Posted by Paul Edwards (Fr. Paul) on Sep 22, 2014 | Comments (1)


Seventeenth Sunday After Pentecost Bottom Line Meditations

Unlocking the Gospel Secrets of Spirituality

Discover what difference reading these scriptures while Thinking Legalism or Feeling Grace can make.

The Grace Language of Jesus

SPIRITUALITY CAN CHANGE OUR LIFE

Jesus spoke a foreign language. He took literal words the legalist understood and gave them a new spiritual meaning.

Not sure how to apply these? Click here to read the introductory text for the new Bottom Line Meditations

OLD TESTAMENT: Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20

Literal Religion: Worshipping physical idols is spiritual.

Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning.

“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me.”

Spiritual Grace: Worshipping spiritual idols is physical.

Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture again.

“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me.”

Did you feel the Grace?

Those who follow the Law intend to live forever, so far, so good!

PSALM: 19

Literal Religion: Keep the commandments for future reward.

Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning.

“Moreover by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.”

Spiritual Grace: Keep the commandments because they are already spiritually rewarded.

Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture again.

“Moreover by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.”

Did you feel the Grace?

Grace causes happiness wherever it goes; legalism whenever it goes!

EPISTLE: Philippians 3:4b-14

Literal Religion: Gains are physical.

Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning.

“Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ.”

Spiritual Grace: Gains are spiritual.

Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture again.

“Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ.”

Did you feel the Grace?

Legalism would like to help get us out of the way we came into grace!

GOSPEL: Matthew 21:33-46

Literal Religion: Moral of the story, do not fall on a physical stone.

Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning.

“The one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls.”

Spiritual Grace: Moral of the story, do not fall on a spiritual stone.

Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture again.

“The one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls.”

Did you feel the Grace?

Legalism is the art of looking for trouble, finding it, misdiagnosing it and then misapplying the wrong remedies?

Share your insights in the comments below

For further study see the follow on Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost Meditation.


Comments (1)

  1. Harry Camp:
    Sep 23, 2014 at 03:22 PM

    Paul,
    My computer met an untimely death and took away my email address book. Please send me something good from your personal email.
    Harry

    Reply







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