SPIRITUAL COMMUNION

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From THE URANTIA BOOK

Part III, 103, 4 

 

Spiritual Communion

 

 The characteristic difference between a social occasion and a

 religious gathering is that in contrast with the secular the

 religious is pervaded by the atmosphere of communion. In this

 way human association generates a feeling of fellowship with

 the divine, and this is the beginning of group worship.

 Partaking of a common meal was the earliest type of social

 communion, and so did early religions provide that some

 portion of the ceremonial sacrifice should be eaten by the

 worshipers. Even in Christianity the Lord’s Supper retains

 this mode of communion. The atmosphere of the communion

 provides a refreshing and comforting period of truce in the

 conflict of the self-seeking ego with the altruistic urge of the

 indwelling spirit Monitor. And this is the prelude to true

 worship — the practice of the presence of God which

 eventuates in the emergence of the brotherhood of man.

 

 When primitive man felt that his communion with God had

 been interrupted, he resorted to sacrifice of some kind in an

 effort to make atonement, to restore friendly relationship. The

 hunger and thirst for righteousness leads to the discovery of

 truth, and truth augments ideals, and this creates new

 problems for the individual religionists, for our ideals tend to

 grow by geometrical progression, while our ability to live up to

 them is enhanced only by arithmetical progression.

 

 The sense of guilt (not the consciousness of sin) comes either

 from interrupted spiritual communion or from the lowering of

 one’s moral ideals. Deliverance from such a predicament can

 only come through the realization that one’s highest moral 

ideals are not necessarily synonymous with the will of God.

 Man cannot hope to live up to his highest ideals, but he can be

 true to his purpose of finding God and becoming more and

 more like him.

 

 Jesus swept away all of the ceremonials of sacrifice and

 atonement. He destroyed the basis of all this fictitious guilt and

 sense of isolation in the universe by declaring that man is a

 child of God; the creature-Creator relationship was placed on

 a child-parent basis. God becomes a loving Father to his

 mortal sons and daughters. All ceremonials not a legitimate

 part of such an intimate family relationship are forever

 abrogated.

 

 God the Father deals with man his child on the basis, not of

 actual virtue or worthiness, but in recognition of the child’s

 motivation — the creature purpose and intent. The

 relationship is one of parent-child association and is actuated

 by divine love.
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Day 20 - THE JEWS OF JESUS' TIME

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THE JEWS OF JESUS' TIME is here:

http://maninthemaze.blogspot.com/2011/12/jews-of-jesus-time.html

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Day 8 - CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY

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Please go here for Day 8 of The Advent Series:

http://maninthemaze.blogspot.com/2011/12/church-of-nativity.html

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Day 3 - ROOM FOR CHRIST

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Day 3 of The Advent Series - ROOM FOR CHRIST - is here:

http://maninthemaze.blogspot.com/2011/12/room-for-christ.html

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PRAYERS FROM OTHER PLANETS

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From THE URANTIA BOOK

Part IV, 144, 5

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From time to time, during the remainder of Jesus' sojourn on earth, he brought to the notice of the apostles several additional forms of prayer, but he did this only in illustration of other matters, and he enjoined that these "parable prayers" should not be taught to the multitudes. Many of them were from other inhabited planets, but this fact Jesus did not reveal to the twelve. Among these prayers were the following:

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Our Father in whom consist the universe realms,
Uplifted be your name and all-glorious your character.
Your presence encompasses us, and your glory is manifested
Imperfectly through us as it is in perfection shown on high.
Give us this day the vivifying forces of light,
And let us not stray into the evil bypaths of our imagination,
For yours is the glorious indwelling, the everlasting power,
And to us, the eternal gift of the infinite love of your Son.
Even so, and everlastingly true.

