IT IS FINISHED!

This was the last sigh of Jesus as His earthlife and His suffering through mankind came to a close. The popular interpretation of these words is that it marked the completion of a sacrifice ordained by God to save humanity. 

However, let us reflect:

1. The wife of Pilate, perhaps the last man who could have made a difference at that moment in humanity’s spiritual history sent him a warning! In Matthew 27:19 we read: "Don't have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him."

2.       On His way to the crucifixion place, we are told in Luke 23:28- “Jesus turned and said to them, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children…” Clearly, this shows that the unfolding events would have unpalatable consequences from that very moment and also in the future.

3.       Then at the death of Jesus, the veil that separates humanity from the Holy of Holies was torn into two! The interpretation of this is that with man’s rejection of Christ, man separated themselves more from Divinity thus making the Holy of Holies unnecessary! With the blood of Jesus dripping from the hands of men, the Holy of Holies was simultaneously exposed and lost all sanctity! An immediate repercussion for the atrocity just perpetrated.

“It is finished!” was the cry of relief that now, the adversities, hostilities, loneliness and all the suffering that had been endured by the Son of God was coming to an end.

In His Love, the Almighty sent His Son so that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life! Whoever believes! And believing in Him simply means accepting His Word of Truth and living by It. It is living by the Word of Truth brought by Jesus that leads to having everlasting life.

God is Love but His Justice will not permit anyone to bear the guilt of another.  

How then can we be forgiven? Ezekiel 18:21 helps us: "But if a wicked person turns away from all the sins they have committed and keeps all my decrees and does what is just and right, that person will surely live; they will not die.”

May we be given the strength to turn away from our wrong doings and walk the path that leads to salvation and redemption.

BE FRUITFUL AND MULTIPLY

In Genesis 1:28 it is recorded that the first human beings received the following blessing: "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth."

Many have interpreted these words to mean that no woman on earth should be childless!

This thought raises a number of questions. Is motherhood the highest role of womanhood? Why should one bring children into this world? What are the reasons behind childlessness? And most important of all, what is the purpose of life itself?

The real purpose of life on earth is the attainment of spiritual maturity and ascent back to the Realms of Light and Paradise from where we came. Womanhood has a crucial role to play in humanity’s attainment of this fundamental purpose!

Therefore, the real task of woman on earth is to ennoble her surroundings and through her gift of high intuition to ensure that positive influences from on High reach the earth. This ennoblement in turn brings about spiritual ascent for humanity as a whole. This role of womanhood that facilitates the overall attainment of the very purpose of life, naturally far surpass the role of bearing children.

Birth is a gift of God which provides opportunities for human spirits to incarnate on earth so that they may continue to improve themselves, cast off old faults and ultimately attain spiritual maturity. The parents simply provide the possibility for an incarnation and also play the role of hosts to the children who are only guests of the parents as they journey on to spiritual maturity and ascent.

The reasons for childlessness could be medical, or a free decision of the individual or a couple and it could also arise if that is an experience that is required for the spiritual growth of the person or couple concerned. The main cause however is the defectiveness of the special delicate bridge which is bestowed on womanhood in order to attract souls for incarnation. This defect can arise when a woman out of vanity takes on male characteristics by emulating men and even seeking to outdo them!

However, there is blessing for those who being childless adopt a child out of love and selflessness and not for self-satisfaction.

May womanhood on earth come to the recognition of their high task as priestesses of Purity on earth and that this has nothing to do with marriage or motherhood sacred as these are!

FATHER, WHY HAST THOU FORSAKEN ME?

In Isaiah 53:3 we read: “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.”

Let us consider that we are talking here of the Word of God Who became flesh. He is Part of the Father and the Father Himself is within Him and works in Him. He came on a Mission of Love to point out the way back to Paradise to erring humanity.

He came into a world of human beings whose level of spiritual immaturity was so great that He sorrowfully told His disciples: “I would say many things unto you, but you would not understand!” Even His disciples misconstrued Him in many things!

Then we must remember the relentless opposition from the Scribes, Pharisees and the Priests. All the good that Christ did was really not appreciated by men that it all seemed quite hopeless. Jesus was hated and even pursued with evil plots. It got to a point when Jesus began to have a strong longing to return Home and ascend back to the Father. He was homesick! Tragically, the prophecy of Isaiah was being fulfilled. At Lucifer’s prompting, men inflicted deep sorrow on Jesus, brought Him grief and derided Him. He Who brought them help in their greatest need. Every night He could hear the vibrations of the Darkness sounding a menacing and dreadful note. It seemed as though He was alone… “Father! Hast Thou forsaken me? How much longer? When can I return to Thee?”

