Spiritual reconciliation heals

Spiritual reconciliation heals

How do we heal our body through spiritual means?  To a mind that is bamboozled by materiality’s aggressive and insistent attempts to hold life and substance hostage to its limitations, spiritual healing seems unbelievable.   Yet there are millions who have proven and are proving that spiritual understanding can pull people out of the worst diseases and even a death prognosis.  

To know that our actual constitution is the manifestation of limitless MIND-GOD releases healing energies throughout our body.  To experience the harmonizing power of SPIRIT-GOD we need to embrace our matter-independent, spiritual nature.  It is a tremendous relief and uplift to obtain glimpses of our immaculate and outstanding spiritual wholeness. 

Paul tells us (in I Cor. 4:19, 20) that our body is the temple of the Holy Ghost.  The term “Holy Ghost” means everything that expresses SPIRIT-GOD.  He also adds that we should glorify SPIRIT in our body. 

Jesus Christ’s many healings reconciled mind, body and soul to LOVE-GOD.  He brought to people a firm and clear recognition of man’s SOUL-designed, matter-free, and excellent selfhood.  Those who had a welcoming thought were moved from material suffering, ignorance and sin to their innate, spiritual perfection. 

We know that matter is a counterfeit of SPIRIT-GOD.  This is why physicality cannot be a structure/temple of man’s spiritual essence.  Physicality is the antipode, not the temple, of the Holy Ghost.  It does not honor superlative SPIRIT-MIND. 

What Paul alludes to is that the human body is consciousness.  This apparent skin-sack of flesh, organs, blood and bones does not exist independent of thought, but is thought.  Physicality is mentality.  We cannot go outside, beyond or above thought.  The human body is thought as long as we are aware of it.

But what do we do with thought?  We instruct thought with spiritual concepts.  This transformation of consciousness does glorify SPIRIT-SOUL mentally and physically because they are one and the same. 

Our spiritual composition contains infinite goodness because it is MIND-SPIRIT’s reflection.  To educate ourselves with such concepts relieves anxiety.  It also separates us from society’s obsession with diseases and its fear of them. 

To feel connected to LOVE’s spiritual riches instills confidence and peace.  It purges us of negatives influences like envy, anger, resentment and avarice.  We should want to get rid of them because they torture our mind and body.  As we gain spiritual knowledge we develop spiritual dominion over harmful influences.  The less stress and fear we have the more health we experience. 

Spiritual understanding changes everything about how we perceive ourselves.  What is ostensibly a physical experience is re-discovered to be a divine manifestation of MIND-GOD.  We discern that our spiritual essence, being the effect of SPIRIT, is constructed of an unbounded range of spiritual attributes.   

Spiritual instruction helps us to exchange material concepts for MIND’s immortal ideas.  We become able to do what renowned metaphysician, Mary Baker Eddy, prescribes: to resolve things into thoughts and to exchange the objects of sense for the ideas of SOUL-GOD (S&H 269:14). 

Our acceptance of our innate, spiritual wholeness enhances our immune system’s effectiveness.  It rebalances the chemical and biological functions of our body.  It strengthens bones and muscles.  This is the natural consequence of recognizing and glorifying the preeminence of SPIRIT. 

A woman’s medically diagnosed cancer disappeared when it was subjected to the transformational effulgence of MIND-SPIRIT.  The medical experts predicted around 6 months of remaining life.  We countered it with deep and firm spiritual affirmations and conversations. 

We cherished her excellent, incorporeal identity as the outcome of divine LIFE-SPIRIT.  We also viewed her human body as a mental structure inundated with harmonious spiritual forces and honoring the all-substance of MIND-SPIRIT.  We often talked about how her cells, blood, organs and functions were not enslaved to matter but worked together as a harmonious symphony of MIND.  We kept on valuing her health as a spiritual law of infinite LIFE, and not as a feeble, physical condition.  Her thought and body were gently and steadfastly brought into spiritual concord with divine TRUTH-LIFE. 

          This and many other healings are happening daily to those awakening to their beautiful, inviolate and interminable celestial nature.  Every aspect of our unbounded, spiritual individuality honors SOUL-LOVE.  By reconciling ourselves to this wondrous revelation we harmonize our human bodies and lives.    

Fear and trouble are abrogated by LOVE's love

Fear and trouble are abrogated by LOVE’s love

            There are millions of people suffering from what seem to be insurmountable difficulties and the terrible fear and anxiety these induce.  There are also those who suffer from irrational fears that paint daily life as a battle for survival.  Some do not know what it is like to live a day without these oppressive and paralyzing intrusions.

            Bertrand Russell wrote, “Fear makes man unwise in the three great departments of human conduct: his dealings with nature, his dealings with other men, and his dealings with himself.” 