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  Our creative Parent, who is in the center of the universe,
Bestow upon us your nature and give to us your character.
Make us sons and daughters of yours by grace
And glorify your name through our eternal achievement.
Your adjusting and controlling spirit give to live and dwell within us
That we may do your will on this sphere as angels do your bidding in light.
Sustain us this day in our progress along the path of truth.
Deliver us from inertia, evil, and all sinful transgression.
Be patient with us as we show loving-kindness to our fellows.
Shed abroad the spirit of your mercy in our creature hearts.
Lead us by your own hand, step by step, through the uncertain maze of life,
And when our end shall come, receive into your own bosom our faithful spirits.
Even so, not our desires but your will be done.

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  Our perfect and righteous heavenly Father,
This day guide and direct our journey.
Sanctify our steps and co-ordinate our thoughts.
Ever lead us in the ways of eternal progress.
Fill us with wisdom to the fullness of power
And vitalize us with your infinite energy.
Inspire us with the divine consciousness of
The presence and guidance of the seraphic hosts.
Guide us ever upward in the pathway of light;
Justify us fully in the day of the great judgment.
Make us like yourself in eternal glory
And receive us into your endless service on high.

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 Our Father who is in the mystery,
Reveal to us your holy character.
Give your children on earth this day
To see the way, the light, and the truth.
Show us the pathway of eternal progress
And give us the will to walk therein.
Establish within us your divine kingship
And thereby bestow upon us the full mastery of self.
Let us not stray into paths of darkness and death;
Lead us everlastingly beside the waters of life.
Hear these our prayers for your own sake;
Be pleased to make us more and more like yourself.
At the end, for the sake of the divine Son,
Receive us into the eternal arms.
Even so, not our will but yours be done.

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  Glorious Father and Mother, in one parent combined,
Loyal would we be to your divine nature.
Your own self to live again in and through us
By the gift and bestowal of your divine spirit,
Thus reproducing you imperfectly in this sphere
As you are perfectly and majestically shown on high.
Give us day by day your sweet ministry of brotherhood
And lead us moment by moment in the pathway of loving service.
Be you ever and unfailingly patient with us
Even as we show forth your patience to our children.
Give us the divine wisdom that does all things well
And the infinite love that is gracious to every creature.
Bestow upon us your patience and loving-kindness
That our charity may enfold the weak of the realm.
And when our career is finished, make it an honor to your name,
A pleasure to your good spirit, and a satisfaction to our soul helpers.
Not as we wish, our loving Father, but as you desire the eternal good of your mortal children,
Even so may it be.

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  Our all-faithful Source and all-powerful Center,
Reverent and holy be the name of your all-gracious Son.
Your bounties and your blessings have descended upon us,
Thus empowering us to perform your will and execute your bidding.
Give us moment by moment the sustenance of the tree of life;
Refresh us day by day with the living waters of the river thereof.
Step by step lead us out of darkness and into the divine light.
Renew our minds by the transformations of the indwelling spirit,
And when the mortal end shall finally come upon us,
Receive us to yourself and send us forth in eternity.
Crown us with celestial diadems of fruitful service,
And we shall glorify the Father, the Son, and the Holy Influence.
Even so, throughout a universe without end.

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  Our Father who dwells in the secret places of the universe,
Honored be your name, reverenced your mercy, and respected your judgment.
Let the sun of righteousness shine upon us at noontime,
While we beseech you to guide our wayward steps in the twilight.
Lead us by the hand in the ways of your own choosing
And forsake us not when the path is hard and the hours are dark.
Forget us not as we so often neglect and forget you.
But be you merciful and love us as we desire to love you.
Look down upon us in kindness and forgive us in mercy
As we in justice forgive those who distress and injure us.
May the love, devotion, and bestowal of the majestic Son
Make available life everlasting with your endless mercy and love.
May the God of universes bestow upon us the full measure of his spirit;
Give us grace to yield to the leading of this spirit.
By the loving ministry of devoted seraphic hosts
May the Son guide and lead us to the end of the age.
Make us ever and increasingly like yourself
And at our end receive us into the eternal Paradise embrace.
Even so, in the name of the bestowal Son
And for the honor and glory of the Supreme Father.

