August 22, 2014
Paul in Beroea
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles 17, 10 – 15:
The brothers of Thessalonica immediately sent Paul and Silas to Beroea during the night. Upon arrival they went to the synagogue of the Jews. These Jews were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with all willingness and examined the scriptures daily to determine whether these things were so. Many of them became believers, as did not a few of the influential Greek women and men. But when the Jews of Thessalonica learned that the word of God had now been proclaimed by Paul in Beroea also, they came there too to cause a commotion and stir up the crowds. So the brothers at once sent Paul on his way to the seacoast, while Silas and Timothy remained behind. After Paul’s escorts had taken him to Athens, they came away with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible.
Here is the story of the image of Our Lady of Prince Edward Island: Our Lady had asked me to have a painting made of Her as the Lady of Prince Edward Island. I went to talk to Amanda Richard whom Our Lady had designated to paint her official picture. When I approached Amanda, she said she already knew for at least two weeks that she had to paint this picture. She had told her husband more than once that soon she would be asked to paint a picture of the Blessed Virgin Mary. I was pleased that she accepted. I gave her the details I had written and in no time she began the work. When she had worked for a while she asked me to have a look at the picture to see if the details were all right. I asked her to change a few things. With a few changes, Amanda finished this beautiful large painting which is more than five feet high and three feet wide. It is very well done and very close to how Our Lady looked. It is now in the Chapel of Our Blessed Mother in Palmer Road, P.E.I.
Below you will find the message of Our Lord and Savior given to Father Melvin. Jesus spoke to him these words:
“I call you My brother Melvin and all My brothers and sisters who are baptized and who believe in Me without a doubt. I live in your heart and I am showing you the path every day that you should follow. Look at Saint Paul and Silas and Timothy how they worked at Beroea. They went there and started teaching the Jews in their synagogue about Me. Many Jews in that town came to believe in Me as well as many Greek women and men who lived there. However, the Thessalonians heard that Paul and his friends were teaching in Beroea and sent people there to cause trouble. When these arrived the brothers asked Saint Paul to leave immediately. He left and went to Athens in Greece.
Before you teach people about Me, you should pray for these people that they might receive the graces they need to come and believe in Me. So everyday pray for those who do not believe that they may receive from Me this great gift of faith. I love you all and I bless you all.”
Father Melvin
P.S. We had a cloudy morning on Thursday but we had a beautiful warm and sunny afternoon for which I thank the Lord.