December 02, 2013
Dear Friends,
Causes of Division
A reading from the Letter of Saint James 4, 1 – 12:
Where do the wars and where do the conflicts among you come from? Is it not from your passions that make war within your members? You covet but do not possess. You kill and envy but you cannot obtain; you fight and wage war. You do not possess because you do not ask. You ask but do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. Adulterers! Do you not know that to be a lover of the world means enmity with God? Therefore, whoever wants to be a lover of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose that the scripture speaks without meaning when it says, “The spirit that he has made to dwell in us tends toward jealousy?” But he bestows a greater grace; therefore, it says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
So submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your heart, you of two minds. Begin to lament, to mourn, to weep. Let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy into dejection. Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you.
Do not speak evil of one another, brothers. Whoever speaks evil of a brother or judges his brother speaks evil of the law and judges the law. If you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is one lawgiver and judge who is able to save or to destroy. Who then are you to judge your neighbor?
Yesterday was the First of December and the First Sunday of Advent, the season to prepare ourselves for the great Feast of Christmas. Yesterday we had light snow but a lot of it melted as it was near the melting point.
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 My brother Melvin and all My brothers and sisters to be humble and indeed you will be My friends. The proud are the ones who start conflicts with their neighbors. You envy those who have possessions which you do not have. You do not want anyone to be ahead of you. As a proud person you want to do only what you desire and especially to satisfy your passions. No, My brothers and sisters turn away from all that and come to Me with a heart of love. Repent of all your sins and resist the devil. When you are full of pride, this means that you are following the evil one. No, come to Me with a humble heart and leave the world behind and do what I want you to do. Know that I am the judge of every person in the world but if you forgive all those who have sinned against you, you will not be judged and I will bring you with Me to heaven one day. I died for you because I love you. Remain with Me every day and you will have peace. I care for you.”
Father Melvin
P.S. May the Lord bless you all.