It does not help those who are suffering when they hear insensitive and ignorant comments telling them to just get over it.  Empathy and compassion are essential to be able to help others. 

            Those who have been healed of habitual fears and chronic distresses will tell us that it is imperative to not give up.  Even philosophers who highlighted the despairing aspects of human life, like Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Camus and Sartre, saw the importance of courage and determination.  Courage moves us to act constructively in spite of fear and despair.

Prayer/meditation is a courageous and constructive act.  It includes impersonalizing one’s fears and troubles and looking honestly at the thoughts and emotions that are a part of them.  Hopeful prayer can help us to imagine being free. 

This biblical passage is a soothing and effective starting point for spiritual enlightenment and healing: “¹⁶ We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.  God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. ¹⁷ And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. …¹⁸ Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love” (I John 4:16-18).

This GOD is perfect LOVE.  No anxiety, fear, sin nor illness can coexist with perfect LOVE.  LOVE-GOD extinguishes everything that is unlike its preeminent harmony. 

Author and outstanding spiritual healer, M. B. Eddy, wrote: “’God is Love.’  More than this we cannot ask, higher we cannot look, farther we cannot go.” 

Best-selling author, Huston Smith, wrote this in “The Soul of Christianity: Restoring the Great Tradition:”

“One of the earliest observations by an outsider about Christians that we have is, ‘See how these Christians love one another.’  Integral to this mutual regard was a total absence of social barriers; it was a discipleship of equals. … The only power that can effect a transformation of the order we have described is love.  … God’s love is precisely what the first Christians did feel.  … Once that love reached them, it could not be stopped.  Melting the barriers of fear, guilt, and self-centeredness, it poured through them like a torrential stream and heightened the love they had hitherto felt for others to the point where the difference in degree became a difference in kind.  A new quality, Christian love, was born.  Conventional love is evoked by lovable qualities in the beloved, but the love people encountered from Christ embraced sinners and outcasts, Samaritans and enemies.  It gave, not prudentially in order to receive, but because giving was its nature.”

            LOVE-TRUTH is the universal, matter-transcending reality and power.  This is precisely why our synchronicity with it can override our troubles and despair.   Our incorporeal, LOVE-designed essence is constructed of outstanding and mighty attributes and qualities. 

Our spiritual nature is engineered by infinite INTELLIGENCE-MIND.  It is not trapped in physical elements.  It never underwent human evolution, and it is not generated nor held back by material factors.  A human brain, personality, or DNA cannot contain or restrict our infinite spiritual range. 

We are non-physical embodiments of LOVE’s immortal, magnificent elements. Therefore, the ability to know LOVE, to experience LOVE, to be healed by LOVE, and to help others via LOVE is natural to our spiritual selfhood. 

Perfect LOVE individualizes us.  It surrounds us.  It acts in us and through us.  Jesus attributed his ability to love and heal to LOVE’s universal presence and its being the true core of everyone.  Christly love represents LOVE’s movement within us.  It produces such magnitude of grace and power that it can heal anything. 

Persistent communion with LOVE heals our human minds and physical bodies.  It redeems relationships and elevates our personal and business affairs.  It does this by eliminating decaying, limiting, sickly and harmful patterns of thinking.  LOVE’s influence constructs new mental patterns.   These produce physical transformation, and give birth to more abilities and opportunities. 

LOVE-MIND’s intelligent and creative ideas connect us to a celestial dimension of infinite health, joy, confidence, tenderness, compassion and overall goodness.  It morphs us in admirable and surprising ways. 

            Communion with LOVE’s transformative ideas restored a baby with a feeble heart back to health.  Medical exams and opinions regarded heart surgery as dangerous and offering very little chance of recovery. 

            The prayers of the parents, united with my own, visualized the spiritual wholeness of the baby.  Fear and medical opinions were supplanted by spiritual understanding, confidence and healing expectancy.  We recognized that the ill heart was a material distortion and imposition without any backing from infinite TRUTH-LOVE.  Our prayers/meditations brought the baby’s human heart under the jurisdiction of LOVE’s superlative, celestial health. 

LOVE produces us.  We are LOVE’s healthy, beautiful and treasured ideas.  LOVE is saying to us, “You are blessed with my infinite goodness, you are free from material delusions, and you are magnificently whole!” 

Spiritual knowledge is Science

Spiritual knowledge is Science

Spiritual knowledge connects us to the alterative force of LOVE’s influence, what we can call the Christ-spirit.  Provable, spiritual knowledge is Science because it does enlighten, comfort, liberate and heal us. 