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AS JESUS PASSED BY

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From THE URANTIA BOOK

Part IV, 171, 7

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As Jesus Passed By
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Jesus spread good cheer everywhere he went. He was full of grace and truth. His associates never ceased to wonder at the gracious words that proceeded out of his mouth. You can cultivate gracefulness, but graciousness is the aroma of friendliness which emanates from a love-saturated soul.

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Goodness always compels respect, but when it is devoid of grace, it often repels affection. Goodness is universally attractive only when it is gracious. Goodness is effective only when it is attractive.

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Jesus really understood men; therefore could he manifest genuine sympathy and show sincere compassion. But he seldom indulged in pity. While his compassion was boundless, his sympathy was practical, personal, and constructive. Never did his familiarity with suffering breed indifference, and he was able to minister to distressed souls without increasing their self-pity.

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Jesus could help men so much because he loved them so sincerely. He truly loved each man, each woman, and each child. He could be such a true friend because of his remarkable insight--he knew so fully what was in the heart and in the mind of man. He was an interested and keen observer. He was an expert in the comprehension of human need, clever in detecting human longings.

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Jesus was never in a hurry. He had time to comfort his fellow men "as he passed by." And he always made his friends feel at ease. He was a charming listener. He never engaged in the meddlesome probing of the souls of his associates. As he comforted hungry minds and ministered to thirsty souls, the recipients of his mercy did not so much feel that they were confessing to him as that they were conferring with him. They had unbounded confidence in him because they saw he had so much faith in them.

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He never seemed to be curious about people, and he never manifested a desire to direct, manage, or follow them up. He inspired profound self-confidence and robust courage in all who enjoyed his association. When he smiled on a man, that mortal experienced increased capacity for solving his manifold problems.

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Jesus loved men so much and so wisely that he never hesitated to be severe with them when the occasion demanded such discipline. He frequently set out to help a person by asking for help. In this way he elicited interest, appealed to the better things in human nature.

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The Master could discern saving faith in the gross superstition of the woman who sought healing by touching the hem of his garment. He was always ready and willing to stop a sermon or detain a multitude while he ministered to the needs of a single person, even to a little child. Great things happened not only because people had faith in Jesus, but also because Jesus had so much faith in them.

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Most of the really important things which Jesus said or did seemed to happen casually, "as he passed by." There was so little of the professional, the well-planned, or the premeditated in the Master's earthly ministry. He dispensed health and scattered happiness naturally and gracefully as he journeyed through life. It was literally true, "He went about doing good."

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And it behooves the Master's followers in all ages to learn to minister as "they pass by"--to do unselfish good as they go about their daily duties.

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Devotion to other's good is a very simple thing. When our devotion to the production of happiness is not restricted to ourselves, but we labor for others' good, and love to promote the good of others not less than our own, this is an intelligible thing; and this is true benevolence--real religion.

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Rev. C.G. Finney - 1851

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JESUS AS A TEENAGER

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From THE URANTIA BOOK

Part IV, 127
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 AS JESUS entered upon his adolescent years, he found himself the head and sole support of a large family. Within a few years after his father’s death all their property was gone. As time passed, he became increasingly conscious of his pre-existence; at the same time he began more fully to realize that he was present on earth and in the flesh for the express purpose of revealing his Paradise Father to the children of men.

