September 27, 2014
Storm and Shipwreck (3)
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles 27, 27 – 44:
On the fourteenth night, as we were still being driven about on the Adriatic Sea, toward midnight the sailors began to suspect that they were nearing land. They took soundings and found twenty fathoms; a little farther on, they again took soundings and found fifteen fathoms. Fearing that we would run aground on a rocky coast, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for day to come. The sailors then tried to abandon ship; they lowered the dinghy to the sea on the pretext of going to lay out anchors from the bow. But Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved.” So the soldiers cut the ropes of the dinghy and set it adrift.
Until the day began to dawn, Paul kept urging all to take some food. He said, “Today is the fourteenth day that you have been waiting, going hungry and eating nothing. I urge you, therefore, to take some food; it will help you survive. Not a hair of the head of anyone of you will be lost.” When he said this, he took bread, gave thanks to God in front of them all, broke it, and began to eat. They were all encouraged, and took some food themselves. In all, there were two hundred seventy-six of us on the ship. After they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship by throwing the wheat into the sea.
When day came they did not recognize the land, but made out a bay with a beach. They planned to run the ship ashore on it, if they could. So they cast off the anchors and abandoned them to the sea, and at the same time they unfastened the lines of the rudders, and hoisting the foresail into the wind, they made for the beach. But they struck a sandbar and ran the ship aground. The bow was wedged in and could not be moved, but the stern began to break up under the pounding of the waves. The soldiers plan to kill the prisoners so that none might swim away and escape, but the centurion wanted to save Paul and so kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to the shore, and then the rest, some on planks, others on debris from the ship. In this way, all reached shore safely.
A few days ago as I was driving along the road and when I saw a Catholic Church, this idea came to me. A church is Jesus’ home. He is present in the Holy Eucharist and therefore he lives in every church where the Blessed Sacrament is kept. So every church is Jesus’ home and we are all invited to come and speak (pray) to Him. I can see that Jesus has many homes in every country of the world. He is there for you and me and He wants us to go and visit Him. When you pass near a church, never forget to bless yourself and ask for His help.
Below you will find the message of Our Blessed Mother given to Father Melvin. She spoke to him these words,
“I bless you My son Melvin and all My sons and daughters living in every country of the world. I love you all and I am praying for you every day.
When Saint Paul and the soldiers were on the ship in a horrible storm, they suffered much and you can be sure that I was praying for them. Paul help them by telling the soldiers what My Son put into his heart. When the soldiers thought that the prisoners will just jump overboard and swim to the coast and escape from those who held them as prisoners, some of them decided that they should kill all these prisoners because they might escape. However, Saint Paul told the centurion that if they do this, then all the soldiers will drown in the storm. So the centurion told the soldiers not to kill any of the prisoners. Saint Paul then told the soldiers to go and eat as they had not eaten for fourteen days. They followed Saint Paul and went to eat. Then when day broke, they saw a beach and they decided to land there. So they broke the anchors and started for the beach but they hit a sandbar and at the end they had to jump overboard and swim to shore. Everyone reached the beach and they were safe.
My children, if you remain with My Son Jesus, He will help you when you face any danger. You simply have to be guided by Him and follow everything that He tells you.
Saint Paul was guided by My Son and the soldiers listened to him and they were all safe. Follow My Son and He will protect you. I love you all.”
Father Melvin
P.S. I am sorry that I did not send any message for the last two days as I was away and I just came back this evening. I thank the Lord for this beautiful sunny day. The temperature was warm just like the middle of summer. Praise the Lord.