“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter; that he may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of truth …” said Jesus Christ.  Everything that illuminates us with the divine and infinite, and then draws out our spiritual best, is the “Comforter” in action.

Compounded spiritual healing experiences led radical theologian, M. B. Eddy, to state that knowledge and the experience of the divine is the ultimate Science.  She says, “This Comforter I understand to be Divine Science.” 

Because it is tempting for some to attempt to attempt to manipulate spiritual knowledge for physical well-being, she directs us to a higher purpose by writing, “Now, as then, signs and wonders are wrought in the metaphysical healing of physical disease; but these signs are only to demonstrate its divine origin, -- to attest the reality of the higher mission of the Christ-power to take away the sins of the world.” 

 Jesus regarded the “Comforter” as the highest caliber of spiritual knowledge and saving power.  He said, “And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.”   

When we are open-minded, humble and receptive to seeing life beyond the restrictions of matter we can glimpse the glory of spiritual life as the unfolding beauty of SPIRIT’s preeminence. 

When consciousness is correlated with SPIRIT then, says M. B. Eddy, “sin and disease lose their reality in human consciousness and disappear as naturally and as necessarily as darkness gives place to light and sin to reformation.” 

Radical and wonderful life-changes can happen instantly because spiritual knowledge reveals to us the spiritual wholeness, bounty and goodness that are always with us. 

A man suffering from a tumor the size of a softball saw it healed through spiritual communion alone.  The spiritual healer he called on for help encouraged him to think of their joint spiritual mediations as a way of reconciling themselves to absolute and infinite TRUTH-SPIRIT.

He was reminded that All-INTELLIGENCE, MIND, included and delineated his healthy and authentic spiritual self.  Furthermore, spiritual facts proved the falsity of any material problem, including fear, sin and sickness.   

The habitual fears and worries that had been torturing him also fell away.  He felt the tranquility that flows into us when we understand that we are immaculate expressions of SPIRIT, and that we are anointed by interminable LIFE with immortal, healthy existence. 

It is does so much good to know that the Science of divine TRUTH is supporting, sheltering and driving a perfect, spiritual universe filled with matter-free, eternal identities.  The Comforter is our understanding of this applicable, transformational, and enhancing Science. 

Unity with SOUL heals

Unity with SOUL heals

My leg was swollen to twice its normal size due to an infection.  A friend said to me, “I know you that your prayers are procuring healing.  I know, too, that you understand that your true nature dwells in and is blended with the infinite harmony of SOUL.” 

The love, generosity and confidence that came with her declaration boosted my certainty and expectancy of healing.  By the next day my leg was thoroughly healed.   These are some of the spiritual concepts that I utilized. 

Metaphysics asserts that SOUL is the singular and universal EGO, which excludes finite matter, but includes infinite, spiritual existence.  This divine and unbounded EGO-INTELLIGENCE is what biblical Moses perceived to be the “I AM THAT I AM.” 

The totality of our limitless, matter-free universe develops within the singularity of the divine ONE.  Brilliant metaphysician, M. B. Eddy, declared "...God is infinite and so includes all in one" (Mis. p. 239). 

Our spiritual essence is the outcome of celestial MIND-SPIRIT.  MIND and its conscious ideas are ONE.  This is why we only have the magnificent substance of SPIRIT-SOUL.  The more we understand about the oneness and all-inclusiveness of SOUL-SPIRIT the clearer is our view of our spiritual make-up.  The inverse is also true: we understand more of the majesty of SOUL-TRUTH by perceiving more of our incorporeal, interminable and excellent essence. 

We gain an amplified appreciation of our unconfined individuality by knowing that we are the outstanding oeuvre of MIND-SOUL.  The infinite EGO does not absorb us; it expresses us from its own illimitableness.  We are endowed with MIND’s inexhaustible uniqueness, creativity and capacities. 

While our humanity can choose between right and wrong, our divine nature contains and expresses only goodness.  SOUL’s man, what we actually are, cannot choose between mortality and immortality because only the latter is ultimately real.  We are MIND’s intelligent and immortal ideas.  We cannot be less than MIND’s immortal force. 

There are not two states of existence--the mortal and the immortal.  The mortal is a distortion of immortality.  It is not an actual realm that parallels the spiritual.   It is corrected by our perception of LIFE.  Spiritual education frees us to enjoy our immortality. 

The one I AM is preeminent INTELLIGENCE, it is absolute LIFE, and it is final cause and effect.  M. B. Eddy wrote these crystal-clear insights: "Father and son are one in being" (S&H p.  361); "Man is the expression of God's being" (S&H p. 470); and "Man and the universe coexist with God in Science, and they reflect God and nothing else" (Mess. for 1900, P. 4).

