December 25, 2013
Dear Friends,
The Birth of Jesus
A reading from St. Luke’s Gospel 2, 1 – 14:
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirinus was governor of Syria. So all went to be enrolled; each to his own town. And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea; to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them at the inn.
Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear. The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:
“Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
The great day of Christmas is here! It is a day of joy for the Son of God is born as a child in Bethlehem. Rejoice, My friends, for God did not forget us. Come and join in the celebration for Our Savior is born as a human being. Praise be God for the wonderful thing He has done. (Last evening I made a mistake. I wrote that Jesus was born in Jerusalem. No He was born in Bethlehem.) May the Lord bless you all.
Below you will find the message of Our Lord, the Son of God, given to Father Melvin. Jesus spoke to him these words,
“Be filled with joy My brother Melvin and all My brothers and sisters as you celebrate My birth that took place in Bethlehem years ago. How I wish that all would celebrate My coming into the world! I was born in poverty to join the poor of the world and to tell them that I love them and I am very close to them. I came into the world because I love you all and I want you all to come out of the darkness and into My light. I am the Light of the world. Come and contemplative My birth and I will give you wonderful graces so that you will always find yourselves very close to Me. Be My disciples and spread the good news of My birth everywhere. I bless you all.”
Father Melvin