Fr. Paul's Meditations for Church Year A

There is no other event in the history of Human kind that is evidence of God’s unconditional and inclusive Love more than the cross. Any other belief is based on theology, psychology, philosophy, or wishful thinking. It is true that He does Love us unconditionally but there is no historical evidence besides the cross. This fact comes from John 3:16: “God so loved the World that He gave His only Son.”  Read more

OLD TESTAMENT: Ezekial 34:11-16, 20-24 Literal Religion: God searches for us physically. Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning. “For thus says the Lord GOD: I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out.” Spiritual Grace: God searches spiritually for us. Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture again. “For thus says the Lord GOD: I myself will search for my sheep, and will spiritually seek them out.” Did you feel the Grace?  Read more

The parable of the talents. Literally, the moral of the story is short and sweet! Do not bury the talents God has given you. Now wait a minute! Let us look, at the evidence again.  Read more

OLD TESTAMENT: Judges 4:1-7 Literal Religion: Depends on their rational knowledge to judge. Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning. “At that time Deborah, a prophetess, wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel.” Spiritual Grace: Depends on God’s spiritual Wisdom to judge. Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture again. “At that time Deborah, a prophetess, wife of Lappidoth, was spiritually judging Israel.” Did you feel the Grace?  Read more

Do you read this scripture literally or gracefully? Literally we read what is obviously written. Gracefully we know what is obvious when we are out of the Presence and the inclusive and unconditional life of grace when we are in His Presence. Literally we can compare the event as a warning to us. We better be prepared and ready at all times because we do not know when the moment will arise that the Lord will come. What if we read it Gracefully?  Read more

OLD TESTAMENT: Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25 Literal Religion: Chooses to serve the Lord rationally. Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning. “Choose this day who you will serve. As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” Spiritual Grace: Chooses to serve the Lord spiritually. Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture again. “Choose this day who you will serve. As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” Did you feel the Grace?  Read more

This is Jesus’ War on legalism. The questions must be asked! Why now? Why did He not do it before this? Why not later? Why not just mind His own business? What was the spark that lit the fire leading to calling out the legalists as hypocrites? To grasp this we need to go a back a bit. It is the time that He became thirty years old. He now could be recognized as a rabbi. It was then He was baptized in the River Jordan by John. He was led by the Spirit into the Wilderness for forty days. There He did battle with Satan.  Read more

OLD TESTAMENT: Joshua 3:7-17 Literal Religion: The Lord exalts physically. Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning. “The LORD said to Joshua, ‘This day I will begin to exalt you spiritually in the sight of all Israel’” Spiritual Grace:The Lord exalts spiritually. Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture again. “The LORD said to Joshua, ‘This day I will begin to exalt you spiritually in the sight of all Israel’” Did you feel the Grace?  Read more

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

OLD TESTAMENT: Deuteronomy 34:1-12 Literal Religion: Follows orders because they are told to do so. Read this scripture literally for its religious meaning. “The Israelites obeyed him [Joshua], doing as the LORD had commanded Moses.” Spiritual Grace: Follows orders because they are spiritually in His Presence. Now quietly move into God's Presence and read this scripture again. “The Israelites obeyed him [Joshua], doing as the LORD had commanded Moses.” Did you feel the Grace?  Read more