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Lenten Devotionals 2009
Welcome to OneLife Ministries. This site is designed to lead you prayerfully into a heart experience of Divine Presence, Who is Love. While it focuses on Christian teaching, the writer hopes persons of other faiths find inspiration here. Indeed, "God" can be whatever image helps you trust in the Sacred, by whatever means Grace touches you. Please share this ministry with others, and I hope you return soon. There is a new offering daily.
Blessings,
Rev Dr Brian K Wilcox
Pastor-Teacher, Author, Workshop Leader,
Spiritual Counselor, Chaplain
PRAYERFUL ENTERING
Let the following affirmation be preparation for entering into the Inner Sanctuary of the Heart of Hearts...
In this moment,
I am open fully to the Divine
I am not seeking anything
I am not straining for anything
In this moment,
Love is arising to me
Love is with me
Love is sustaining me
In this moment,
I am in Love with Love
I give and receive as I am given opportunity
I, thereby, am a conduit of blessing
Giving and receiving timely and joyfully
In this moment,
I am receiving all I need
I am not defined by the past
I am not defined by what I do not have
I am not defined by what I have
I am not defined by what I feel
In this moment,
Spirit and I are one
Spirit is bringing into my life whatever I need
*Brian K. Wilcox
LISTENING TO THE SCRIPTURES
And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city. And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven." And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, "This man is blaspheming." But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'? 6But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"—he then said to the paralytic—"Rise, pick up your bed and go home." And he rose and went home. When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.
*Matthew 9.1-9 (ESV)
RECEIVING SACRED TEACHING
First, the New Living Translation may show us how uncomfortable we are claiming the authority, or power, Spirit offers us each. The Greek at the end of Matthew 9.9 reads "for giving such authority to human beings," observes the NLT. Yet, the NLT has "for sending a man with such authority." Why would the translators change the reading from "men, human beings" to "man" - referring only to Jesus? Why, unless the translation reflects a lack of comfort with accepting the power Jesus manifested is the same power, and to the same extent, we each are offered to express?
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Not for much longer will the world put up with the lies, the superstitions and the distortions with which the joyous and essentially simple message of Christ has been overlaid.
*Leslie D. Weatherhead. The Agnostic Christian.
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A legend tells of Moses' pipe, which he played while shepherding his father-in-law's - Jethro - sheep, before Moses returned to lead the Hebrews out of Egypt. As years passed, the pipe was treasured and revered, and became a relic for adoration. As a relic, the simple pipe seemed in need of embellishment. Workmen, therefore, covered it with gold. The pipe was revered, but it could not be played. No one could enjoy what it was created for: music.
Again, quoting the late Leslie D. Weatherhead, pastor at City Temple, London, England, from 1936-1960.
So the message of Galilee is overlaid with creeds and ceremonies and doctrines, and what with denominational squabbles, mutual disapprovals and intolerances, one can hardly catch the message of the Son of Man or be lifted up and strengthened by its beauty and power.
Yes, the Gospel's simplicity is often lost in the strictures of tradition, theology, and rite. Church theologians and leaders often become so obsessed with correctness and protecting the faith, they lose sight of Jesus' simple life and powerful message. The church becomes filled with denominational leaders who are churchmen and churchwomen, but not necessarily holy men and women, or spirit women and men.
* * *
We can become so attached to what we say is true, what faithfulness to our tradition means, and the right way to do the rite - as well as the mentalist subtleties of its sacramental meaning - we lose the power of the Gospel and its beauty.
Paul speaks of religious braggarts. He notes how he will discern them upon arrival in Corinth:
But if the Lord lets me come, I will soon be there. Then I will find out if the ones who are doing all this bragging really have any power. God's kingdom isn't just a lot of words. It is power. What do you want me to do when I arrive? Do you want me to be hard on you or to be kind and gentle?
*I Corinthians 4.19-21 (CEV)
Paul refers to his own preaching earlier at Corinth as an expression of spiritual power:
I came to you in weakness — timid and trembling. And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.
*I Corinthians 2.3-5 (NLT)
Paul refers to Christ as an expression of power. He speaks of Christ as follows in I Corinthians 1.24: Christ the power of God" (KJV).
The writer of II Timothy 3.5 speaks of times when the Christian religion would be fit with form but lacking spiritual power: "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away" (KJV).
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Weatherhead overstates his case. Certainly, there is nothing wrong with doctrines, creeds, and rites. In themselves these things - these forms - do nothing to hinder the simplicity or power of spiritual life. They can be an important means to actualize Divine Power. Divinity seeks to express in form.
A "form of godliness" is not a problem. A problem is when the form of faith is an embellishment detracting from and obscuring the essence of Truth or when form becomes an object of worship.
As we move closer to Spirit, we need form less. My own journey has been as follows. I had a close relationship to religious form. I rebelled against it. I tolerated it, but did not need it. Last, I experienced form as a way of Divinity personalizing power and beauty in private and public worship.
Still, Weatherhead gives a helpful critique. I see two errant expressions in our society regarding Christian faith. First, much of the church is a functional, mechanistic institution lacking spiritual power. Second, more excitable forms of Christian faith often are little more than acceleration of excited feelings, again lacking spiritual power. One can will oneself to experience apparent spiritual power, but one who discerns can sense into whether the expressions are arising from the body-psyche or the soul-Divinity.
The safest and surest way to spiritual power is a receptivity that neither seeks to avoid Divine manifestation in varying degrees of intensity nor seeks to engender such manifestation out of attachment to empowering experiences.
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This is where the contemplative path comes in. The practices of Christ mysticism are means to authentic spiritual power. The power arises from the soul-Divinity, not the body-psyche. Genuine contemplative practice evolves a relationship with the Sacred that is a palpable manifestation in and through the person.
Do you want to be an expression of spiritual Presence - which is very powerful? Then, surrender and surrender and surrender in Prayer to the Spirit. Do not become emotionally attached to a form of religion. No form in itself is Sacred, and the form is only helpful to the extent form is a means of expression of devotion and receptivity of the Higher Order.
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Worship me through meditation in the sanctuary of the heart.
*Hinduism. Srimad Bhagavatam. 11.5
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Christianity is founded on a humble Nazarene who was a spirit Person, a man who would not fit in the status quo, even if it meant helping save the status quo. He offered no system of theology, dogmatics, creed, or confession of faith. He did not elaborate any sacramental system. Jesus was, and is, a Person of spiritual power, an upsetter of even the sects that claim to follow Him.
QUIETLY RESPONDING
Keep with a daily practice of prayer, meditation, and prayerful silence. Open yourself, in surrender, to the Power of God. Do not attach to any desire to manifest that Power, simply pray to be used as Divine Presence wills. If you surrender, God will use you; if you try to own the energy, you will quench the Spirit. Be a Means of Grace, a living Sacrament of Christ.
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*OneLife Ministries is a ministry of Brian K. Wilcox, of SW Florida. Brian lives a vowed life and with his two dogs, Bandit Ty and St. Francis. Brian is an ecumenical spiritual leader, open to how Christ manifests in the diversity of Christian denominations and varied religious-spiritual traditions. He is Senior Chaplain for the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office, Punta Gorda, FL.
*Brian welcomes responses to his writings or submission of prayer requests at barukhattah@embarqmail.com .
*Contact the above email to book Brian for Spiritual Direction, retreats, or workshops. You can order his book An Ache for Union at major book dealers.
*The quote from Srimad Bhagavatam was found at http://www.unification.net/ws/ on March 29, 2009.
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