"... if you believe in me, that changes everything..."

And think not you can guide the course of love. For love, if it finds you worthy, shall guide your course.

*Kahlil Gibran

For God's loving kindness has been shown us, bringing spiritual healing to all people.

*Titus 2.11

In "The Christian Reader," Paul Francisco writes the following childhood remembrance:

When I was a child, our church celebrated the Lord's Supper every first Sunday of the month. At that service, the offering plates were passed twice: before the sermon for regular offerings, and just prior to Communion for benevolences. My family always gave to both, but they passed a dime to me to put in only the regular offering.

One Communion Sunday when I was nine, my mother, for the first time, gave me a dime for the benevolence offering also. A little later when the folks in our pew rose to go to the Communion rail, I got up also. "You can't take Communion yet," Mother told me. "Why not?" I said. "I paid for it!"

* * *

The Divine Economy, unlike the economies of this world, is based on undeserved kindness, or grace. The English "grace" has a Latin root meaning "pleasing quality, favor, thanks." Divine Grace communicates something given that can imply graciousness, gratitude, or thanksgiving. Generally, we consider Divine Grace as undeserved love, or unearned kindness.

Grace theologically is an expression of the Being of Divinity. Grace is not just something given, as though separate from the Loving Mystery; Grace is a quality offered of the essence of Divine Being.

Spirit being present is Grace being present. The Light cannot withhold Grace, for the Light cannot withhold Itself from us. Spirit is Self-Effulgent Love. For the Divine Presence to withhold Grace would introduce a contradiction into the Divine Substance, Being Who is Harmony.

To pray "Come, God" is the same as "Come, Grace." We, however, being free moral-agents, can and do, resist this unconditional Kindness. In resisting Grace, we resist Spirit, in whatever form Grace offers Itself to us.

Like Paul Francisco when a little boy, we can assume that we deserve something of Spirit, for we have "paid" for it. Then, of course, we judge others whom we decide are "unworthy" or have "not earned" it.

The mystical dimension of the Christ Gospel is most a challenge for it introduces us to transcendence of both deserving and not deserving. In Silence we prayerfully receive Presence and the Loving Kindness eternally given to everyone out of Divine Love. Divine Love gives neither because we earn or do not earn. In Christ Intimacy, a mystical oneness with God, the thought of "I deserve this ... " or "I do not deserve this ... " is not even a thought. See, consciousness of duality leaves you with either "I earn" or "I do not earn." Notice, both is still about ~ Guess who? ~ I. Remove the "either" and you simply have Grace.

Forget about earning or not altogether in regard to the Divine Economy, if you wish to live in sublime intimacy with Love. Simply receive. Respond in Love to Love. Truly, your deserving or not is of no consequence, ultimately; what is of ultimate consequence is for you so to forget your sense of merit or not as to abandon yourself wholly to God and let the sacred Spirit work Her work within you, in and by Grace.

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 Fellowship (5.29.11). Arem is available to respond to requests pertaining to seeking a Spiritual Director, his speaking, doing classes, workshops, or retreats for groups. For questions pertaining to these ministries, or other matters you wish to write Arem about, see Arem on Facebook at Arem Nahariim-Samadhi.