Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are–the Holy One of God!” Jesus rebuked him and said, “Be quiet! Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down in front of them and come out of him without doing him any harm. They were all amazed and said to one another, “What is there about his word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.” And news of him spread everywhere in the surrounding region.
After he left the synagogue, he entered the house of Simon. Simon’s mother-in-law was afflicted with a severe fever, and they interceded with him about her. He stood over her, rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up immediately and waited on them.
At sunset, all who had people sick with various diseases brought them to him. He laid his hands on each of them and cured them. And demons also came out from many, shouting, “You are the Son of God.” But he rebuked them and did not allow them to speak because they knew that he was the Messiah.
We had a very cold day on January 6th. It was minus 18 degrees Celsius the whole day. Although it was cold, it was sunny the whole day and no snow fell. There is a bit of snow on the ground now but what is worst is the ice. The side roads are covered with ice and it is the same thing with many driveways. It will be less cold tomorrow. I am telling you we need heat in the houses or we will freeze for sure.
Below you will find the message of Our Lord and Savior given to Father Melvin. Jesus spoke to him these words,
“I call you My brother Melvin and all My brothers and sisters to follow Me to Capernaum where I went after I was kicked out of Nazareth, the town where I grew up. I did the same thing in this town as I went to the synagogue on the Sabbath and I taught the people who were there. There was a possessed man sitting in the synagogue and he began to shout at Me saying, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are–the Holy One of God!” So you see the evil one spoke the truth about Me. He knew that I was the Son of God, the Messiah. I did not take time but I chased the evil one from this man. What the people saw was that the man fell to the floor but he was not harmed. The people were amazed that he was not hurt and that he was freed from this evil one. Many people in the surrounding countryside heard all about what I did there at Capernaum. Then I went to stay at Simon’s house where his mother-in-law was sick. I cured her and she began to wait on us. In the evening I cured many sick people who had been brought to the place where I was staying. I also chased away many evil spirits because many people were possessed. The evil spirits said these words, “You are the Son of God” and they knew that I was the Messiah.
My dear friends, you see how a day during My public life developed. I did work with power to show the people that I came from God and I could do great miracles such as healing the sick and chasing away evil spirits. Among those who follow Me today, some have received the same gifts from Me. They pray over the sick and they are healed and they also drive away evil spirits. These are blessed by Me and I call on you all to listen to them for they teach the truth. I bless you all.”
Father Melvin