Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Christian Suffering
Dear Friends,
A reading from the First Letter of St. Peter (3:13-22):
Now who is going to harm you if you are enthusiastic for what is good? But even if you should suffer because of righteousness, blessed are you. Do not be afraid or terrified with fear of them, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope, but do it with gentleness and reverence, keeping your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who defame your good conduct in Christ may themselves be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that be the will of God, than for doing evil.
For Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous, that he might lead you to God. Put to death in the flesh, he was brought to life in the spirit. In it he also went to preach to the spirits in prison, who had once been disobedient while God patiently waited in the days of Noah during the building of the ark, in which a few persons, eight in all, were saved through water. This prefigured baptism, which saves you now. It is not a removal of dirt from the body but an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him.
——————————
I am praying these days for the cardinals gathered in Rome for the election of a new pope. I am praying that the Holy Spirit inspires them to choose the one that God Himself wants. In a few weeks we will have a new successor of St. Peter.
Below you will find the message of Our Lord, the Son of God, given to Father Melvin. Jesus spoke to him these words,
“I want you to do good every day My brother Melvin and all My brothers and sisters who are baptized and believe in Me with all your heart. Indeed there are plenty of Christians that are suffering at the hands of others even if they have not done any wrong. There are members of other religions or other denominations who hate you and are plotting at times how they can capture you and kill you. Do not worry about these people because if you suffer even though you have not done wrong, then you are imitating Me who was killed although I never committed sin and never taught false doctrine. Every year there are thousands of Christians who are martyred in the world for the only reason that they are following Me. I call upon you all to pray for these people who oppose you and never hate them. I prayed while on the cross for those who put Me to death. I bless you all.”
Father Melvin