Fr. Paul's Meditations for Church Year A

“You have given Him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom You have given Him”. Here it is. Jesus has the authority to give eternal life to anyone He desires to give it to. Legalism thinks we must do something to get in His grace. He is a kind of Santa Claus; you better watch out, you better not cry. He knows when you are sleeping. He knows when you are awake. He knows if you’ve been good or bad so be good for goodness sake. You better look busy when He comes. No pouting or crying I’m telling you why. He is coming!  Read more

OLD TESTAMENT: Acts 1:6-14 Think Literally: Thinks the Kingdom is a physical place outside of us. Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning. “They asked him, ‘Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?’” Feel the Spiritual Grace: Knows the Kingdom is a spiritual Presence within us. Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture again. “They asked him, ‘Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?’” Did you feel the Grace?  Read more

The Purpose of God pouring the Spirit of Jesus into our hearts was for us to feel the Presence of His grace. Sense the intangible presence of a loved one. Now whatever you just did do the same by sensing the intangible Presence of Jesus. The rest are all details.  Read more

OLD TESTAMENT: Acts 17:22-31 Think Literally: “In Him” is what we believe about His Presence. Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning. “In Him we live and move and have our being.” Feel the Spiritual Grace: “In Him” is what we experience in His Presence. Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture again. “In Him we live and move and have our being.” Did you feel the Grace?  Read more

Easter is about belief. It has a lot to believe in, perhaps more than any other Season. Advent is easy. It is all about John the Baptist preparing the way. Then comes Christmas containing a difficult concept for many: the virgin birth. It is a short season, one and sometimes two weeks, and we are rushed into Epiphany. Yes, there are the Wise men, but there are only three and they do not last too long. The rest of the season is rather uneventful. There is the Lenten Season and Passion week. Passion week is difficult. It does not necessarily threaten our belief. However, the more we become involved in it, the gorier it becomes. Crucifixion is a bloody scene and there is the finality of death. Then here comes Easter and the Resurrection. The stories last some three weeks and then we are into the Good Shepherd stories. We can work our way through them with a bit of a relief. The problem is we keep coming back to that empty tomb and the impact it has on those who loved Him.  Read more

OLD TESTAMENT: Acts 7:55-60 Think Literally: Stephen looked up to heaven in the sky to see the Spirit. Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning. “Filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.” Feel the Spiritual Grace: Stephen consciously looked into heaven in his heart to feel the Spirit. Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture again. “Filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.” Did you feel the Grace?  Read more

One thing Jesus did was to confront those who did not believe Him. In His time it was the Pharisees. They were easy targets. He did not try to convince them as much as He used them as illustration for those who were open to the Truth. Otherwise, He would only be wasting His time because they just did not get it. When He told the story of the Prodigal Son, some have wondered why He added the character of the older brother. It was because He was talking directly to the Pharisees at that time. They teased Him, wondering why He would join the sinners and not their righteous group. He pointed out there was a party going on. You, like the older brother, are sitting outside bitter and angry and not coming in to celebrate.  Read more

OLD TESTAMENT: Acts 2:42-47 Think Literally: “apostles teaching” is from the Bible as the Word of God. Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning. “They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching.” Feel the Spiritual Grace: “apostles teaching” is from the grace and Truth of Jesus who is the Word of God. Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture again. “They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching.” Did you feel the Grace?  Read more

Let us begin to wonder together. It is good for a dialogue. What was on their mind while they walked along the road to Emmaus? It had to be grief for the loss of their beloved leader. But, it also had to be more than that. There was anger at how their chief priests and leaders handed Him over to be condemned to death and crucified Him. There was depression and loss of hope because they had hoped He was the one to redeem Israel. Their grief was long lasting, it was now the third day since these things took place.  Read more

OLD TESTAMENT: Acts 2:14a, 36-41 Literal Religion: “the Lord calls to Him.” He only calls certain ones. Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning. “For the promise is for you, your children, and for everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.’” Spiritual grace: “the Lord calls to Him.” He calls all but not all respond to His call. Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture again. “For the promise is for you, your children, and for everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.’” Did you feel the Grace?  Read more