The Man with a Withered Hand

Friday, July 22, 2011

The Man with a Withered Hand

Dear Friends,

Moving on from there, Jesus went into their synagogue. And behold, there was a man there who had a withered hand. They questioned him, “Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath?” so that they might accuse him. He said to them, “Which one of you who has a sheep that falls into a pit on the sabbath will not take hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable a person is than a sheep. So it is lawful to do good on the sabbath.” Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and it was restored as sound as the other. But the Pharisees went out and took counsel against him to put him to death. (Passage from the Gospel of St. Matthew 12:9-14)

The retreat ended yesterday at noon but they stayed in the afternoon and only left early this morning to go home. They expressed their joy of having taken part in this retreat.

This evening I will take part in the Healing Mass at the Immaculate Conception Church, Palmer Road. The Parish Priest asked me to help him during the Healing Service to pray with the people present. There are about 200 people who are gathering every evening at the Church for the Novena of St. Anne and all these will be present at the Healing Mass.

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 living in every country of the world. Often when I went to the synagogue on the Sabbath there would be a person in need of healing. I had no trouble healing these people on the Sabbath because to heal is always a good thing. One is allowed to do good on the Sabbath. So on one holy day I healed a man with a withered hand in the synagogue. Some people especially the Pharisees were against it as they accused Me of breaking the Sabbath. I ask you this: could the Son of God break the Sabbath? Could I commit a sin? As God I am the one who instituted the Sabbath and I know what is allowed and what is forbidden. It is always lawful to heal because one is doing good to a person. Yet the Pharisees plotted to kill Me. They were always looking for a way to put me to death. Indeed they succeeded at the end to have Me nailed to the cross but this great suffering I offered to the Father for your sins. I love you.”

Father Melvin