Paul’s Right as an Apostle

Thursday, June 14, 2012 

Paul’s Right as an Apostle

Dear Friends,

A reading from St. Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians (9:1-14):

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? Although I may not be an apostle for others, certainly I am for you, for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. My defense against those who would pass judgment on me is this. Do we not have the right to eat and drink? Do we not have the right to take along a Christian wife, as do the rest of the apostles, and the brothers of the Lord, and Kephas? Or is it only myself and Barnabas who do not have the right not to work? Who ever serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating its produce? Or who shepherds a flock without using some of the milk from the flock? Am I saying this on human authority, or does not the law also speak of these things? It is written in the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is God concerned about oxen, or is he not really speaking for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope, and the thresher in hope of receiving a share. If we have sown spiritual seed for you, is it a great thing that we reap a material harvest from you? If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we still more? Yet we have not used this right. On the contrary, we endure everything so as not to place an obstacle to the gospel of Christ. Do you not know that those who perform the temple services eat what belongs to the temple, and those who minister at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? In the same way, the Lord ordered that those who preach the gospel should live by the gospel.

We had another very fine sunny day yesterday and the temperature went over 20 degrees Celsius. I thank the Lord for these beautiful days.

(Below you will find the message of Our Lord and Redeemer given to Father Melvin. Jesus spoke to him these words.)

“I love you, My brother Melvin and all My brothers and sisters scattered all over the world. It does not matter where you live, you can always be close to Me. Yes, St. Paul was chosen by Me to be an Apostle to work among the Gentiles. So that is why he visited many countries during his time on earth — from Israel to Rome — and he spoke to many, many people about Me, His Lord and Savior. He was chosen for this job. As I told you yesterday all were born with a mission and everyone is called to carry out his or her calling. St. Paul’s calling was the greatest that I could have given him, namely, to be an apostle. As you know most of the apostles are also martyrs. They gave their lives in union with Me. St. Paul, therefore, is also a martyr and he died in Rome where he was beheaded. His body is still in Rome today. I call you all to pray for bishops and priests who are the successors of the Apostles that they will work hard to do what I have called them to do. I love you all.”

P.S. I did not send the message yesterday because my computer was not working. May the Lord bless you all.