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"Jesus
lived in a world of spiritual realization far beyond that of which the
average person has any understanding. As spiritual things must be
spiritually discerned, so the full meaning of his sayings can never be
clear to us until we have attained a consciousness equal to his.
But in the record of his sayings there is much which bears witness to
our own belief, and, no doubt, could we penetrate the meaning of his
teaching, we should have a perfect explanation of our own
philosophy. ... Jesus discerned spiritual truth. Why or how
we do not know, nor does it make any difference. The world has not
produced another like him and, until it does, he must receive a unique
place in the history of the human character."
- Dr.
Ernest Holmes, "The Science of Mind
Anyone
who ever attended services at The City of Angels Church of Religious
Science and listened to Dr. O. C. Smith talk about Jesus, are certain to
know that Dr. O. C. firmly believed that when Jesus said, "follow
me" ... what he meant was, "do as I do." By
following his example, we can transform our lives ... everything from
our measure of happiness, our relationships, and even our level of
prosperous living by accepting that we can use the Power of G-d just as
he did.
To fully understand and realize the way
in which the Master Mind Jesus used the Power of G-d, we must first seek
to free ourselves from believing that the hereafter is more glorious
than the now. Understanding that we must do this Jesus taught that
the "kingdom of heaven is within you." And like him, we
are both human and divine. Emerson stated that when Jesus told his
followers to emulate "little children," it was because little
children had not yet learned the invidious adult distinction between
humanity and divinity. In other words, little children have not
learned the limitations that the world has placed upon us; i.e. that
some are superior and some inferior, some human, others divine.
Emerson's view was that Jesus dispensed with
"religion" and "politics" altogether, and focused on
doing his Father's (G-d) will. That is, the things that he knew he
must do. Jesus demonstrated that he was the ultimate
non-conformist. He defied the rules of authority from both the
leaders of religion and politics of his time. He maintained that
G-d was the ultimate authority for all of us and that both religion and
politics hold us to conformities that create barriers between us and
G-d. I witnessed evidence of that this week when a young woman who
had completed the hours-long processional march across the Desert in
dedication to the Virgin of Guadalupe stated, "it is a long walk
and my feet really hurt, but it is the least I can do for all she has
given me and my family this year." In these innocent words,
this young woman erected a barrier between herself and G-d .. the Virgin
of Guadalupe. And most of us have created these same barriers, by
believing that ministers, rabbis, and priests are more knowledgeable of
G-d than us ... and we have followed their rules, and for some of us,
even listened attentively as they called us "sinners."
Yet, G-d, Infinite Spirit, does not know "saint" or
"sinner" ... only Itself expressing as Life.
Emerson believed that better than anyone before
him, Jesus grasped that G-d must be contacted within, not without.
Jesus taught, "But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet,
and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret;
and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly." This
closet is a quiet, sheltered mental place that we can find in our own
consciousness.
"Follow me," Jesus said, "and
all that the Father hath is mine." And as we "do as he
did" ... we too, can claim a greater measure of abundance, peace,
joy and freedom. "Follow me" and we can increase the
Good that we have just as Jesus multiplied the loaves and fishes.
Our purpose in "doing as he did" is not to get material
wealth, but to demonstrate the presence of a divine law, the Law of
G-d. Jesus assured us that "the Father shall reward thee
openly." He had great confidence in our ability to "give
and be given to." Never did he utter a word to diminish our
personal relationship with G-d, or to live in lack and limitation.
"He who has much, will have even more still." These are
not the words of someone who disdains wealth and abundance, or who
believes that we suffer under limitations.
"Follow
me," Jesus said ... do as I do, and turn within to G-d for all
things. "It is the Father's good pleasure to give you the
kingdom." The only way we will ever know that this is the
truth, is to do as he did ... turn within to the kingdom of G-d.
No one can do it for us ... not even Jesus.
AND
SO IT IS!
Keep
the faith!
Rev.
Dr. Henry Lee Bates
Visit Rev. Bates BLOG: Living
the Science of Mind
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