Man is SOUL’s incorporeal reflection.  We mean, of course, that man is the mental activity of MIND.  It does not mean that there are two entities that look alike.  MIND-SOUL is the only entity. 

Webster's Dictionary defines “reflection” as "an image in Mind, an idea, the act of thinking."  MIND knows its own infinity.  Spiritual creation, including man, is the outcome of its divine, intelligent knowing. 

The Bible states "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with yoke of bondage"

(Gal 5:1).  We could say, "Stand fast in the liberty wherewith MIND has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of mortal distortions."

These spiritual concepts give us Christly power and grace. The following refrain from a Christian hymn (Christian Science Hymn # 388) speaks not just of Christ Jesus’ healing abilities, but also of our own abilities to express SOUL:  “Where'er he went affliction fled, The sick were healed, the hungry fed.”        

Our Christly awareness gives us supreme healing power.  It can comfort the sorrowing, redeem us and others of sinful traps, strengthen the weak, and heal the sick and dying. 

A prayer for relationships

     

LOVE is our adhesive and catalyst

By

Julio C. Rivas, CS

This is a prayer for fulfilling relationships.

“LOVE knows only to love us. ‘…Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love…’ is meant directly for each one of us right now.

LOVE is bonded to us and it binds us to each other. LOVE is impartial in blessing everyone with the capacity to truly care for one another in myriad, consistent and unsexy ways. This enhances our capacity to have trustworthy and fulfilling relationships.

LOVE’s tenderness, flexibility, nimbleness, fidelity and generosity brought Ruth and Boaz together. LOVE’s wisdom and forgiving might re-made Jacob’s and Esau’s characters and reconciled them. Our reflection of these qualities produces outstanding personal and professional bonds. We attract one another and cement our connections with LOVE’s attributes.

LOVE is shattering shyness, fears, insecurities, doubts and anything else that would restrain our ability to connect meaningfully with others. LOVE-MIND is activating in us bold, intelligent and courageous steps that advance our common goals.

Wonderful, caring and talented people are being led by MIND to join its mighty and intelligent currents. While moving within the currents of MIND-LOVE we turn into an unstoppable force for goodness, happiness and success.

LOVE-SOUL is the “All” of our being.  It defines us.  It is the core essence of everyone. Boyfriends, girlfriends, parents, spouses, children, relatives, neighbors and co-workers are infinitely more than human personalities.  They are spiritual representations of SOUL-LOVE.  We possess a transcendent self.  We are endowed with LOVE’s spiritual talents and resources.

Our past, present and future exists not in the dream of mortal history, but in the “depth, breadth, height, majesty, and glory” of boundless LOVE-SOUL. LOVE is the adhesion and catalyst of our lives."

We are LOVE-empowered

We are LOVE-empowered

Everyone knows, in some measure, how painful it is to be excluded, marginalized and rejected.  It has been done to us, and we may have done it to others – intentionally or unintentionally.  Either way, LOVE-GOD does not leave anyone out of its limitless circle of acceptance, protection and providing.   

In this biblical story we see how Jesus’ encircling love, which evinces divine LOVE, accepts, comforts and heals those who’ve been rejected. 

“It happened that as he made his way toward Jerusalem, he crossed over the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten men, all lepers, met him. They kept their distance but raised their voices, calling out, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" Taking a good look at them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." They went, and while still on their way, became clean. One of them, when he realized that he was healed, turned around and came back, shouting his gratitude, glorifying God. He kneeled at Jesus' feet, so grateful. He couldn't thank him enough—and he was a Samaritan” (The Message, Luke 17:12-14).

The Samaritans and the lepers were rejected by the Jewish community.  But Jesus loved them. 

It says that Jesus first took a “good look at them” before responding to their need.  With his look Jesus did three things: (1) he brought them into his love; (2) he discerned in them the readiness to be purified and transformed; and (3) he perceived their LOVE-empowered spiritual wholeness.  This healed them. 

Furthermore, the story makes sure that we know that the healed man who expressed profuse gratitude belonged to the Samaritans.  In other words, LOVE embraces and designs everyone.  Society rejects people, but LOVE includes everyone within its immeasurable grace, health and bounty.   

Nothing and no one can keep us out of LOVE.  We are in the tender, healing embrace of Christ. 

Why don’t we take a good look around us and see how many we can bring into our understanding of LOVE’s inclusive goodness.  Our Christ-like spirit reaches everyone and heals in unexpected ways. 

TRUTH-MIND eradicates evil and violence

          Large and small acts of violence can leave people stunned and perplexed.  Throughout our world and on a daily basis horrible violence is occurring.  Most individuals do not think too much about this when it is not happening in their cultural/social sense of home and because it takes too much of an emotional toll to dwell on it.  When violence occurs close to us, be it based on geographic, cultural or emotional criteria, we are impacted even more. 

