Thursday, November 10, 2011
Zacchaeus the Tax Collector
Dear Friends,
Jesus came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town. Now a man there named Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man, was seeking to see who Jesus was; but he could not see him because of the crowd, for he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way. When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house.” And he came down quickly and received him with joy. When they all saw this, they began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner.” But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a descendant of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.” (Passage from the Gospel of St. Luke 19:1-10)
I celebrated Holy Mass yesterday morning at the Little Shrine of Our Lady of Prince Edward Island at 9:30 a.m. I have now decided to celebrate a French Mass at the Little Shrine every Thursday morning at 9:00 a.m. as there are no more Masses celebrated in French in the surrounding parishes and the French people would like at least one Mass a week in their language.
Many people are writing to me to have their loved ones, especially those who are sick or have passed away, entered in the Book of Remembrance. Many also write the names of those in their family who do not pray any more. It only cost $15.00 to have a person written in this book and those written take part in two Masses a week for a whole year and I also offer my rosary and other prayers every day for them.
(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 continent of the world. You are aware that you are all sinners like this Zacchaeus whose story you find in the Bible. I went to live at his home in Jericho as I was passing through this town one day. He was converted and he followed Me for the rest of his life. I want every person in the world to have a personal contact with Me so that he or she can be converted and come and follow Me. I contact many people when they are sick and I heal many who call upon Me. Some of these people have no faith or are in a sect or do not belong to My Church. Melvin, My brother, many phone you almost every day concerning a healing and some have phoned lately about healings from cancer. They are so thankful that I have healed them through you. I ask you all to pray for all those who have no faith or who are lost in some strange sect. Pray that they will come to know Me and follow Me like this man Zacchaeus. I want the salvation of every person in the world but they need your prayers. I love you all.”
Father Melvin
P.S. I just read very good news. A group of women in Prince Edward Island has asked the Government to allow abortions in the hospitals in PEI. Yesterday the PEI Government said a very flat no. Everything will stay as it is. Thank you, dear Mother Mary.