November 28, 2013
Dear Friends,
Sin of Partiality
A reading from the Book of Saint James 2, 1 – 13:
My brothers and sisters, show no partiality as you adhere to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. For if a man with gold rings on his fingers and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and a poor person in shabby clothes also comes in, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Sit here, please,” while you say to the poor one, “Stand there,” or “Sit at my feet,” have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil designs?
Listen, my beloved. Did not God choose those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him? But you dishonored the poor person. Are not the rich oppressing you? And do they themselves not haul you off to court? Is it not they who blaspheme the noble name that was invoked over you? However, if you fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law, but fall short in one particular, has become guilty in respect to all of it. For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not kill.” Even if you do not commit adultery but kill, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act as people who will be judged by the law of freedom. For the judgment is merciless to one who has not shown mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.
Yesterday we had a fierce storm. It rained always the whole day but the wind came up in the afternoon and the rain intensified. Today it will rain some more but it should stop in the evening.
Below you will find the message of Our Lord and Savior given to Father Melvin. Jesus spoke to him these words,
“I told you My brother Melvin and all My brothers and sisters that you are to love one another as I love you. You are not to love one and hate another. You are not to love a person because he or she has money or a beautiful car or a big house. You are not to push aside the poor person who is poorly dressed, has not much to eat and is cold in the winter. NO, you are to treat every person the same, which means you are to love them. I love every person and I died for every one of them. I want that all be saved and come to join Me in heaven one day. Look at St. Francis of Assisi when he was alive. He met a leper on the road one day and he got of his horse and went over to him and embraced him. This indeed is a great act of love especially because leprosy is very dangerous and St. Francis could have caught it.
Another great attribute that you all must have is mercy. You must show mercy to all people who have hurt you in any way. In this way Our Heavenly Father will show mercy to you and take away your sins.
Come and open your heart to Me and I will fill it with all the wonderful gifts I have for you. I love you all.”
Father Melvin