The Heart.

If we think of Spirituality as a set of moral principles we may fall into the trap of rigid Legalism which the Pharisees practised.

This is centered in the mind.

But true Spirituality is centered in the heart.

And the heart makes concessions according to understanding.

As Jesus did.

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The Way of Love.

The Law of Moses is superseded by Jesus' Way of Love.

Thus rigid adherence to the letter of the Law is set aside according to the understanding of our hearts.

What does your heart say?

This takes precedence over morality and principle where they conflict with the exigencies of Love.

God punishes no one.

.

All are His beloved children.

And He will not condemn them.

So always listen to the promptings of your heart.

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The Birth of the Light.

Jesus is the Light of the World.

And his birth is celebrated on the day that was called The Birth of the Sun which is 3 days* after the Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere.

It is not a literal event but a symbolic one.

Jesus was not enlightened when he was born.

The stories in Luke and Matthew are pretty fairy stories designed to establish Jesus' divinity.

The Gospels differ in their declaration of the time that Jesus became the Son of God.

From adoption at his baptism in Mark to the beginning of time in John.

But there is little doubt that Jesus was a highly enlightened person.

And the celebration of his birth is a delight in the Light coming into the world.

(*The Sun is stationary for 3 days.)    

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Pointing the Finger.

Although Fundamentalist and Evangelical Christians know that there is Satanism in rock music and entertainment they persist in pointing the finger at gays and lesbians, Hippies, and Liberals.

These are their political enemies.

Instead of exposing contemporary rock musicians they will insists on blaming gays and Hippies.

This is abuse of knowledge.

They do not expose X Generation stars because they are right-wing like them.

This is why their campaigns have failed.

And this is no coincidence.

We should remember that Ronald Reagan, who initiated this campaign, was a politician.

He was not a saint.

Nor was he a hero.

His campaign was political.

And he abused the knowledge of Satanism in rock music for political purposes.

Liberalism is not Satanism.

Nor is homosexuality.

The Satanists are the rock stars who betrayed them in the first place.

Hippies and gays are the victims of Satanism in rock music. 

And Fundamentalist and Evangelical Christians blame the victims because they are their political enemies.

The truth about Satanism in rock music will not be accepted until they stop scapegoating their political enemies and learn to forgive. 

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The Age of Aquarius.

So what can we expect in the Age of Aquarius?

First of all we can expect an Epiphany of Light.

A new enlightenment of humankind.

This Light has already begun to come into our world.

It can be seen in the revelations of progressive religion.

In the works of Pope Francis, Desmond Tutu, the Dalai Lama, Richard Rohr and others.

But the darkest hour is always just before the dawn.

Our world has been plunged into darkness and evil.

Fortunately the darkest hour has passed.

And we are entering a new reality.

But this is a gradual process.

It will not happen all at once.

The legalizing of gay marriages and their celebration in some Christian Churches is a sign of greater Light.

The virtual curing of AIDS  leads us out of fear and violence.

A resurgence of left-wing political thinking gives us hope.

But these things are encountering stubborn opposition from conservative forces.

If we can demonstrate that their fears are unfounded there may be progress.

But don't despair if progress is slow.

It is slow but slowly building.

And its author is God.

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Sex.

Sex is the consummation of Love.

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Art.

It is true that art can compensate for our disappointments in life.

Edifying, educating, interesting art can give us a lift and focus we would otherwise lack.

But what is art compensating for?

Love.

If there is a lack of love in our lives it is like living in a desert.

Art is an oasis in that desert.

But the garden that we all are seeking is Love.

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To Be Or Not To Be.

You can't make people act.

You may be able to inspire them to utter beautiful words and sentiments.

But you can't make them do anything.

As Jesus said: "'You hypocrites!  Isaiah prophesied rightly about you when he said: "This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines."'"  Matthew 15:8.9 (NRSV) 

Isaiah adds: "learned by rote."  Isaiah 29:13 (NRSV)

So beware of those who speak beautifully and piously but do not act on their words.

They are practising a feel-good religion which does not do what it says.

[Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.  All rights reserved.]

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Virtue.

All world religions and the science of Yoga recommend the practise of basic virtues.

These virtues include: honesty, truthfulness, sexual moderation, non-violence, non-aquisitiveness and faith.

But these virtues are not ends in themselves.

 

They are mere imitations of the goodness of God.

God is wholly good.

He transcends sin and evil.

And His inmost nature is Love.

It is His will that we be united with Him.

Virtue is but one path to this end.

The Bhagavad-Gita says that if we embrace just one petal of the flower we possess the whole bloom.

So the practise of virtue is one part of our spiritual path to God.

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God's Work.

What then is God's Work in the world?

God is Love.

And God's Work is a labor of love:

The spreading of Light.

The bringing of Hope.

The making of Peace.

The showing of Compassion.

The practice of Forgiveness.

The reckoning of Mercy.

Honesty and Justice.

Charity, Faith, and Non-Violence.

But most of all:

Love.

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Darkness to Light.

They love the darkness for their deeds are evil. (John 3:19)

We are in the grip of evil.

Rock music, sports, and entertainment are infected with Satanism.

Anything which results in fame and wealth is prone to Satanism.

They sell their souls and do the devil's work.

And they are in league with our corporate masters.

But darkness hides them.

For their deeds are evil.

They actually try to intensify the darkness until it is pitch black.

So you cannot see them.

They disturb you and they distract you.

They curse you.

And they kill.

Pray for the Light.

Look for enlightenment.

Follow the prophets.

And not the false prophets.

Or the Beast.

But true prophets.

Those who have achieved enlightenment.

Those who show mercy and compassion.

Those who forgive.

Those who love.

For it is through these things that God enlightens us.

For this is the nature of God Himself.

And this is the face of God that we seek.

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My Pansies.

My Pansies

Planted at Easter

Watered each day

Grow

And flower

Abundantly.

Photo Credit: Michael E. East.