Whitsun III, Good Will

Pentecost

John 14:23-31

Jesus replied, “Whoever truly loves me reveals my Spirit, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and prepare with them a dwelling in the everlasting [an eternal dwelling]. Whoever does not love me cannot reveal my Spirit. And the spirit power of the word that you hear is not from me; it is the speaking of the Father who sent me.

I have said this to you while I am still with you. But he who is called down, the health-bringing Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you everything and will awaken within you all that I have said to you.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

You have heard how I said to you, ‘I am going away, and yet I am coming to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice because I am going to the Father[ly Ground of the World], for the Father is mightier than I am.

I have told you now before it happens, so that when it happens, you may find trust. I no longer have much to say to you, for soon, the prince of this world is coming. Yet over me, he has no power.

But the world shall see in this how I love the Father [Ground of the World] and how I act according to the Father’s purpose, as it was entrusted to me. Arise, let us go on from here. [let us be on our way.]

Pentecost III

John 14: 23-31

June 2020

At the Christmas altar we saw in golden letters: Peace on earth to all of good will. What does it mean to be of good will? Perhaps its opposite can point us toward an understanding. 

Ill will broods darkness. It sends negativity into the heart space between two people.  It either pushes hard on the other, or else it retreats. It poisons the heart space with its destructive criticism and contempt. It binds with chains of hatred.

Good will, on the other hand, holds the other in positive regard. Good will keeps the heart space between us clean and clear. It neither pushes past boundaries nor withdraws. It regards the will of another as a Holy of Holies, into which one can enter only by invitation, and with respect and reverence before their mystery. This kind of will is good because, like a candle flame, it radiates light and warmth in just the right degree. Good will allows the other to be and develop as he or she sees fit, at their own pace.

Christ says: He who loves me reveals my spirit. Good will arises because we love and recognize Christ, wherever he appears. He sacrificed his will to the Father for the sake of World Karma. He offered up his Life forces, his powers of metamorphosis and change, for the sake of humanity’s progress. At the same time, He does not force himself on us, or overwhelm us. He too respects our freedom of choice. His radiant will offers light in the darkness, love amidst hatred, life over death.

We who love Him connect with Him, take His radiant will into our will. Perhaps we can manage it only for moments (and we hope at the right moment!) But eventually, we will transform ourselves into those who reveal to our fellow human beings His Spirit of Love, streaming forth from our own willing hearts.

www.thechristiancommunity.org

cynthiahindes.blogspot.com

 

3rd August Trinity 2016, All Shall Be Well (Redux)

3^rd August Trinity

Rembrandt, Wiki Commons

August 7, 2016

Luke 15:11-32

And he said further: “A certain man had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Give me the share of the estate which falls to me.’  And he divided his wealth between them. And not many days later the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey to a far country and squandered his estate in the enjoyment of loose living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine came over the land, and he began to be in need. So he went and attached himself to a citizen of the country who sent him out into his fields and let him herd swine. And he longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, but no one gave him anything.

Then he came to himself, and said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here of hunger. I will rise up and go to my father and say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against the higher world and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me one of your hired men [workers].’

So he rose up and traveled along the road to his father. When he was still a long way off, his father saw him, felt his misery, ran toward him, embraced him and kissed him. And yet the son said, ‘Father, I have sinned against the higher world and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me one of your hired men [workers].’

But the father called his servant to him. ‘Quickly! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet, and slaughter the fattened calf. Then we shall eat and be merry. For this my son was dead and is risen to life. He was lost and is found again.’ And they began to celebrate.

Meanwhile the older son was in the field. When he returned home and came near the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. He called one of the servants to him and asked him what it meant. He gave him the news: ‘Your brother has come home again. So in joy your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back again safe and sound.’

The son grew dark with anger and didn’t want to go in. But his father came out and pleaded with him. He however reproached his father saying, ‘Look! For so many years I have been with you and have never neglected one of your commands. But you never gave me so much as a goat that I might be merry with my friends. And now comes this son of yours who has eaten up your wealth in scandal, and you offer him the fattened calf.’

The father however said to him ‘Child, you are always with me and all that I have belongs to you too. But now we should be glad and rejoice, for this your brother was dead and lives; he was lost and has been found again.’

Lacquered Box Depiction of Story of Prodigal Son

3^rd August Trinity

August 7, 2016

Luke 15:11-32

We are complex beings. Our souls are populated by many different aspects of our personality. One way to read today’s beautiful parable is to regard each character in the story as one aspect of a single human being.

We all have an inner, fun-loving son who is eager for what the world has to offer. In pursuing the

Turning Point, Frostad

world one-sidedly, he finds himself cut off from the Source, alone and starving.

We all have a loving Father within, who encourages our explorations and welcomes our return with compassion and joy. And we all have a law-abiding, jealous brother, who is keeping accounts, prone to anger. He feels himself short-changed but is missing the point.

This triad, Father, son and brother, is an image of the human will. We see the Father’s good will, the brother’s ill will, the son’s self-will.

And the most important moment in the story comes when the lost son ‘comes to himself’. In that moment, he recognizes that what keeps us alive is not merely food, but relationship. In coming to himself, he has found his own singularity, and at the same time he recognizes that he needs to re-establish a healthy relationship with his origins in the Source. In coming to himself, he comes to direct his own will.

Return of the Prodigal Son, Charlie MacKesey

Life brings us moments of coming to ourselves. Often it is illness or tragedy that brings us this opportunity. But we can also deliberately create moments of silent listening for our own, true voice, the voice that urges us to return to the Source. In such moments we receive the Father’s kiss. We receive the mantle of peace, the ring of unity, sandals of free power. We partake in the celebratory feast which keeps us truly alive. T. S. Eliot said,

We shall not cease from exploration

And the end of all our exploring

Will be to arrive where we started

And know the place for the first time.