          Violent acts are committed due to many reasons: mental derangement, politics, religion, hatred, envy, revenge, ignorance and greed. 

           Genocide, war, rape, abuse, terrorism, disease, crime, and injustice can be met with LOVE’s compassion and with MIND’s intelligent ideas. All-intelligent LOVE-MIND is a continual fountain of new ideas that we can implement to ameliorate evil.  It gives us the flexibility and elasticity required to adapt to new circumstances and apply new approaches.

As we submit to the transformational effects of communing with MIND-LOVE we expunge the internal sins that underpin evil acts. LOVE promotes empathy, forgiveness, mercy and compassion. These are effective spiritual weapons against evil.

The Bible declares “He maketh the wars to cease” and the “He” is LOVE.  Jesus Christ’s love emanated from infinite LOVE and this is the reason why it redeemed lives.  Our heartfelt submissions to LOVE align us with its divine power. 

Jesus’ synchronicity with LOVE protected him when the angry mob wanted to throw him off a cliff.  The gospel stories tell us he walked right past them without being seen. 

GOOD-GOD is supreme over evil.  Evil is a deception; it does not have ultimate existence.  Metaphysics asserts and proves the All-in-all of GOOD-GOD.  The Bible intones the superiority of GOOD-TRUTH when it states “He uttered His voice, the earth melted,” and “The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord ….”

Our spiritual goodness expresses the purity, intelligence and might of TRUTH.  We can be “lambs” of spiritual goodness, and “lions” of divine might. 

Outstanding spiritual healer and writer, M. B. Eddy, wrote decades ago that the “wolves in sheep’s clothing are detected and killed by innocence, the Lamb of Love.”   Our spiritual understanding and resolve act like a sharp, two-edge sword of TRUTH and it decapitates evil. 

Our apprehension of MIND’s sovereignty and of our celestial nature as the product of MIND calms and enlightens us.  This happens even if there is hatred, conflict and turmoil around us. 

We are fathered and mothered by LOVE-MIND.  We have inherited a spiritual, incorporeal composition.  It is harmonious, intelligent and peaceful. 

We can affirm this prayer on behalf of others and ourselves: “LOVE consoles and revitalizes those whose humanity has suffered violence and cruelty. LOVE is reaching deep into the doers of evil to awaken them to their pure selfhood. LOVE binds us together with compassion and healing. LOVE is the EGO, expressing the EGO-man, and this one is neither victim, nor victimizer, but whole and triumphant.”

We are endowed by TRUTH-MIND with the spiritual abilities to eradicate evil. 

Rewarding relationships are based in LOVE

Rewarding relationships are based in LOVE

          This is an article about experiencing true, fulfilling love.  But I have a question to pose.  Have you heard of the erotic novel “Fifty Shades of Grey?”   Millions of people have.   Although it lacks writing quality, it is an international best seller.  This trilogy has sold more than 10 million copies worldwide, its rights have been bought in 37 countries, and it is selling faster than the “Harry Potter” books. 

          The trilogy’s primary buyers are highly educated and high-earning women -- single and married.  But what has spawned fierce analysis and controversy is that the book is a romance novel with a BDSM (meaning Bondage and Discipline, Dominance and Submission, Sadism and Masochism) twist.  The question is posed over and over again: Why does a poorly-written book with a BDSM plot motif become a selling success among well-educated-high-income women?

          Romance novels follow a simple formula: Woman meets an attractive, successful, entrancing, and, sometimes, slightly dangerous partner who in the end falls in love and becomes loyal to her.  The novels communicate that men/women’s search for love has a good ending. 

In the “Grey” book trilogy the formula is somewhat altered by the intensely sexual, BDSM contract between the two central characters.  What remains constant in the “Grey” books and others about romance is that they mirror the desires, anxiety and confusion that are typical to romantic obsessions. 

But is romantic love worth pursuing?  Are highly-charged sexual and romantic obsessions a distortion of love?

Modern psychology emphasizes that romantic-sexual obsessions, however commonly and mistakenly pursued by millions, are not the bond that holds two partners together through the highs and lows of life.   To be “in love” and/or to be sexually obsessed is to have a feeble, transitory, confused state of thinking.  It is a state of self-hypnosis.  Therefore, it is unreliable and self-betraying. 

Cutting-edge, psychiatric research also undermines romantic –sexual obsessions.  Results inform us that they are mentally debilitating and harmful.  In fact, romantic love shows activity in the same zones of the brain that get activated by hatred and violence. 

