Fr. Paul's Meditations for Church Year A

It is imperative we do not miss the Epiphany season. Not the Sundays, but the whole season. It starts with the baptism and then it ends with the Transfiguration. The Greek word for “transfiguration” is the familiar “metamorphosis”. It is the plain looking moth turning into the beautiful butterfly. That is the difference. The Epiphany is about a spiritual transformation from the inside-out. Physical changes take place from the outside in.  Read more

Old Testament: Isaiah 42:1-9 Literal Religion: “Walk in it” is to obey the Law. Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning. “Who gives spiritual breath to the people in it and Spirit to those who walk in it.” Spiritual grace: “Walk in it” is the experience of His Presence in us. Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture. “Who gives spiritual breath to the people in it and Spirit to those who walk in it.” Can you tell the difference? Literal religion sees what it wants us to see. Grace sees what God wants us to see!  Read more

The last Sunday in Christmas can be a real bummer for some. All the preparation, hard work, busy malls, traffic and people can really stress a person out. Let us not take away any joy that is left. The embers are still lit. Just a bit smoky but with a few embers left. Here come the resolutions time. Some people make many and others none. By definition a New Year resolution is a commitment to make a life style change that would be advantageous for us. Most of us have made New Year’s resolutions at one time or another. The reason we quit making them is because they do not work. The reason they do not work is because they are symptoms. Until we know the cause they will be a lost cause.  Read more

Think literal Legalism: Legalism finds no consolation or closure about traumatic events. Feel the spiritual Grace: Grace finds consolation and closure in the Presence of God. Old Testament: Jeremiah 31:7-14 Think literal Legalism: “With weeping they shall come, and with consolations I will lead them back.” Feel the spiritual Grace: “With weeping they shall come, and with consolations I will lead them back spiritually.”  Read more

An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt." Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went. Christmas is about Peace on Earth and good will toward everyone. All is calm and all is bright, sleep in gentle sleep. If this has been a meaningful Christmas for you because of all that happened, well and good. It will not last long. Here comes the New Year of unknowns and out of control, sudden occurrences. If this has been a meaningful Christmas to you because you came into it and through it in the Peace and Presence of Jesus, it will last through this New Year and on.  Read more

Think literal Legalism: “Presence” is physical. Feel the spiritual Grace: “Presence” is spiritual. OLD TESTAMENT: Isaiah 63:7-9 Think literal Legalism: It was no messenger or angel but his physical presence that saved them. Feel the spiritual Grace: It was no messenger or angel but His spiritual Presence that saves them. Legalism looks for the key to happiness. Grace knows there is no key, the door is always open!  Read more

Matthew 1:24 "When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him." Joseph was lucky. He had a dream and the angels told him what to do. Anyone can do what the angel tells you to do. Why can’t God make it that easy every time?  Read more

Think literal Legalism: We literally “weary” God with our rational doubts. Feel the spiritual Grace: We spiritually “weary” God with our closed hearts. Old Testament: Isaiah 7:10-16 Think literal Legalism: Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? Feel the spiritual Grace: Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you spiritually weary my God also? Legalism hates and remembers. Grace forgives and forgets.  Read more

Jesus is asking the people what did they go out into the wilderness to see in John the Baptist? It was not some prince in a palace. If they did they would be terribly disappointed. They went out to see a prophet. But the question is how do you see a prophet? What do you look for? A prophet of God is not something you see. It is something you feel. You feel they are in the Presence of God and are sharing not their thoughts, but God’s thoughts. This is what a true prophet is. You listen to what is being said because the speaker is in the Presence.  Read more

Think literal Legalism: Literally our “eyes” and “ears” are physical. Feel the spiritual Grace: Spiritually our “eyes” and “ears” are opened to the grace of God within us. Old Testament: Isaiah 35:1-10 Think literal Legalism: The literally the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Feel the spiritual Grace: The spiritual eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the spiritual ears of the deaf unstopped.  Read more