Eventually, human beings in their craftiness and spiteful hatred brought Jesus to the cross of suffering. And as if he had not done his worst, Lucifer stood before Him right there on the cross hence the urgent call: “Father, why hast Thou forsaken me?” Then the evil one disappeared, and Jesus saw countless hosts of luminous helpers. He recognised all those who had escorted Him to this earth, and was filled with blissful happiness.

Let us remember always that Jesus came down for us from His Holy Realm into this wicked world. He fought for us, suffered and died in order to show us the way that leads to forgiveness and redemption. May we be able to go the way shown to us by Christ so that forgiveness may really be ours!

Oh my soul

Oh my soul!
When will you awake?

When will you concern thyself solely with the Truth?

BEHOLD THIS IS THY SON, AND THIS IS THY MOTHER, JOHN!

Before the birth of Christ, Mary experienced the Annunciation which prepared her for her mission of being the earthly mother of Jesus. Therefore, she was among the few who recognised the Star that shone over the stable in Bethlehem as the fulfilment of the prophecies! The same Star led three kings to the stable. They presented earthly gifts and went away leaving without protection the Child Who they were meant to protect with their wealth and power so that no harm may befall Him in the fulfilment of His Mission.

In the course of years the memory of the Radiant Star slowly paled and Mary had to struggle with her grave concerns about how Jesus was exposing the false teachings of the religious leaders of His time. In motherly anxiety she expressed the fear that Jesus will only make formidable enemies for Himself who in their hatred might bring Him harm or even kill Him! Mary feared for Jesus, she had no peace. However, Jesus cannot but fulfil His Mission to carry the Word of the Father among mankind on earth. He therefore went forth to bring Light to those who longed for His Message. Christ regarded as His kindred these ones who hear His Holy Word and make use of it. So in Luke 8:19-21 we read “¹⁹ Now Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, but they were not able to get near him because of the crowd. ²⁰ Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.”²¹ He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.”

Jesus the Personification of Divine Love however prior to His departure from the flesh, entrusted the care of Mary to John, one of His Disciples. Despite the agonizing pain of the crucifixion, and as physical death approached, Jesus still managed to reiterate His earlier instructions to John when on seeing Mary with John mourning Him under the cross He said gently: “Behold, this is thy son, and this is thy mother John!”

John embraced Mary. At this solemn hour Mary’s doubts melted away and she became convinced of Christ’s Holy Mission. Similarly, we read in Mark 15:39” ³⁹ And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”

Subsequently, Mary moved to the House of John and kept pace with the Disciples of Christ and their activities.

May we also be endowed with the courage to cast off all the old and concern ourselves solely with the Truth no matter the obstacles and opposition that may confront us!

I THIRST!

Biblical accounts tells us that preceding the crucifixion, Jesus prayed in the garden of Gethsemane. Luke 22:44 speaks of His praying in agony and that His sweat were like drops of blood. Medical science also recognises that hematidrosis (excretion of bloody sweat) occurs where a person is undergoing extreme levels of stress for example when facing death such that the blood vessels under the skin ruptures and mixes with sweat to come on the skin surface.

The agony experienced in Gethsemane was soon followed by unspeakable tortures in the hands of evil men. He was scourged, and with a crown of thorns pressed firmly on His head he was made to carry the cross for a long walk to Golgotha. The Son of God collapsed under the weight of the cross. Now put together the scourging, the loss of blood thereby and through the crown of thorns and then the crucifixion that followed. All of these culminated in total dehydration for the Holy One. And so on that fateful day, Jesus on the cross in utter exhaustion whispered the words “I thirst”. 

Now to a brief description of crucifixion. This is a method of execution that provides a slow and painful death. The term excruciating literally came from crucifying. One can describe it as gruesome, humiliating and wicked. Although this method was used by the Romans in centuries past, its horrible nature was described by one of their eminent citizens Cicero, who described crucifixion as "a most cruel and disgusting punishment" and suggested that the very mention of the cross should be far removed not only from a Roman citizen's body, but from his mind, his eyes, and his ears.

I therefore urge you to think again if you still attribute this hate filled, ruthless, cold-blooded and vengeful actions against Jesus of Nazareth to a plan endorsed by His Almighty Father Who already gave us the Commandment: thou shall not kill!

May we have the strength to cast away all false interpretations and thirst only to do the Will of God which Jesus explained to us at such a great and painful price!

ODE TO IRRESPONSIBILITY

ODE TO IRRESPONSIBILITY…

Adam ate the apple he ought not to eat. 

Called to account, he pointed at Eve.

"I did not do it my Lord, Eve did!"

Heaven’s Gate was shut unless they repent.

Eve, why? Will Eve be penitent?

"I did not do it my Lord, the serpent did!"

To Adam and Eve’s descendants the Holy One showed the Way.

But they hated, rejected and murdered the Way!

"We didn’t slay You dear Lord," they insist; "the prophecies did!"