On Sunday the 16th, after returning from the Archdiocesan Clericus, the message was “How long O’ God, how long”? Father Looker had just completed a sermon series on living by faith the Sunday before. We were reminded that God is faithful to His promises and His answer will always come. It may not be what we thought or in our time, but He is always present in the midst of every situation and need. At the end of the message the congregation was asked to stand if there was something that they had been praying for and asking God to do something. Over 1/3 of those present responded. A prophetic word was given that someone present was going to see God move on their prayer TODAY!
After service few of us went to lunch after service and joining us was Mary, who just this year has been coming to our services faithfully. Mary has a 29-year-old grandson with 3 children going through a very difficult time. A few Sundays previous, Matthew had joined Mary for one of our services and was troubled that Mary had told him that he should not receive communion since he has never been baptized. Matthew is a believer but attends a non-denominational church here in Jacksonville. By a series of events Matthew joined us halfway through our lunch to spend time with his grandmother. Since there were 2 priests, Fr Ed Shiell and me present, he asked why this was? After explaining our thoughts and reasons, my wife Cyndy asked why hasn’t he been baptized? He responded that he never had been taught the importance of it in the believer’s life. Someone at the table asked if he wanted to be baptized and he said yes! Someone else asked why not today? He said OK!
We went to Mary’s house and while Fr Ed went home to change, I sat with Matthew and took him through the scriptures to make sure he understood what he was agreeing to. Fr Ed then lead us through the service of Baptism and Matthew was baptized in Mary’s pool. The power and presence of God was felt by us all of there. Matthew said that he felt 2 hands resting on his shoulders as he entered to pool to be baptized. There was not a dry eye as we all witnessed this God ordained moment.
As I was leaving, Mary looked at me with tears still in her eyes and said “I have been praying every day for Matthew to go deeper with God. As I was on my knees last night praying for him, I never thought that today I would see those prayers answered.”
God is faithful!
Fr Scott Melanson
Church of the Messiah- Jacksonville FL