 No adolescent youth who has lived or ever will live on this world or any other world has had or ever will have more weighty problems to resolve or more intricate difficulties to untangle. No youth of Urantia will ever be called upon to pass through more testing conflicts or more trying situations than Jesus himself endured during those strenuous years from fifteen to twenty.
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 Having thus tasted the actual experience of living these adolescent years on a world beset by evil and distraught by sin, the Son of Man became possessed of full knowledge about the life experience of the youth of all the realms of Nebadon, and thus forever he became the understanding refuge for the distressed and perplexed adolescents of all ages and on all worlds throughout the local universe.
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 Slowly, but certainly and by actual experience, this divine Son is earning the right to become sovereign of his universe, the unquestioned and supreme ruler of all created intelligences on all local universe worlds, the understanding refuge of the beings of all ages and of all degrees of personal endowment and experience.
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1. The Sixteenth Year (A.D. 10)
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 The incarnated Son passed through infancy and experienced an uneventful childhood. Then he emerged from that testing and trying transition stage between childhood and young manhood — he became the adolescent Jesus.
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 This year he attained his full physical growth. He was a virile and comely youth. He became increasingly sober and serious, but he was kind and sympathetic. His eye was kind but searching; his smile was always engaging and reassuring. His voice was musical but authoritative; his greeting cordial but unaffected. Always, even in the most commonplace of contacts, there seemed to be in evidence the touch of a twofold nature, the human and the divine. Ever he displayed this combination of the sympathizing friend and the authoritative teacher. And these personality traits began early to become manifest, even in these adolescent years.
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 This physically strong and robust youth also acquired the full growth of his human intellect, not the full experience of human thinking but the fullness of capacity for such intellectual development. He possessed a healthy and well-proportioned body, a keen and analytical mind, a kind and sympathetic disposition, a somewhat fluctuating but aggressive temperament, all of which were becoming organized into a strong, striking, and attractive personality.
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 As time went on, it became more difficult for his mother and his brothers and sisters to understand him; they stumbled over his sayings and misinterpreted his doings. They were all unfitted to comprehend their eldest brother’s life because their mother had given them to understand that he was destined to become the deliverer of the Jewish people. After they had received from Mary such intimations as family secrets, imagine their confusion when Jesus would make frank denials of all such ideas and intentions.
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 This year Simon started to school, and they were compelled to sell another house. James now took charge of the teaching of his three sisters, two of whom were old enough to begin serious study. As soon as Ruth grew up, she was taken in hand by Miriam and Martha. Ordinarily the girls of Jewish families received little education, but Jesus maintained (and his mother agreed) that girls should go to school the same as boys, and since the synagogue school would not receive them, there was nothing to do but conduct a home school especially for them.

 Throughout this year Jesus was closely confined to the workbench. Fortunately he had plenty of work; his was of such a superior grade that he was never idle no matter how slack work might be in that region. At times he had so much to do that James would help him.
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 By the end of this year he had just about made up his mind that he would, after rearing his family and seeing them married, enter publicly upon his work as a teacher of truth and as a revealer of the heavenly Father to the world. He knew he was not to become the expected Jewish Messiah, and he concluded that it was next to useless to discuss these matters with his mother; he decided to allow her to entertain whatever ideas she might choose since all he had said in the past had made little or no impression upon her and he recalled that his father had never been able to say anything that would change her mind. From this year on he talked less and less with his mother, or anyone else, about these problems. His was such a peculiar mission that no one living on earth could give him advice concerning its prosecution.
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 He was a real though youthful father to the family; he spent every possible hour with the youngsters, and they truly loved him. His mother grieved to see him work so hard; she sorrowed that he was day by day toiling at the carpenter’s bench earning a living for the family instead of being, as they had so fondly planned, at Jerusalem studying with the rabbis. While there was much about her son that Mary could not understand, she did love him, and she most thoroughly appreciated the willing manner in which he shouldered the responsibility of the home.

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To see the entire paper, which covers Christ's life

from ages sixteen to twenty, go here:

http://www.urantia.org/urantia-book-standardized/paper-127-adolescent-years

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THE MAN WITH THE WITHERED HAND

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From THE URANTIA BOOK

Part IV, 148, 7

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The second Sabbath before the departure of the apostles

and the new corps of evangelists on the second preaching tour of Galilee, Jesus spoke in the Capernaum synagogue on the “Joys of Righteous Living.” When Jesus had finished speaking, a large group of those who were maimed, halt, sick, and afflicted crowded up around him, seeking healing. Also in this group were the apostles, many of the new evangelists, and the Pharisaic spies from Jerusalem. Everywhere that Jesus went (except when in the hills about the Father’s business) the six Jerusalem spies were sure to follow.

