Thursday, December 27, 2012
The Flight into Egypt
Dear Friends,
A reading from St. Matthew’s Gospel (2:13-15):
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.”
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The goal of the Families for Jesus is to live intimately with Jesus and acquire His mind and heart. St. Paul’s saying, “It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me” (Gal.2, 20) should come alive for the couple. Jesus has to be in charge of their whole lives and all should be done in union with Him. No one can reach perfection in this world, but by focusing on Jesus they can advance a good way on the road. The spiritual life has to progress on two fronts: 1- deeper union in heart and mind of the couple and 2- deeper union with Jesus. The two cannot be separated for the couple. As Marriage Encounter will be fruitful for their life as a couple, so will the encounter with Jesus be fruitful for their life with Him. Such encounters with Jesus as in the Cursillo weekend are important for deepening their faith. The Charismatic Movement is excellent in strengthening their relationship with Jesus through the Holy Spirit. All of these bring them closer to the Lord and will play a significant part in the Families for Jesus.
Below you will find the message of Our Lord and Savior given to Father Melvin. Jesus spoke to him these words,
“As you are now in the season of Christmas, I want you My brother Melvin and all My brothers and sisters to rejoice together with Me at this special time. After the Magi came to visit Me, the angel come to My foster father Joseph to tell him to take My mother and I to Egypt as King Herod wanted to kill Me. That same night we fled by road to this southern country. In no time Herod’s army came to Bethlehem and they killed all the small children they could find hoping by killing all of them I would be killed with them. We went to live in Egypt for about seven years until King Herod died. Then we returned to Israel and went to live in Nazareth where I grew up. So you see even as a baby they wanted to kill Me. I call you all to live in union with Me and to be men and women of prayer. Do not be afraid of the world and what these people can do but do all that I have called you to do. I bless you all.”
Father Melvin