Mar 2, 2018

This morning those of us who gather on the mountain imaged the whole earth as God’s mountain. I did follow Jesus up the mountain to begin but then all of us spread out upon the earth. The path we climb up usually rises to a small type mountain covered with boulders, trees and grass. This day, with God light streaming from our centers, we stepped back to our own continents, and held hands across the round globe of earth. This is where I took a glowing rose petal and covered America with it like a blanket of love. Then I concentrated on the middle states, most notably Michigan, and kept adding more rose petals.

I lay blankets of golden-silver light upon each area, over and over, while I sent out a message of love. Care and concern for one another is the most important and vital trait we have as humans. Our nation has been sliding down a slippery slope of division and strife lately. Love, understanding, and empathy is the only thing that can pull us back together.

Mar 4, 2018

The gospel this morning in church was all about the Jesus arriving for the Passover and chasing the money changers out of the Temple area. It mentions the sacrifice of oxen, sheep and doves. Father Thomas’s sermon concentrated on explaining what Passover meant to the Jewish people and how they felt the need to sacrifice. He explained that many people could only afford doves. It was very interesting and informative, but I wanted more. I almost raised my hand during the sermon to ask him to define the word ‘Sacrifice.’ The bible mentions it often but no one ever explains exactly what sacrifice means.

So after church I brought the subject up by asking the others sitting at the table having coffee what they thought it meant. The most sensible explanation was that it was like our donation to the church. “But what happens to the dove that is donated?”  I asked. We guessed it was killed and then given to the temple. Maybe thrown away? Maybe the priests ate it? Then we mentioned Abraham almost sacrificing his son until an angel told him to stop. Did this mean he would kill his son and burn him? Everyone had a different opinion.

So I got home, I looked it up in Wikipedia.

Here is a short quote about sacrifice to the temple.

“A korban was a kosher animal sacrifice, such as a bull, sheep, goat, deer or a dove that underwent shechita (Jewish ritual slaughter). Sacrifices could also consist of grain, meal, wine, or incense. Offerings were often cooked and most of it eaten by the offerer, with parts given to the Kohen priests and small parts burned on the altar of the Temple in Jerusalem. Only in special cases was all of the offering given only to God, such as in the case of the scapegoat.”

This means that most of the dove was cooked and eaten by the person giving the sacrifice. This is interesting to know. I also learned that a ritual sacrifice could only be given in the Temple in Jerusalem. Since the Temple was destroyed in 70 ce, Jews are now prohibited from giving this kind of ritual sacrifice. Abraham may have been a special case.

What makes this most interesting to me is that it explains why Jesus gave us communion and why we take communion every Sunday. Jesus was the lamb slaughtered through sacrifice. Jesus is now the Temple. He predicted that the Temple would be torn down but he would build it up again in three days. Jesus arose as a replacement for the Temple in Jerusalem. Today, we eat his flesh and drink his blood just as the Jews used to eat their dove or lamb in a ritual sacrifice to God. Now I have a better understanding of the gift Jesus gave us and also what the references to sacrifice in the bible mean.

3/14/18

We gathered on the mountain. Each of us decides the type of mountain we choose to climb. Some may climb a torturous mountain with sharp points leading up to silver, snow covered peaks and some of us may climb a softer path up a greener mountainside strewn with huge boulders, small trees and scattered with flowers. Whichever type of mountain we choose to climb, Jesus assures me that most of us need those imaginary steps to get our mind ready to join the other people atop the mountain. The mountain top I stood upon this day was so full of large leafed fauna, wild grass and large flowers I felt myself in Shangri La, a book I read once when young.

Visualization also helps us gather in the golden light from God, a light that is potential within all of us but when we gather, becomes as bright as the sun. We can then carry this light with us around the world to share with other life. God’s light heals the body, feeds the soul, and pleases the mind.

This day, after we gathered together, a group of us stepped into the center of the US then began a spiral outward toward the fringes of the nation. As giant spirits, we walked through people working in farm fields, driving in cities and walking in small towns, continually moving outwards until we had reached both oceans. There for a moment a few whales and dolphins joined out mental blessing. Then we began to circle back, the spiral closing in again to a specific point.

There a vast number of meditating people joined hands to create in an invisible ring around the earth. Monks and nuns from every religion and belief. Men and women from many different walks of life, and angels completed the circle of hands around the earth.

All of this sounds amazing, but it only uses up a few minutes of a person’s day. I imagine some great spiritual monks don’t even break stride, but join the gathering and continue going about their chores or business. I often wonder why I am invited to join in with this exceptional group, but then, we are all invited to join. Any of us who meditate and wish to spread good will.

Jesus walks by my side during these gatherings, but I also have a guide who gives me advice at different times. I think this guide is a Buddhist monk. Once he told me that I should begin meditating for ten minutes in the morning and ten minutes at night. I didn’t take that advice until recently. I think my meds made me too restless, but now I am better and can meditate at night. With the help of others, I continue to learn and thrive in spirit. This is the feeling is what I would share with others when I can. If not, I will try to be patience and teach what a person is able to receive.

There are two paths towards fixing the world. The path of love or the path of hate. Those of us who gather have chosen the path of love. We try to teach and spread good will, give care and support where possible, and tolerate different views. We are open to new truths and discoveries. Love is the only true path forward, the one that will change the world permanently for the better. It has been predicted. As Jesus said, “I have already won.”