Friday, June 08, 2012
Paradox of the Cross
Dear Friends,
A Reading from St. Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians (1:18-31):
The message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the learning of the learned I will set aside.” Where is the wise one? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made the wisdom of the world foolish? For since in the wisdom of God the world did not come to know God through wisdom, it was the will of God through the foolishness of the proclamation to save those who have faith. For Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are called, Jews and Greeks alike, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. Consider your own calling, brothers. Not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. Rather, God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise, and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong, and God chose the lowly and despised of the world, those who count for nothing, to reduce to nothing those who are something, so that no human being might boast before God. It is due to him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, as well as righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Whoever boasts, should boast in the Lord.”
What a beautiful day we had yesterday. It was sunny for most of the day and it was warmer than the last previous days. We will have nice days for the rest of this week.
(Below you will find the message of Our Lord and Savior given to Father Melvin. Jesus spoke to him these words.)
“I bless you with My wounded hands, My brother Melvin and all My brothers and sisters living in all the countries of the world. I received the wounds in My hands and feet and in My side when I was being nailed to the cross. The wound on My side came from a lance from a soldier. The wounds on My head came from the crown of thorns and I also had a wound on My shoulder from carrying the cross. I am your crucified Jesus, Son of God, who died for all of you to redeem you from your sins and to bring you into My Church and into the Kingdom of God.
Many make fun of Me for letting Myself be killed in Jerusalem but they do not understand that I did this for them because I love them and I want them in heaven one day. Come, My dear friends, and pray for the conversion of all those who do not believe in Me. Do not listen to the ‘wisdom’ of the worldly people, for the wisdom of man is foolishness. Real wisdom comes from God and He gives it to all His followers. Offer yourselves completely to the Father to do all that He asks of you. I will give you all the graces you need to say ‘no’ to the world and ‘yes’ to the Father and to Me. I bless you all.”
Father Melvin