Our understanding of and connectivity to divine LOVE-GOD must be the take-off point for all relationships.  Instead of “falling in love,” couples should be “rising in LOVE.”  Spiritual sensibility emanates from infinite, divine LOVE and it is what makes us able to bond with someone else in lasting and deeply felt ways.  It is clarifies and enhances communication between partners.  It heightens their emotional, psychological and sexual connectivity.

C. S. Lewis’ writings on love point us in the direction of plentiful, rewarding, fulfilling, divine LOVE.  He describes the mesmeric, counterfeit types of carnal love so that we can recognize their symptoms and avoid them.  If we’ve fallen into their trap we can extricate ourselves by re-connecting with bountiful, transcendent LOVE. 

In the book “A Severe Mercy” a man relates how he and his wife, who had a deep, loving connection to one another, came to understand, with the help of C.S. Lewis, the riches and rewards available to every relationship by living LOVE’s love.

Christ Jesus’ teachings and actions exemplify LOVE’s love.  Christly love infuses all relationships with generosity, compassion, sensibility, patience, forgiveness, and fidelity. 

Henry Drummond’s book, “The greatest thing in the world” is a masterpiece of a treatise on LOVE.  It teaches us the might, beauty, majesty and joy of relating to and expressing perfect LOVE. 

Early 20^th century writer and metaphysician, M. B. Eddy, writes, “LOVE.  What a word!  I am in awe of it.  Over what worlds on worlds it hath range and is sovereign!  The un-derived, the incomparable, the infinite All of good, the alone God, is Love.”

The infinite LOVE-GOD is the generator of our transcendent, celestial essence.  LOVE’s love is natural to our spiritual composition.  By staying in rhythm with our LOVE-based nature, we emancipate ourselves of hatred, resentment, selfishness, egotism, fear, loneliness and possessiveness.  Spiritual love is healing to our minds, bodies and relationships. 

LOVE’s love frees us of materiality’s limitations and harmful entanglements.  It frees our minds to express a higher level of intelligence, shields us from others’ malice, gives nobility to our character, and cements us to those who are trustworthy and compatible.  

LOVE encompasses all.  We are living in LOVE’s unbounded, blessed realm.  We are constructed of the elements of LOVE.  Health, happiness, purpose, fulfillment and companionship are our heavenly gifts from LOVE. 

The triumphant light of SPIRIT

The triumphant light of SPIRIT

Spiritual metaphysics penetrates the biblical stories and draws out their healing meaning -- messages that communicate eternal TRUTH-LOVE.  The story of a “lamp-stand and two olive trees” is filled with spiritual treasures.  Let us review it.  Then we will follow it up with spiritual interpretations that educate, inspire and heal. 

A Lampstand and Two Olive Trees (NLB, Zech. 4: 1-14). 1 Then the angel who had been talking with me returned and woke me, as though I had been asleep. 2 “What do you see now?” he asked. I answered, “I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl of oil on top of it. Around the bowl are seven lamps, each having seven spouts with wicks. 3 And I see two olive trees, one on each side of the bowl.” 4 Then I asked the angel, “What are these, my lord? What do they mean?” 5 “Don’t you know?” the angel asked. “No, my lord,” I replied.  6 Then he said to me, “This is what the Lord says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 7 Nothing, not even a mighty mountain, will stand in Zerubbabel’s way; it will become a level plain before him! And when Zerubbabel sets the final stone of the Temple in place, the people will shout: ‘May God bless it! May God bless it!’” 8 Then another message came to me from the Lord: 9 “Zerubbabel is the one who laid the foundation of this Temple, and he will complete it. Then you will know that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has sent me. 10 Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.” (The seven lamps represent the eyes of the Lord that search all around the world.) 11 Then I asked the angel, “What are these two olive trees on each side of the lampstand, 12 and what are the two olive branches that pour out golden oil through two gold tubes?” 13 “Don’t you know?” he asked.  “No, my lord,” I replied. 14 Then he said to me, “They represent the two heavenly beings who stand in the court of the Lord of all the earth

We can start interpreting it metaphysically by employing M. B. Eddy’s (a brilliant, early 20^th century theologian) definitions of “oil” as “heavenly inspiration” and “light” as “revelation and progress.”

Divine TRUTH-GOD’s revelations and inspiration wake us up from the hypnotic grip of materiality – from fear, defeat, doubt, lack, illness, anger, resentment and so forth. 

They give us understanding and gratitude.  They may stir in us recollections of how LOVE’s providence and wisdom have saved us before.  Spiritual “oil” and “light” impart the confidence and wisdom we need to thrust forward against new obstacles.

