Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Paul’s Call by Christ
Dear Friends,
A reading from Saint Paul’s Letter to the Galatians (1:11-24):
Now I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel preached by me is not of human origin. For I did not receive it from a human being, nor was I taught it, but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
For you heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it, and progressed in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my race, since I was even more a zealot for my ancestral traditions. But when God, who from my mother’s womb had set me apart and called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, so that I might proclaim him to the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; rather, I went into Arabia and then returned to Damascus.
Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to confer with Kephas [Saint Peter] and remained with him for fifteen days. But I did not see any other of the apostles, only James the brother of the Lord. (As to what I am writing to you, behold, before God, I am not lying.) Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. And I was unknown personally to the churches of Judea that are in Christ; they only kept hearing that “the one who once was persecuting us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” So they glorified God because of me.
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It rained heavily yesterday morning but the sun came out in the afternoon and it was warm. I thank the Lord for giving us the sun.
Below you will find the message of Our Lord and Savior given to Father Melvin. Jesus spoke to him these words,
“Just like Saint Paul, I want you all to experience My grace, especially you My brother Melvin and all My brothers and sisters who call upon Me for help. Many of My followers in Israel and elsewhere were praying for the conversion of Saint Paul, as he was a terror for the Christians. Their prayers were answered and one day as he was on his way to Damascus to arrest My followers, he was struck down by Me and was blinded by a powerful light. I spoke to him these words, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ He asked who I was and I said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.‘ He was taken to Damascus and there he was baptized. After three years he was a strong believer and I had appointed him an Apostle. He traveled through many countries preaching My Word and brought many, many people into My Church. At the end he was beheaded in Rome, and now he is in heaven and he is known as a martyr.
“Pray to him and ask him to pray for you. I love you all.”
Father Melvin