May 10, 2020

Paralysis by Analysis
Sunday Sermon

- Fr. Gregory Edwards Ph.D - Dean -


Today in Orthodoxy is the Sunday of the Paralytic. The Gospel lesson comes to us from John 5:1-15. In this Gospel reading we hear of a man paralyzed for thirty-eight years who is healed by Jesus. Father Gregroy contrasts the two different attitudes of facing obstacles that were set before the Myrhh Bearing women from last weeks Gospel and this paralytic who laid on the fringes of healing at the Sheep's Pool. The Myrhh Bearing women were motivaed out of love for Christ and were led by their hearts as they took the initiaive to annoint the body of Jesus, even against all logic for how they would move the stone at the entrance of His Tomb. This man who laid paralyzed for thirty-eight years never once takes any initiative to form a dialogue with anyone for help, but rather sees only the obstalces that prevent his healing. When Jesus asks him if he wants to be healed he replies, "I have no man" to put me in the pool when the water is stirred. Jesus Christ became man in order to save mankind so this paralytic is only thinking in humanistic terms and not The Divine. Perhaps this man and some of us are satisfied with our place in life and in the Church. Father Gregory challenges us to take the initiative in our relationship with Christ and not be like this man who had paralysis by analysis.



The Rev. Fr. Gregory Edwards, Ph.D., was raised in Virginia and eastern Pennsylvania, and became a member of the Orthodox Church while studying for his Bachelor's degree

307 19th Street South, Birmingham, AL 35233 | Fr. Gregory Edwards, Dean | 205.716.3080

Photography Credits: Beth Hontzas - Music: Presbytera Katerina Makiej





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The Rev. Fr. Gregory Edwards, Ph.D., was raised in Virginia and eastern Pennsylvania, and became a member of the Orthodox Church while studying for his Bachelor's degree in Religious Studies at Brown University. After completing a Master's Degree in the New Testament and early Christianity at Florida State University, he conducted doctoral studies in Greece at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, graduating summa cum laude in 2012. Ordained in 2007, he served parishes in Thessaloniki and Volos for 9 years. He and his wife Presvytera Pelagia lived in Greece from 2006-2016, where their four children were born. He has served as Assistant Professor of Missiology at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Seminary in New York since 2014. Before coming to Birmingham in March 2019, Fr. Gregory served St. George Greek Orthodox Church in New Port Richey, FL from 2016-2019.