The “angel messenger” tells Zechariah to remember how 16 years before MIND-LOVE had made it possible for Jewish leader, Zerubbabel, to build a trust-relationship with the Persian king which led the king to give freedom to many Jews.  Then Zerubabbel, with the Persian king’s permission and support, led the newly liberated Jews back to Judah.  Once they arrived there they worked together to rebuild their lives.  An important symbol of this was how quickly they started rebuilding Jerusalem and the Jewish temple.  Divine fortitude and guidance overcame multiple obstacles. 

This energizes Zechariah to motivate and re-dedicate his people to finish rebuilding the city of Jerusalem and their temple.  Their spiritual tenacity, intelligence and savvy resolve many setbacks and challenges. 

“Angels” represent Mind’s intelligent guidance.  When we are open to them they alter our confused reasoning.  They liberate, inspire, enable and transform us.  They show us more than material intellect can.  They bring us into our perfect, immortal, fruitful nature.  MIND’s intelligent ideas communicate, inspire and impel us today like they’ve done it for receptive people down through the centuries. 

We may be mired in difficulties and suffering.  We may lack the health, faith, intellect, courage, vision, talents, social/business connections, and knowledge to achieve what we wish.  But MIND wakes us up to new opportunities and resources.  We also discern new directions that had not been visible before.  LOVE’s noble goals become attainable.  The “angels of the Lord” make everything good possible. 

 Our resources, abilities and attainments do not originate in a limited, mortal, physical identity.  All our good is from SPIRIT, who is all-substance, and the fountain of our spiritual lives.  SPIRIT-GOD’s unlimited intelligence, might, health and resources abound in us.

With MIND fueling us we can take small initial steps, or bold and big ones.   As the means and ways of SPIRIT reveal themselves we will witness that even mountains of obstacles will be made flat. “Heaven’s Armies” of intelligent ideas and abilities will lead us to grand achievements. 

The seven lamps, and all Biblical references to light, represent GOD’s effulgence, the complete hues of LOVE’s all-healing, all-revealing, all-loving, holy revelations.  They induce courage, creativity and inventiveness. They eradicate the darkness of ignorance, fear, disease and failure.  They enable us to experience abundant spiritual health, to receive and give love, and to build strong relationships with others. 

The olive trees that give out inexhaustible oil to the lamps represent how continuous and limitless is infinite MIND’s provision to all mankind.  Why two olive trees?  It means the divine Father and Mother, the spiritually masculine and feminine.  Ultimately, the two, or three, or seven used in biblical stories fit into the ONE and ALL that is SOUL. 

SPIRIT’s realm is imperial.  It reaches down, up and out into infinity.  When we step outside of matter’s paradigms and of our material ego we can visualize an infinite realm of spiritual perfection.  We can experience its ever-multiplying forces for good in our body, relationships and workplace. 

Spiritual understanding is the radiance of Christ.  The term “Christ” is an abbreviated way of describing TRUTH’s timeless, healing revelations.  Christ enters every hungering, willing-to-be-transformed, “wash-me-clean” consciousness.  It fills us with LOVE’s perfection, plentitude and victory.

The Christ-light is what Zechariah perceives in the symbols of the seven ever-lighted lamps.  This light transcends time and shines on and within everyone. 

It eliminated Elijah’s failure, fear, despair and suicidal temptations.  It lifted him to a vision of more life, power and purpose.  He found redemption and new, successful directions.  His consecration to this holier, ever-widening path brought him to the realization of the “ALL” of SPIRIT, which turned into his ascension beyond material limits.

Jesus expressed the Christ-light.  It made it possible for him to comfort, educate, transform and bless thousands of people.  It overturned betrayal, torture and death.  He, too, ascended into the All-Light of SPIRIT.

The seven-lamps’ holy light (the Christ-light) fills all.  When we are a clear transparency for it we accomplish the seemingly impossible.  We are healed, impelled, lifted, empowered, and crowned by it.  Because divine light is fueled by infinite MIND-LOVE (by the “two olive trees”) our expanding spiritual understanding proliferates healing and accomplishments. 

Our incorporeal identities are the sparkle of SPIRIT. 

Celebrating TRUTH’s marvelous effects

Divine TRUTH is infinite intelligence and harmony.  A TRUTH-based view of existence omits feeble and limited matter, and explains that permanent substance is composed of eternal and abundant spiritual goodness.   As our spiritual view is enriched we discern more of the wholeness and magnificence of divine LIFE-TRUTH in ourselves and in the world.

A skin infection I had was healed without antibiotics when I allowed divine TRUTH to illuminate my thinking.  I prayed/meditated on the ultimate, spiritual reality of my existence.  I visualized my existence and substance as pure, whole and beautiful.  This approach altered my mental state and this came through in my body as healthy skin. 

