Tuesday, August 14, 2012
The Ideal Christian Life in the World
Dear Friends,
A reading from St. Paul’s Letter to the Colossians 3, 1 – 17):
If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory.
Put to death, then, the parts of you that are earthly; immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and the greed that is idolatry. Because of these the wrath of God is coming upon the disobedient. By these you too once conducted yourselves, when you lived in that way. But now you must put them all away: anger, fury, malice, slander, and obscene language out of your mouths. Stop lying to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed, for knowledge, in the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free, but Christ is all in all.
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection. And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
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I invite you again to come to Our Lady of Prince Edward Island’s chapel on Wednesday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. This day is Our Lady’s Feast of the Assumption.
Below you will find the message of Our Lord and Redeemer given to Father Melvin. Jesus spoke to him these words:
“I call you My brother Melvin and all My brothers and sisters to do everything in My name. You are Christians because I am in you and you are in Me. Everyone of My followers are to show by their words and actions that they belong to Me, their Lord and Savior. You all have to avoid sin with the help of My grace and instead you are to control yourselves and be filled with compassion, humility, kindness and above all love. You know that I love you so you too are to love Me and to love all your neighbors and to forgive all those who have harmed you in any way. Renounce all vices and watch your tongue. So many sins are committed with the tongue. You are to use your tongue to pray and to speak well of Me and to express your love for all those you meet. Husband and wives are to love each other and to pardon the other if your partner has hurt you. Children too are to love their parents and obey them. I love you all.”
Father Melvin