Friday, June 22, 2012
Functions of these Gifts
Dear Friends,
A reading from St. Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians (14:20-28)
Brothers, stop being childish in your thinking. In respect to evil be like infants, but in your thinking be mature. It is written in the law: “By people speaking strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, and even so they will not listen to me, says the Lord.” Thus, tongues are a sign not for those who believe but for unbelievers, whereas prophecy is not for unbelievers but for those who believe. So if the whole church meets in one place and everyone speaks in tongues, and then uninstructed people or unbelievers should come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds? But if everyone is prophesying, and an unbeliever or uninstructed person should come in, he will be convinced by everyone and judged by everyone, and the secrets of his heart will be disclosed, and so he will fall down and worship God, declaring, “God is really in your midst.” So what is to be done, brothers? When you assemble, one has a psalm, another an instruction, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Everything should be done for building up. If anyone speaks in a tongue, let it be two or at most three, and each in turn, and one should interpret. But if there is no interpreter, the person should keep silent in the church and speak to himself and to God.
The meeting called by Our Lady of Prince Edward Island will take place tomorrow, Saturday June 23, at 2:00 p.m. All are invited to the Little Shrine of Our Lady in Palmer Road.
(Below you will find the message of Our Lord and Savior given to Father Melvin. Jesus spoke to him these words.)
“I bless you all with spiritual gifts, My brother Melvin and all My brothers and sisters scattered all over the world. If you are a Christian then you have received the Holy Spirit and so open your heart to Him. He has a gift or two or three for each one of you. You have to believe in Me, the Son of God and your Redeemer. The first gift that most people receive is the gift of tongues. This gift helps you to pray in the power of the Holy Spirit. You can use this gift when you are alone and spend time praying in tongues and have Me in your mind as you pray this way. It is also wonderful to pray in tongues together with a group. The sound of joy rises up to heaven and it pleases Me. Another gift that you should pray for is the gift of interpretation of tongues. If you have this gift then others will understand what is being prayed in tongues. It is a great gift to help people grow in their faith. The third gift, which is awesome, is the gift of prophecy. This gift is given to instruct people and I speak to those gathered in the power of the Holy Spirit. This gift brings people close to Me and helps them follow the right path that leads to union with Me in heaven. I bless you all.”
Father Melvin
P.S. It was 44 years ago today that I was ordained a priest at the Parish Church in Palmer Road. Please say a prayer for me today.