Sunday, January 27, 2013
On Riches and Renunciation
Dear Friends,
A reading from St. Luke’s Gospel (18:24-34):
Jesus looked at him (now sad) and said, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” Those who heard this said, “Then who can be saved?” And he said, “What is impossible for human beings is possible for God.” Then Peter said, “We have given up our possessions and followed you.” He said to them, “Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God who will not receive back an overabundant return in this present age and eternal life in the age to come.”
Then he took the Twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem and everything written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. He will be handed over to the Gentiles and he will be mocked and insulted and spat upon; and after they have scourged him they will kill him, but on the third day he will rise.” But they understood nothing of this; the word remained hidden from them and they failed to comprehend what he said.
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The temperature yesterday was better and it will be less cold in the days to come.
Below you will find the message of Jesus, the Son of God, given to Father Melvin. Jesus spoke to him these words,
“I suffered greatly for you My brother Melvin and all My brothers and sisters who live today on the face of the earth. I also suffered for those in the past and I suffered for those in the future. My suffering was to win for you the Kingdom of God and life everlasting in heaven. Do not be like the rich man in the parable. Because of his wealth, he did not want to follow Me. He preferred enjoyment and worldly pleasure than doing what I asked of him. It is a fact that the lure of the world can be strong for people with money but their joy lasts only a short time and then they will suffer forever. Come and follow Me and offer Me all your pain, suffering and tiredness and you will be blessed. Be men and women of prayer who love to imitate Me. I gave Myself totally for your redemption; give yourselves totally to Me who am your Savior and you will receive all you need in this life and great happiness in the life to come. I love you all.”
Father Melvin
P.S. I wish you all a fine Sunday.