Fr. Paul's Meditations for Church Year A

After Peter’s confession Jesus began to show his disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, undergo great suffering, be crucified, and on the third day be raised. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, "God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you." Jesus turned to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me, for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things."  Read more

OLD TESTAMENT: Exodus 14:19-31 Literal Religion: Belief is based on what God has done in the world. Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning. “Israel saw the great work that the LORD did so the people feared the LORD and believed in the LORD.” Spiritual Grace: Belief is based on who God is within us. Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture again. “Israel saw the great work that the LORD did so the people feared the LORD and believed in the LORD.” Did you feel the Grace?  Read more

Do you read this scripture literally as to what to do with unrepentant church members or do you read this scripture spiritually using the story to compare and contrast the difference in how you handle an unrepentant church member? The story seems to be one of those “THAT DOES IT” moments. We have done all we could and finally, that does it!  Read more

Another way of looking at this scripture is to compare and contrast the different way the Jews and Jesus treated gentiles and tax collectors. He did not judge them. He loved them, ate with them and hung out with them. Jesus said to the self-righteous, "Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you, (Self righteous religious leaders).”  Read more

OLD TESTAMENT: Exodus 12:1-14 Literal Religion: Sees putting the blood of the lamb on the door posts and the lentil as historical. Read this scripture literally for the religious meaning. “They shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it.” Spiritual Grace: Sees putting the blood of the lamb on the door posts and the lentil spiritually as a sign of the blood of Christ on the cross. Now quietly move into God's Presence and read it again: “They shall take some of the blood and put it houses in which they eat it.” Did you feel the Grace?  Read more

OLD TESTAMENT: 1 Kings 3:5-12 Literal Religion: Discerning Wisdom is rational. Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning. “I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you.” Spiritual Grace: Discerning Wisdom is spiritual. Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture again. “I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you.” Did you feel the Grace?  Read more

Peter answers, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus responds, “Blessed are you, Simon for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven.” This is an example of Peter experiencing the Presence of the Love that Jesus has for him. Feeling this love creates the Wisdom to know who Jesus is. Jesus then responds to Peter’s confession that He will build His Church on this. It is a mistake to think Jesus is building His Church on Peter.  Read more

OLD TESTAMENT: Exodus 1:8 - 2:10 Literal Religion: Sees the event of the miracle. Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning. “So the girl went and called the child's mother.” Spiritual Grace: Sees the power behind the miracle. Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture again. “So the girl went and called the child's mother.” Did you feel the Grace?  Read more

Jesus said to her, "Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs." This scripture gives the commentators trouble. Why would the loving and graceful Jesus be so curt, rude, and judgmental toward an innocent person in distress because of her daughter’s affliction?  Read more

OLD TESTAMENT: Genesis 45:1-15 Literal Religion: Forgiveness is to others. Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning. “And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them.’” Spiritual Grace: Forgiveness is for yourself. Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture again. “And he kissed all his brothers and spiritually wept upon them.’” Did you feel the Grace?  Read more