Outstanding spiritual healer, M. B. Eddy, wrote this on the healing efficacy of TRUTH on our minds and bodies: “…immortal Mind through Christ, Truth, subdues the human belief of disease” (S&H: p. 145:11-13); and “when one’s false belief is corrected, Truth sends a report of health over the body” (S&H p. 194:8).  

Our mental/emotional connection to TRUTH can appear quickly, or it may demand patience and consistency.  Either way, it will bear outstanding fruitage. 

The Bible tells us of the years it took for Jacob and his brother Esau to overcome their inner demons.  Jacob’s self-righteousness, dishonest ways and Esau’s hateful and vengeful obsession vanished during one night in which both yielded to the abstergent influence of divine TRUTH. 

More often than not we have to wrestle to change ourselves for the better.  TRUTH, of course, undergirds and spurs every effort that moves us to accept our immaculate, excellent, spiritual heritage.  Spiritual enlightenment replaces foibles, illnesses and weaknesses with spiritual strengths. 

TRUTH goads and enables us to think and be free of material restraints.  TRUTH is right now saturating us with magisterial health, intelligence, love and bounty. 

Because our transcendent and genuine essence is a masterpiece of all-creative and sovereign TRUTH-LOVE we have spiritual authority to override our difficulties.  Accept this gratefully and joyously for it inundates your experience with limitless goodness. 

Our oneness with SOUL generates healing currents

Oneness with SOUL generates healing currents

 

There are outstanding healing ideas to discover when we apply a metaphysical understanding to Biblical stories.  Water, for example, has healing symbolism in the Bible. 

Revolutionary metaphysical thinker, M. B. Eddy, provides an inspired interpretation of the Biblical rivers.  She writes this about one of them: “Euphrates (river). Divine Science encompassing the universe and man; the true idea of God; a type of the glory which is to come; metaphysics taking the place of physics; the reign of righteousness.”   

Let us apply inspiration to this story from Ezekiel 47:1-9 (New Century Version).  First let us review the story. 

“¹ The man led me back to the door of the Temple, and I saw water coming out from under the doorway and flowing east. (The Temple faced east.) The water flowed down from the south side wall of the Temple and then south of the altar.

² The man brought me out through the outer north gate and led me around outside to the outer east gate. I found the water coming out on the south side of the gate.³ The man went toward the east with a line in his hand and measured about one-third of a mile. Then he led me through water that came up to my ankles.⁴ The man measured about one-third of a mile again and led me through water that came up to my knees. Then he measured about one-third of a mile again and led me through water up to my waist.⁵ The man measured about one-third of a mile again, but it was now a river that I could not cross. The water had risen too high; it was deep enough for swimming; it was a river that no one could cross.

⁶ The man asked me, "Human, do you see this?" Then the man led me back to the bank of the river.⁷ As I went back, I saw many trees on both sides of the river.⁸ The man said to me, "This water will flow toward the eastern areas and go down into the Jordan Valley. When it enters the Dead Sea, it will become fresh.⁹ Everywhere the river goes, there will be many fish. Wherever this water goes the Dead Sea will become fresh, and so where the river goes there will be many living things.”

To put the story into its historical context we need to know that Ezekiel was one of the thousands of Israelites captive in Babylon.  It is essential to appreciate that he is imparting hope and guidance to his fellow Israelites. 

The fact that he received this vision confirms to him that TRUTH’s eternal covenant with his children is as active as ever.  He assures his people that freedom is in their future.  He adds that their freedom will appear as they dedicate themselves toward living their covenant with TRUTH-LIFE (GOD). 

His vision becomes our own liberating experience when we understand its deeper meanings.

The temple in Ezekiel’s vision represents incorporeal man’s uninterrupted spiritual unity with SPIRIT-TRUTH.  Everyone’s genuine and eternal make-up is the unfolding magnificence and wholeness of GOD’s preeminent being. 

This gushing river, and other Biblical rivers (like the Pison, Hiddekel, Euphrates, Gihon) symbolize the abundant, transformative, spiritual currents that flow from our understanding and dedicated application of our oneness with SPIRIT-TRUTH.  These gushing illuminating and inspiring currents will rise until it we feel saturated by LOVE’s grace, like we are swimming in LOVE’s goodness. 

Ezekiel says that the restorative waters from the temple will enter the Dead Sea and morph it into a body of fresh water where life can thrive.  This means that spiritual inspiration and understanding restores that which appears hopeless and dead.  They enliven, enrich and multiply our lives. 

Our spiritual essence dwells in SPIRIT-LOVE’s spiritual environment, where material constraints are void.  Our actual life in SOUL is teeming with love, health, and goodness.  

This understanding is now liberating us and making wonderful things happen.