December 10, 2014
One Body, Many Parts
A reading from Saint Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians 13, 12 – 26:
As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many are one body, so also Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jew or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.
Now the body is not a single part, but many. If a foot should say, “Because I am not a hand I do not belong to the body,” it does not for this reason belong any less to the body. Or if an ear should say, “Because I am not a eye I do not belong to the body,” it does not for this reason belong any less to the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But as it is, God placed the parts, each one of them, in the body as he intended. If they were all one part, where would the body be? But as it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I do not need you,” not again the head to the feet, “I do not need you.” Indeed, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are all the more necessary, and those parts of the body that we consider less honorable we surround with greater honor, and our less presentable parts are treated with greater propriety, whereas our more presentable parts do not need this. But God has so constructed the body as to give greater honor to a part that is without it, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the parts may have the same concern for one another. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if one part is honored, all the parts share its joy.
Now you are Christ’s body, and individually parts of it. Some people God has designated in the church to be, first, apostles; second, prophets; third, teachers; then, mighty deeds; then gifts of healing, assistance, administration, and varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work mighty deeds? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts. But I shall show you a still more excellent way: the way of love.
Yesterday was the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Our Blessed Mother. She came to visit me on Her Great Feast and She gave me a message which will be published in the Newsletter in a few weeks. Our Mother told me that the money for the building of the shrine and the monasteries will soon arrive, but there is still some money to pay. I still have to pay $1,500 this week on Friday. I pray that it will come on Wednesday or Thursday so I can go to New Brunswick to deliver this money. I am praying for this every day.
Below you will find the message of Our Lord and Savior given to Father Melvin. Jesus spoke to him these words,
“You are all part of My body My brother Melvin and all My brothers and sisters who have been baptized. There is only one body who is I, the Christ, and I am the Mystical Body, the Church. You are all different parts of Me and My Church. As a body has many parts yet there is only one body. So it is with My Mystical body, the Church. There are all kinds of mission in My Church such as the Pope, bishops, priests, deacons, religious, prophets, teachers, those with the gift of healing, the gift of tongues, the gift of interpreting tongues and many more. All of these form only one body, the Church. All are called for a special mission so that the Church can function properly.
It is the same with the human body. The body has many parts like the ears, the eyes, the nose, the mouth, the hands, the feet etc. All of these form only one human body. If one part is missing then the body does not work properly. So I call you all to play your role in My Church so everything may function well. I bless you all.”
Father Melvin
P.S. We had a cloudy day but nothing fell. It was cold especially in the morning.