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The leader of the spying Pharisees, as Jesus stood talking

 to the people, induced a man with a withered hand to approach him and ask if it would be lawful to be healed on the Sabbath day or should he seek help on another day. When Jesus saw the man, heard his words, and perceived that he had been sent by the Pharisees, he said: “Come forward while I ask you a question. If you had a sheep and it should fall into a pit on the Sabbath day, would you reach down, lay hold on it, and lift it out? Is it lawful to do such things on the Sabbath day?” And the man answered: “Yes, Master, it would be lawful thus to do well on the Sabbath day.” Then said Jesus, speaking to all of them: “I know wherefore you have sent this man into my presence. You would find cause for offense in me if you could tempt me to show mercy on the Sabbath day. In silence you all agreed that it was lawful to lift the unfortunate sheep out of the pit, even on the Sabbath, and I call you to witness that it is lawful to exhibit loving-kindness on the Sabbath day not only to animals but also to men. How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! I proclaim that it is lawful to do good to men on the Sabbath day.” And as they all stood before him in silence, Jesus, addressing the man with the withered hand, said: “Stand up here by my side that all may see you. And now that you may know that it is my Father’s will that you do good on the Sabbath day, if you have the faith to be healed, I bid you

 stretch out your hand.”

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 And as this man stretched forth his withered hand,

 it was made whole. The people were minded to turn upon the Pharisees, but Jesus bade them be calm, saying: “I have just told you that it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath, to save life, but I did not instruct you to do harm and give way to the desire to kill.” The angered Pharisees went away, and notwithstanding it was the Sabbath day, they hastened forthwith to Tiberias and took counsel with Herod, doing everything in their power to arouse his prejudice in order to secure the Herodians as allies against Jesus. But Herod refused to take action against Jesus, advising that they carry their complaints to Jerusalem.

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 This is the first case of a miracle to be wrought by Jesus in response to the challenge of his enemies. And the Master performed this so-called miracle, not as a demonstration of his healing power, but as an effective protest against making the Sabbath rest of religion a veritable bondage of meaningless restrictions upon all mankind. This man returned to his work as a stone mason, proving to be one of those whose healing was followed by a life of thanksgiving and righteousness.

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THE HOUR OF HUMILIATION

The horrible hour of the humiliation of Christ

 by the guards and others.

A lesson in forbearance and

the meaning of dignity.

Day 42 of THE LENTEN SERIES is here:

 http://www.maninthemaze.com/thelentenseries/thehourofhumiliation.html
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MEETING OF THE SANHEDRIN

. The Sanhedrin heatedly argue what to do about Jesus of Nazareth. A proposal is put forward to have him killed even before a trial. Chaos reins. Day 24 of THE LENTEN SERIES is here: http://www.maninthemaze.com/thelentenseries/meetingofthesanhedrin.html

THE PHARISEES AT RAGABA

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Jesus gives the pharisees an "earful" to digest and reflect upon.

The pharisees divide now into two "camps."

 Day 19 of THE LENTEN SERIES is here:

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 http://www.maninthemaze.com/thelentenseries/thephariseesatragaba.html .

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DANGERS IN JERUSALEM

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It's now the occasion of the
Jewish feast of the tabernacles,
and Jesus boldly goes to Jerusalem
to preach publicly at the temple,
confounding his enemies and
terrifying the apostles.
Day 13 of THE LENTEN SERIES is here:
http://www.maninthemaze.com/thelentenseries/dangersinjerusalem.html

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JESUS' HUMAN AND DIVINE MINDS

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Jesus was both a mortal and a divine personality, and the mystery of the workings of his minds is the subject of Day 12 of THE LENTEN SERIES. See it here: http://www.maninthemaze.com/thelentenseries/hishumandivineminds.html

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JESUS' FAMILY ARRIVES

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You love your family, but that
doesn't mean it's all smooth sailing.
Christ had the same problems.
Read about it here, at Day 8 of
THE LENTEN SERIES:
http://www.maninthemaze.com/thelentenseries/jesusfamilyarrives.html

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JESUS AND THE BUDDHA

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Edited from the preface to Jesus and Buddha -
The Parallel Sayings by Marcus Borg
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 I have sometimes said that if the Buddha
and Jesus were to meet, neither would try to convert the other - not because they would regard such an effort as hopeless, but because they would recognize one another.
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 Jesus and the Buddha were teachers of wisdom.
Wisdom is not just about moral behavior, but about the "center," the place from which moral perception and moral behavior flow.
Jesus and the Buddha were teachers of a world-subverting wisdom that undermined and challenged conventional ways of seeing and being in their time and in every time. Their subversive wisdom was also an alternative wisdom: they taught a way or path of transformation.
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 They both were teachers of the way less traveled.
What Jesus and the Buddha said about "the way"
is remarkably similar.

