This story is one of the most significant stories in the Scripture. A lawyer asked Jesus a question to test him, “Which commandment in the law is the greatest?” Jesus told him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” These Commandments are what the Transfiguration is all about. There was Jesus, Elijah and Moses. What did they all have in common? Much! They were talking to Jesus about their Exodus. Each one was involved in a type of exodus experience. Elijah was caught up in whirlwind and the flaming chariot. Moses led the Exodus of the children of Israel out of the slavery in Egypt. Now Jesus was to have His Exodus being resurrected from the grave. Read more
Year A Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
Posted by Paul Edwards (Fr. Paul) on Aug 14, 2014
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
Year A Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
Posted by Paul Edwards (Fr. Paul) on Jul 31, 2014
This story is a “one shot” miracle. It is for one person for one time only. After he had dismissed the crowds, He went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone. He now had His special time to work through the loss of His friend and comrade. The lesson here is about priorities. If he had gone off alone to grieve He would not have had the chance to manifest the Power of God and who He was and why He came. In this way He was able to do both. It is called Wisdom that comes from being in the Presence of God. He is open to all of us when we are willing to be open to Him. Read more
Year C Second Sunday After Pentecost Meditation
Posted by Paul Edwards (Fr. Paul) on May 23, 2013
A centurion’s servant was about to die. The centurion sent some elders of the Jews to Jesus, asking Him to come and heal his servant. When they came, they pleaded earnestly with Jesus, “This man deserves to have you do this, because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” The centurion told Jesus just to say the word and his servant would be healed. Jesus said, “I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” The servant was found healed. Is this the same Centurion as in Acts 10:1? It tells us of a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing. He gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. Read more
Third Sunday of Easter
Posted by Paul Edwards (Fr. Paul) on Apr 04, 2013
Third Sunday of Easter. Questions at Easter time: After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberius. What is Peter doing with some of the Apostles way up in Tiberias? They were just in the upper room at Jerusalem. Now they are far away at the top of the Sea of Galilee. Read more
Last Sunday in Epiphany, The Transfiguration
Posted by Paul Edwards (Fr. Paul) on Jan 31, 2013
Background: The Greek word for Transfiguration is meta (to change) morphoo (form). It also is translated transformation in Romans 12:2. The Transfiguration is a good example of the difference between the worldly language of the letter and the godly language of the spirit. The question is, which one makes more sense? When we think in a worldly manner we only have the evidence that is there. When we look at it in a godly way we are looking not only for what is there, but for what is there that should not be there and what is not there that should be there. Read more
Pentecost XVI Mark 8:27-38
Posted by Paul Edwards (Fr. Paul) on Sep 06, 2012
Mark 8:27-38. "Who do you say that I am?" There is a very fine line between how you think "up and in" or "down and out". What you think about this parable is irrelevant. How you think, either abiding or not abiding, is what is relevant. Read more
EPIPHANY III Mark 1:14-20 "Immediately"
Posted by Paul Edwards (Fr. Paul) on Jan 12, 2012
Why did the disciples respond immediately when Jesus called them? Rational understanding would say Peter, Andrew, John and James all knew Jesus. It was as if they had grown up together, played in the sand, and worked in the carpenter's shop. Spiritual understanding would say, give me a break! They did not live that close to each other. They may have seen Him afar. But you cannot tell me they immediately left their nets to follow him because they were the "best of friends". Come off of it! There was something else going on there. Read more
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