Monday, August 22, 2011
Denunciation of the scribes and Pharisees (cont’)
Dear Friends,
Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying, “… Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You pay tithes of mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier things of the law: judgment and mercy and fidelity. But these you should have done, without neglecting the others. Blind guides, who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel!
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You cleanse the outside of cup and dish, but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may be clean.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of filth. Even so, on the outside you appear righteous, but inside you are filled with hypocrisy and evildoing.” (Passage from the Gospel of St. Matthew 23:1-2a,23-28)
I attended our parish picnic yesterday. We started with Holy Mass at 11:00 a.m. outside and many people attended. The main celebrant was the Parish Priest, Father Jacques Rigaud. After Mass nearly a thousand people went to the parish hall for a beautiful lobster dinner. I enjoyed it very much. After the meal there was a musical afternoon with many playing different instruments and others singing. There were people of all ages singing even as young as 12 years of age. Others danced to beautiful lively music. An elderly woman over 80 years of age came forward on the stage and danced. Everybody was very pleased because she danced so well. The day ended at 6:00 p.m. The weather was fantastic — only sunshine.
Below you will find the message of Our Lord and Savior given to Father Melvin. Jesus spoke to him these words,
“I wish to express great hope in you all as I greet you, My bother Melvin and all My brothers and sisters living in all the different countries of the world. I do not want you to be like the scribes and Pharisees but judge according to the Commandments of God; have mercy on all those who have hurt you in any way and be faithful to Me every day of your life.
What is important for Me is not the outside of a person but what is inside. You have to be a person of faith with great trust in Me. You must think good of others and do not tell all kinds of lies and do not slander anyone. There are so many people today who take part in gossip and in so doing commit great sins. Be people of prayer and pray for all those who are in need, especially the sick, those whose faith is weak, those who do not go to church and those who do not pray at home. I told you to love your neighbor and this is a great mark of a Christian. Love everyone and help those who suffer in any way; help those who have nothing to eat or have no place to stay. You know that I have identified Myself with every person who suffers. Be humble and you will be exalted by Me one day. I love you and bless you.”
Father Melvin