Friday, May 04, 2012
The Choice of Judas’s Successor
Dear Friends,
Please read the passage below from the Acts of the Apostles (1:15-26):
During those days Peter stood up in the midst of the brothers (there was a group of about one hundred and twenty persons in the one place). He said, “My brothers, the scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand through the mouth of David, concerning Judas, who was the guide for those who arrested Jesus. He was numbered among us and was allotted a share in this ministry. He bought a parcel of land with the wages of his iniquity, and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle, and all his insides spilled out. This became known to everyone who lived in Jerusalem, so that the parcel of land was called in their language ‘Akeldama,’ that is, Field of Blood. For it is written in the Book of Psalms: ‘Let his encampment become desolate, and may no one dwell in it.’ And: ‘May another take his office.’ Therefore, it is necessary that one of the men who accompanied us the whole time the Lord Jesus came and went among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day on which he was taken up from us, become with us a witness to his resurrection.” So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. Then they prayed, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this apostolic ministry from which Judas turned away to go to his own place.” Then they gave lots to them, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was counted with the eleven apostles.
The story of our pilgrimage continues. On the night of April 21st, we slept on the boat but I did not sleep much because of the noise of the engine. We arrived in Split, Croatia, at 7:10 a.m. and after breakfast we left by bus for Medjugorje. After some hours we crossed into Bosnia. Then we traveled until noon and went to a church in the country dedicated to Our Lady and at 12:30 p.m. I celebrated Holy Mass with the group. After Holy Mass we got on the bus and traveled to Medjugorje, which took us about half an hour from the church. We settled in and had lunch at 3:30 p.m. and then a group of us went to St. James Church to pray the rosary. We had supper at 7:30 p.m. and most went to bed afterwards. More tomorrow.
(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 part of the earth. Some people follow Me for a while and then they turn their backs to Me like Judas. This causes a great pain in My heart. The Apostles before Pentecost came together to choose a replacement for Judas and they selected Matthias, a holy man blessed by Me. The leaders of the Church continuously choose replacements for the Pope, the Bishops and the priests in My Church. It is important that the right person be chosen. Pray, My friends, that all these appointments are the right ones and that they will be attentive to Me in the work I give them. May all of you follow your mission. I bless you all.”
Father Melvin