Through the unknown, remembered gate

…

A condition of complete simplicity

(Costing not less than everything)

And all shall be well and

All manner of thing shall be well…*

*T. S. Eliot, “Little Gidding”.

www.thechristiancommunity.org

Whitsun III, Good Will

Pentecost, wiki commons

Pentecost

John 14: 23-31

Jesus replied, “He who truly loves me reveals my Spirit, and my Father will love him and we will come to him and prepare with him a dwelling in the everlasting [an eternal dwelling]. He who does not love me cannot reveal my Spirit. And the spirit power of the word that you hear is not from me; it is the speaking of the Father who sent me.

I have said this to you while I am still with you. But he who is called down, the health-bringing Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you everything and will awaken within you all that I have said to you.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid [have no fear].

You have heard how I said to you, ‘I am going away, and yet I am coming to you’. If you loved me you would rejoice because I am going to the Father[ly Ground of the World], for the Father is mightier than I am.

I have told you now, before it happens, so that when it happens you may find trust. I no longer have much to say to you, for soon the prince of this world is coming. Yet over me he has no power.

But the world shall see in this how I love the Father [Ground of the World] and how I act in accordance with the Father’s purpose, as it was entrusted to me. Arise, let us go on from here. [let us be on our way.]

Pentecost 

John 14: 23-31

May 26, 2015

On the Christmas altar we read in golden letters: Peace on earth to all of good will. What does it mean to be of good will? Perhaps its opposite can point us toward an understanding. Ill will broods darkness. It sends negativity into the heart space between two people.  It either pushes hard on the other, or else it retreats. It poisons the heart space with its destructive criticism and contempt. It binds with chains of hatred.

Good will, on the other hand, holds the other in positive regard. Good will keeps the heart space in common clean and clear. It neither pushes nor withdraws. It regards the will of another as a Holy of Holies, into which one can enter only by invitation, and with respect and reverence before their mystery. This kind of will is good because, like a candle flame, it radiates light and warmth in just the right degree. Good will allows the other to be and develop as he or she sees fit, at their own pace.

Christ says: He who loves me reveals my spirit. Good will arises because we love and recognize Christ, wherever he appears. He sacrificed his will to the Father for the sake of World Karma. He offered up his Life forces, his powers of metamorphosis and change, for the sake of humanity’s progress. At the same time, He does not force himself on us, or overwhelm us. He respects our freedom of choice. His radiant will offers light in the darkness, love amidst hatred, life over death.

We who love Him connect with Him, take His radiant will into our will. Perhaps we can manage it only for moments (we hope the right moment!) But eventually we will transform ourselves into those who reveal to our fellow human beings His Spirit of Love and Peace, streaming forth from our own willing hearts.

Holy Nights, January 4, 2015, Healing Goodness

Holy Nights

1 Corinthians 12:31- 13:13

Strive to make the best out of the gifts of grace working together. Yet I will show the way that is higher than all others.

If I speak out of the Spirit with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, then my speaking remains as sounding brass or tinkling cymbal. And if I had the gift of prophecy and could speak of all the mysteries and could impart all knowledge and, further, had the power of faith that removes mountains, yet am without love, then I am nothing. And if I were to give away everything that is mine, and lastly were to give away even my body for burning, yet am without love, then all is in vain.

Love makes the soul great;

Love fills the soul with healing goodness;

Love does not know envy;

It knows no boasting;

It does not allow falseness;

Love does not harm that which is decent.

It drives out self-seeking.

Love does not allow inner balance to be lost.

It does not bear a grudge.

It does not rejoice over injustice.

It rejoices only in the truth.

Love bears all things,

Is always prepared to have faithful trust.

It may hope for everything and is all-patient.

If love is truly present, it cannot be lost. The gift of prophecy will one day be extinguished, the wonder of languages cease, clairvoyant insight come to an end. Our insight is incomplete, incomplete is our prophecy.

But one day the perfect must come, the complete consecration – aim; then the time of the incomplete is over.

When I was still a child, I spoke as a child, and I felt and thought as a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.

Now we still see things in dark outlines, as in a mirror. Some day we will see everything face to face. Now my insight is incomplete, but then I shall stand in the stream of true insight, in which recognizing and being recognized are one.

We find permanence that bears all future within it in the exalted triad:

In faith

In hope,

And in love.

But the greatest of these is love.

Holy Nights

January 4, 2015

1 Corinthians 12:31- 13:13

On the altar we still see the words: Peace on earth to all of good will. What is it that makes us into people of good will? That which turns our will toward goodness, that which makes our will beneficial, is Truth.

Lies create ill will; they literally create a will that becomes ill, sick and ailing. Truth creates wellness. Truth creates good will, healthy will. And a truthful good will creates love.

Love does not allow falseness

Love does not harm what is decent

It drives out self seeking….

Love does not rejoice in injustice, only in the truth.[1]

This is an old idea. Psalm 15 says:

Lord, who can be trusted with power,

and who may act in your place?

Those with a passion for justice,

who speak the truth from their hearts;

who have let go of selfish interests

and grown beyond their own lives;

who see the wretched as their family

and the poor as their flesh and blood.

They alone are impartial

and worthy of the people's trust.

Their compassion lights up the whole earth,

and their kindness endures forever.[2]

---

[1] Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians 13:5, 6

[2] (The Psalms, translations by Stephen Mitchell)