Thursday, July 19, 2012
The Council of Jerusalem
Dear Friends,
A reading from St. Paul’s Letter to the Galatians (2:1-10):
Then after fourteen years I again went up to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along also. I went up in accord with a revelation, and I presented to them the gospel that I preached to the Gentiles – but privately to those of repute – so that I might not be running, or have run, in vain. Moreover, not even Titus, who was with me, although he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised, but because of the false brothers secretly brought in, who slipped in to spy on our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, that they might enslave us – to them we did not submit even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain intact for you. But from those who were reputed to be important (what they once were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality) – those of repute made me add nothing. On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter to the circumcised, for the one who worked in Peter for an apostolate to the circumcised worked also in me for the Gentiles, and when they recognized the grace bestowed upon me, James and Kephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas their right hands in partnership, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. Only we were to be mindful of the poor, which is the very thing I was eager to do.
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I wish to thank all those who have helped me in different ways. I see that many people have entered their loved one in the Book of Remembrance and I continue to offer Masses and pray for them regularly. I also thank the Lord for the beautiful day we had yesterday and especially the warm sun yesterday afternoon.
(Below you will find the message of Our Lord and Savior given to Father Melvin. Jesus spoke to him these words.)
“I bless you My brother Melvin and all My brothers and sisters scattered throughout the many countries of the world. The vast majority of people who believe in Me and follow Me are Gentiles and not Jews. You know I was born in Israel and My Mother Mary was also born in Israel and so was My foster father Joseph. We were all Jews for that nation had been chosen by Our Heavenly Father to prepare for the coming of the Savior of the world. The first ones to believe in Me while I was still living in Israel were the Apostles and others and all these too were Jews. However, the majority of the Jews rejected Me and had Me crucified on the cross. So I sent the Apostles especially St. Paul to go and preach to the Gentiles and a vast majority of them became My followers. I told St. Paul that the Gentiles did not have to become Jews in order to join My Church. So the Apostles held the Council of Jerusalem and decided that all the Jewish customs of the time did not have to be adopted by the Gentiles. That is why today you who are Gentiles are free from all the Jewish ways. You are called to follow Me and follow the Ten Commandments and that is enough. Those who follow My Church will be saved. I bless you and I am always ready to give you the graces you need.”
Father Melvin