*
 Published in 1997, Jesus and Buddha -
The Parallel Sayings is an excellent text for comparisons between the teachings of these two religious paths. The similarities are amazing.

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Do to others as you would have them do to you.
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Luke 6:31
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 Consider others as yourself.
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Dhammpada 10:1

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Do not store up for yourselves treasures
on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal.
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Matthew 6:19-20

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Let the wise man do righteousness:
A treasure that others can not share, where no thief can steal; a treasure which does not pass away.
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Khuddakapatha 8:9

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The kingdom of heaven is like treasure
hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
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Matthew 13:44

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 If by giving up limited pleasures
one sees far-reaching happiness, the wise one leaves aside limited pleasures, looking to far-reaching happiness.
*
Dhammmapada 21:1

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Truly I tell you, if you have faith the size

of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain,

"Move from here to there," and it will move,

and nothing will be impossible for you.

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Matthew 17:20

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A monk who is skilled in concentration can

cut the Himalayas in two.

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Anguttara Nikaya 6:24

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CHRIST OUTSIDE OF THE BOX

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There's something about an abandoned mission.

You wonder what made the congregation pick up

and leave. Here it's interesting.

The wooden vigas, the logs above that span the

thick adobe walls, are hidden by a dropped ceiling

reminiscent of a rec-room add-on, some misguided

soul's attempt at modernization, or worse.

The altar and one of the pews are still here,

albeit the worst for wear.

There's some minor trash about, and

some framing boards have been left on the altar.

But it hasn't been obliterated, totally junked,

like most old abandoned places

in the Southwest are, anymore.

The confessional space to the left

of the altar has a neat little nicho

to confess your sins through.

You wonder what relief came from kneeling

there. You wonder if any of it stuck,

if it made anyone feel the better,

if it made sense, even vaguely.

It must have.

The opening carved through the adobe wall

was an opening to redemption.

 

You enter the sacristy, the "prep" room,

through the arch on the right.

The little nicho is now in the far corner

on the left where there must have been

a chair for the priest to sit, reflect,

and pass counsel and penance.

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Did people come away with a weight lifted?

Some must have.

Did the good padre carry the weight well?

Quien sabe? Who knows?

The old adobe walls don't answer.
*

It's interesting that there's no

trashy grafitti anywhere, just the name of Jesus,

religious slogans, a few designs, a couple of

crude paintings of the desert.

The altar and the framework that held

the tabernacle, the chamber/home of the

consecrated host - Christ Himself if you believe

church dogma - are in bad shape, the tabernacle

frame leaning against the back wall.
 

What happend here?

There's no answer.

Does Christ mind?

Hardly, I would think.

Do you think the body and spirit of

a Creator Son of the Universe can be

contained in a gold-plated box?

Do you think God cares about our childish

concepts concerning where God is,

what box we've put Him in,

and who has His ear?

Are you nuts?

This sounds vaguely ancient-Jewish to me.

*

My friend Frank Ruiz and I are curious

about the place, but soon enough feel like

we've worn out our welcome with

the ghosts at San Jose Mission.

Or maybe it's not that, maybe not.

I don't know what, but it seems like

something is going on here, still.

Someone's looking over my shoulder.

But it's probably always this way, at old sites -

sites where people knelt down and prayed,

places where desperation and hope held hands,

places where both joy and sorrow said the rosary,

and winked at each other whenever they passed

through the entrada, one coming, one going.


Places where the energy still sits on the ruins -

like an innkeeper waiting for a traveler,

like a gatekeeper waiting for the guests,

like Christ outside of the box.

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