Sunday, September 1, 2013
Accusation of Weakness
Dear Friends,
A reading from Saint Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians (2 Cor 10:1-11):
Now I myself, Paul, urge you through the gentleness and clemency of Christ, I who am humble when face to face with you, but brave toward you when absent, I beg you that, when present, I may not have to be brave with that confidence with which I intend to act boldly against some who consider us as acting according to the flesh. For, although we are in the flesh, we do not battle according to the flesh, for the weapons of our battle are not of flesh but are enormously powerful, capable of destroying fortresses. We destroy arguments and every pretension raising itself against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive in obedience to Christ, and we are ready to punish every disobedience, once your obedience is complete.
Look at what confronts you. Whoever is confident of belonging to Christ should consider that as he belongs to Christ, so do we. And even if I should boast a little too much of our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for tearing you down, I shall not be put to shame. May I not seem as one frightening you through letters. For someone will say, “His letters are severe and forceful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.” Such a person must understand that what we are in word through letters when absent, that we also are in action when present.
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Yesterday I celebrated Holy Mass in the chapel of Our Lady of Prince Edward Island in honor of Our Lady, as it was Saturday. I love to celebrate Holy Mass in Her honor. She gave us a beautiful sunny and warm day.
Below you will find the message of Our Lord, the Son of God, given to Father Melvin. Jesus spoke to him these words,
“I call you to open your hearts to Me, My brother Melvin and all My brothers and sisters who have given their lives to Me. Sometimes we have to be bold with people who offend their Lord and God. You know that I got angry when I chased the sellers out of the temple in Jerusalem. I chased them all out and I shouted at them that they were making a den out of the Temple of God. When you see people doing something wrong like driving a car under the influence of alcohol or drugs, you must tell them not to drive a car in such a state. If the person does not want to listen, you must call the police because they could kill people. If you see someone stealing, you must tell him or her to stop and return what he or she has stolen. Again if they do not want to listen to you, then you have to call the police. Saint Paul was not afraid to tell the people of his time to stop doing what was wrong and to do only what was good. It is the same for you all even today. Come then and walk with Me, and I will strengthen you to do good. I love you and I bless you.”
Father Melvin