July 8, 2015
Appearance to the Disciples
A reading from the Gospel of Saint John 20, 19 – 31:
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”
Thomas, called Didymus, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe. Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of Gold, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.
We had another sunny day yesterday and it was hot. It was 29 degrees Celsius this afternoon. I went to adoration last evening at our parish church in Palmer Road. I spent an hour before Jesus in the monstrance praying and contemplating Him. It is a great grace to be able to spend time with the Lord before the Holy Eucharist.
Below you will find the message of Our Lord and Savior given to Father Melvin. Jesus spoke to him these words,
“Rejoice My brother Melvin and all My brothers and sisters who accept and believe that I am risen from the dead. What joy filled the Apostles when I appeared to them in the room where they were staying in Jerusalem. I came into the place although all the doors were locked. I gave them My peace and I also gave them the Holy Spirit so that they could absolve the sins of believers or retain those they refused to absolve.
The Apostle Thomas was not present when I came to visit the Apostles the first time. When they told him that they had seen Me, he refused to believe. He said he would only believe if he put his finger in the wounds in My hands and put his hand in My side where I was pierced. When I came the second time, Thomas was there and after greeting them I called Thomas to come up to Me and put his finger in the wounds of My hands and his hand in my side and he did so. After he did so, he fell on his knees and confessed his faith in these words, “My Lord and My God.” Indeed those who have not seen Me but still believe are truly blessed.
My dear brothers and sisters, look at the faith of the Apostles and I call you all to believe in Me although you have not seen Me. I am truly the Resurrected Jesus, the Messiah of the world, the Son of God and if you truly believe in Me then you will be given eternal life in heaven. Follow Me every day. I love you all.”
Father Melvin