Wednesday, October 16, 2013
General Exhortations
Dear Friends,
A reading from Saint Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians (4:1-12):
Finally, brothers, we earnestly ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that, as you received from us how you should conduct yourselves to please God – and as you are conducting yourselves – you do so even more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
This is the will of God, your holiness: that you refrain from immorality, that each of you know how to acquire a wife for himself in holiness and honor, not in lustful passion as do the Gentiles who do not know God; not to take advantage of or exploit a brother in this matter, for the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you before and solemnly affirmed. For God did not call us to impurity but to holiness. Therefore, whoever disregards this, disregards not a human being but God, who also gives his Holy Spirit to you.
On the subject of mutual charity you have no need for anyone to write you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another. Indeed, you do this for all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Nevertheless we urge you, brothers, to progress even more, and to aspire to live a tranquil life, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your own hands, as we instructed you, that you may conduct yourselves properly toward outsiders and not depend on anyone.
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I will be home for the whole month of October and I am enjoying the fall weather and the beautiful sun almost every day. The farmers are hard at work picking potatoes. They will soon be finished.
Below you will find the message of Our Lord, the Son of God, given to Father Melvin. Jesus spoke to him these words,
“Conduct yourselves to please your heavenly Father, My brother Melvin and all My brothers and sisters, who desire to follow the Ten Commandments that the Father gave you. You are all called to holiness of life by avoiding all sin, especially that of immorality. You men stop chasing after women to do what is forbidden by God, and you women be modest and do not allow the men to have anything to do with you. Do not attract the immoral men. The Father calls all of you to holiness and I am there to help you to grow in holiness every day. I want to live in your hearts and bring you the strength you need to stop all sinful actions and to love everyone as I love you. It is ok for you to marry and to live as husband and wife. I will bless your marriage and I will live with you in your home. I love you all.”
Father Melvin