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| John in Prison |
Matthew 11: 2-15
When John heard in prison about the deeds of
Christ, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or
should we expect someone else?”
Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you
hear and see: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy
are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are awakened, and those who have become
poor receive the message of salvation. Blessed are those who are not offended
by my Being.”
When they had gone, Jesus began to speak about
John. “Why did you go out into the desert? Did you want to see a reed swaying
in the wind? Or was it something else you wanted to see? Did you want to see a
man in splendid garments? Those in splendid garments are in the palaces of kings.
Did you go to see a man who is initiated into he mysteries of the spirit, a
prophet? Yes, I say to you—he is more than a prophet. He it is of whom it is
written:
Behold
it well: I will send my angel before your face;
He
shall prepare the way of your working in the hearts of men
So
that your being may be revealed.
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| John the Baptist |
The truth I say to you: among all who are born of
women, not one has risen up who is greater than John the Baptist; and yet the
least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the
Baptist, and even more now, the kingdom of heaven will arise within human
beings through the power of the will; those who exert themselves can freely
grasp it. The deeds of the prophets and the content of the Law are words of the
spirit that were valid [worked into the future] until the time of John. And if
you want to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. He who has ears to hear,
let him hear.”
3rd St.
Johnstide
July 8, 2012
Matthew 11: 2-15
The sun can shine mightily. Yet the bird in the covered cage
will not sing. The plant kept in the dark will not thrive. Uncover the cage,
place the plant near the sunlight, and they respond to the light.
When John the Baptist asks from prison whether Jesus is the
Messiah, the answer is not a simple yes or no. Rather Jesus points to the
effects of his deeds. He has uncovered the soul-cages, brought human souls to
the spirit light.
Not only those physically blind, but also soul-blind and
soul-deaf can see and hear. Deadened souls are awakened. Weak souls can rise
and move forward. The outcasts, the beggars for the spirit receive heaven’s
healing richness.
The point is that the working of Christ was and continues to
show itself as effective within human beings. “Through Him can the healing
spirit work.”[1]
And those who choose to follow the Christ path become those who, through Christ
working in them, are also effective among their fellow human beings in a
healing and uplifting way.
We can hear in a poem by Hafiz how our souls relate to the
Spirit-Sun:
Still calls to you.
I know those habits that can ruin
your life
Still send their invitations.
But you are with the Friend now
And look so much stronger.
You can stay that way
And even bloom!
Keep squeezing drops of the Sun
From your prayers and work and
music
And from your companions' beautiful
laughter.
Keep squeezing drops of the Sun
From the sacred hands and glance of
your Beloved…[2]
www.thechristiancommunity.org
[1] From the Creed of The
Christian Community
[2] Hafiz, “Cast All Your Votes
For Dancing”, in I Heard God Laughing - Renderings of Hafiz by Daniel
Ladinsky)
Picture
by Rembrandt
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