Saying For Today: And in some sense the early followers of Jesus experienced that, in a way mysterious and beyond words, Jesus - his essence and Life -, was with them in a Resurrection Relationship that changed them, forever.
Welcome to OneLife Ministries, an online, interspiritual-integral ministry of Arem Nahariim-Samadhi and Love Light Fellowship. This site is here to lead you into a heart experience of Divine Presence, Who is Love. We recognize that of the Sacred in each one and celebrate the diversity of expressions of our Oneness in Grace. We are for peace and nonviolence, and equal rights and justice for all. I hope persons of varied wisdom paths will find inspiration here. Welcome!
Blessings, Arem Nahariim-Samadhi, MDiv, MFT, PhD
Vowed Contemplative, Greenbough House of Prayer Interspiritual Teacher, Author, Chaplain, Spiritual Counselor-Healer
You are invited to join Arem at Love Light Fellowship on Facebook.
We Share One Life, We Are One Life
Faith Affirmation of Love Light Fellowship
An Interspiritual-Interfaith Life Community For Worship, Friendship, Spiritual Guidance, and Training in Living the Way of the Heart
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We live off the Word of God, and that Word is before any holy books were written; This is the Word before all words, and by which all words are judged true or false. This Word arises, also, within our Heart, in the Silence of surrender to Grace...
Today's Scripture
11But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; 12and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. 13They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). 17Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her.
*John 20.11-18 (NRSV)
Entering the Inner Sanctuary
Enter this sanctuary time by settling down, becoming quiet, and breathing deeply a few breaths. Remind yourself you are in the Presence of Love. This place you are entering, within, is the inner Temple. Here, you are One with Spirit and all persons, and Nature. You may use a mantra, or prayer phrase, follow the breathing in-and-out, or witness the arising and falling of all around you as the manifestation of universal-Grace. Enjoy these moments of Quiet and come out when you are ready. The following video is provided, for those who would like meditative music to accompany your Quiet contemplation:
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Mary Magdalene, in the garden of Resurrection, is enlightened, awakened, converted to the new Reality of Christ. She calls him "Sir," thinking him the gardener. Later, she addresses him as "Teacher!"
The transitional point for Mary is being directly addressed by the resurrected Christ. Writes Thomas Keating, in The Mystery of Christ:
“Jesus manifests his knowledge of everything in her life and his total acceptance of all that she is. … The simple utterance of one word, “Mary!” brought to focus all her longings. … Thus, the same relationship with the Father that Christ enjoys is rising up in Mary Magdalene ~ and in each of us as we assimilate the grace of Easter.”
Is not a true, spiritual being in Christ one who is being infused with the grace of Easter? Does this not defy religious and political sects ~ all sects ~ seeking to own this grace and withhold it from the ones they judge as "unchosen" or "unfit"?
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The writer and composer Alfred Ackley heard these words: "Why should I worship a dead Jew?" This challenging question was presented to him in 1932 by a young, sincere Jewish man who had been attending evangelistic services held by Ackley in California.
The question played on the mind of Ackley as he prepared his Easter Sunday message. Rising early to prepare for the day, he turned on the radio as he shaved and was astonished to hear a famous preacher in New York say: "Good morning ~ it’s Easter! You know, folks, it really doesn’t make any difference to me if Christ be risen or not. As far as I’m concerned, His body could be dust in some Palestinian tomb. The main thing is, His truth goes marching on!"
Ackley wanted to fling the radio across the room, and he exclaimed, "It’s a lie!" His wife rushed into the bathroom, asking, "Why are you shouting so early in the morning?" "Didn’t you hear what the good-for-nothing preacher said?" Ackley replied.
That morning, Ackley preached with great vigor on the truth of the Resurrection of Christ, but later that night he was still thinking about the question his friend posed and the radio sermon. "Listen here, Alfred Ackley," his wife said at last. "It’s time you did that which you can do best. Why don’t you write a song about it and, then, maybe you’ll feel better?"
Ackley went to his study, opened his Bible, and re-read the Resurrection story from the Gospel of Mark. A thrill went through him, and he began writing the words to "He Lives." A few minutes later, he was at the piano putting it to music. It has been a favorite of evangelical churches since.
Ackley commented later: "The thought of His ever-living presence brought the music promptly and easily."
(1) I serve a risen Savior, He's in the world today; I know that he is living, whatever men may say; I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer, And just the time I need Him He's always near.
(2) In all the world around me I see His loving care, And though my heart grows weary I never will despair; I know that He is leading through all the stormy blast The day of His appearing will come at last.
(3) Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian, lift up your voice and sing Eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ the King! The Hope of all who seek Him, the Help of all who find, None other is so loving, so good and kind.
(Chorus)
He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me and talks with me along life's narrow way. He lives, He lives, salvation to impart! You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.
This is to Easter. Living a life enjoying a certainty that He lives, indeed lives within your heart.
This does not mean one has to be a "Christian." This does not mean that one has to believe in a physical resurrection of Jesus - though I do believe in that. This means one connects with the Reality of the Life of Christ. This eternal, infinite Word, prior to Jesus, manifested in Jesus in the 1st Century. And in some sense the early followers of Jesus experienced that, in a way mysterious and beyond words, Jesus - his essence and Life -, was with them in a Resurrection Relationship that changed them, forever.
Blessed Easter, Every Day, All Year!
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The Essence of LOVE-Mysticism is to look "within," to find there the Light of G-D That is in Everyone...
* * * CLOSING BLESSING * * *
The Sacred in Me bows to the Sacred in You
*Arem Nahariim-Samadhi and Love Light Ministries. 04/23/11
