November 29, 2014
Advice to Virgins and Widows
A reading from Saint Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians 7, 25 – 35:
Now in regard to virgins I have no commandment from the Lord, but I give my opinion as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy. So this is what I think best because of the present distress: that it is a good thing for a person to remain as he is. Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek a separation. Are you free of a wife? Then do not look for a wife. If you marry, however, you do not sin, nor does an unmarried woman sin if she marries; but such people will experience affliction in their earthy life, and I would like to spare you that.
I tell you, brothers and sisters, the time is running out. From now on, let those having wives act as not having them, those weeping as not weeping, those rejoicing as not rejoicing, those buying as not owning, those using the world as not using it fully. For the world in its present form is passing away.
I should like you to be free of anxieties. An unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord. But a married man is anxious about the things of the world, how he may please his wife, and he is divided. An unmarried woman or a virgin is anxious about the things of the Lord, so that she may be holy in both body and spirit. A married woman, on the other had, is anxious about the things of the world, how she may please her husband. I am telling you this for your own benefit, not to impose a restraint upon you, but for the sake of propriety and adherence to the Lord without distraction.
It is so beautiful to see a man and a woman getting married in Church. They pledge their lives to each other until death and they will love each other for the whole of their lives. However, after receiving the Sacrament of Marriage, the Christian life does not end there. While they are living their married life every day, they should never forget that the Lord has a great role to play in their life. So first of all He calls them to pray every day. How wonderful it would be if they would pray the rosary every day and go to Holy Mass every Sunday and on other days too if it is possible. The Lord Jesus must live with them and continually bless them with all the graces and gifts they need. If they pray every day the Lord will protect them and help them every day. A married couple must never allow the evil one to come into their homes. If there are no prayers in the home, then the evil one lives there with them. In order to chase him away, they must begin to pray and he will disappear, and Jesus will return and live with them and give them His peace, love and joy.
Below you will find the message of Our Lord and Savior given to Father Melvin. Jesus spoke to him these words,
“I have called some single men and women to follow Me in the life of celibacy for ever. I call you My brother Melvin and all My brothers and sisters to be completely committed to Me even if some of you are married and living with your partner. There is nothing wrong for a man or a woman to marry but they need to marry in Church. You know that there are always many widows and widowers. They have lost their partners through death. They can now remain single or they can marry again. Saint Paul says that it is better to remain single and to come close to Me in a very close and intimate relationship with Me. Some of the widowers and widows can go and join a religious congregation and live a Christian life in common. In this way you will truly give your life to Me and you will be blessed. I love you all and I bless you.”
Father Melvin
P.S. We had a nice day today but no sun and no rain nor snow.