Friday, December 30, 2011
The Flight to Egypt and the Return from Egypt
Dear Friends,
When the Magi had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.” Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt. He stayed there until the death of Herod, that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled, “Out of Egypt I called my son.” … When Herod had died, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.” He rose, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go back there. And because he had been warned in a dream, he departed for the region of Galilee. He went and dwelt in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, “He shall be called a Nazorean.” (Passage from the Gospel of St. Matthew 2:13-15,19-23)
I was at church yesterday afternoon for a period of Christmas songs and to pray in thanksgiving for all that Jesus has done. After the concert we all went to the Parish Hall and had a meal together followed by a movie. On Saturday I will celebrate Holy Mass in the morning at 9:30 a.m. and in the evening I will have a one hour of prayer and adoration to thank the Lord for the year that is over and to ask for the Lord‘s help and His blessing for the New Year 2012.
(Below you will find the message of Our Lord and Savior given to Father Melvin. Jesus spoke to him these words:)
“I love you, My brother Melvin and all My brothers and sisters living in every part of the world. Already when I was just a small child, King Herod wanted to kill Me and that is why the Father sent an angel to tell Joseph to flee with Me and My Mother to Egypt. We were there for some years. After King Herod died, the angel returned to Joseph in a dream and told him to return to Israel with us. He did so and because the son of King Herod was now on the throne, we went to live in Nazareth. This is where I grew up. I wish to remind you that we all have our crosses to bear. When I was on earth I had My cross from the moment I was born until I died. Each one of you has a cross to carry. This cross is all the problems you are faced with in your life. For some it is sickness, others it is persecution by their enemies, others it‘s trouble in their family; or it is lies by some people who want to destroy your reputation. Every one has something heavy to carry so what you have to do is to offer me this cross and I will help you and lighten your burden, and every day come and follow Me with your cross. I love you and I will give you the strength to carry that cross and one day it will be gone. I bless you all.”
Father Melvin