Sunday, July 7, 2013
The Gentiles’ Salvation
Dear Friends,
A reading from Saint Paul’s Letter to the Romans (11:11-24):
Hence I ask, did [the Jews] stumble so as to fall? Of course not! But through their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make them jealous. Now if their transgression is enrichment for the world, and if their diminished number is enrichment for the Gentiles, how much more their full number.
Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I glory in my ministry in order to make my race jealous and thus save some of them. For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 3 If the firstfruits are holy, so is the whole batch of dough; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted in their place and have come to share in the rich root of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. If you do boast, consider that you do not support the root; the root supports you.
Indeed you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” That is so. They were broken off because of unbelief, but you are there because of faith. So do not become haughty, but stand in awe. For if God did not spare the natural branches, perhaps he will not spare you either. See, then, the kindness and severity of God: severity toward those who fell, but God’s kindness to you, provided you remain in his kindness; otherwise you too will be cut off. And they also, if they do not remain in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated one, how much more will they who belong to it by nature be grafted back into their own olive tree.
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We are having very warm and sunny days during the first week of July. The farmers would like to have some rain and we should have some in a few days.
Below you will find the message of Our Lord, the Son of God, given to Father Melvin. Jesus spoke to him these words,
“I have grafted you on My olive tree, My brother Melvin and all My brothers and sisters who believe in Me. The Jewish people were grafted naturally to the olive tree but because of their unbelief in Me, their Lord and Savior, their branches were broken off and you the Gentiles who have accepted Me as your Redeemer were grafted in their place. Remain grafted to the tree by believing in Me every day and following Me. If you should reject Me, then you would be broken off from the tree and thrown away. Only those who have preserved their faith will remain grafted to the tree. All those grafted will one day enter heaven if they repent of their sins and continue their good work. Do not turn back to the past where you were slaves to sin, but live in the freedom of God and avoid sin. I am ready to give you the graces you need to truly live the Christian life as I proposed to you. I call you today to walk with Me and I will lead you along the right way to your heavenly home. I bless you all.”
Father Melvin