MATTHEW 25-26 12/6/11

Chapter 25 of Matthew offers a different approach to some parables of Jesus: the foolish and wise virgins; the parable of the “Talents”; and the sheep and the goats.

The traditional interpretation of these parables is usually linked to death and judgment. Earlier, Chap. 24 states, “You know neither the day nor the hour. “Watch out, because you do not know what day your Lord will come.” The Son of Man is described “like a thief in the night.”  Pretty scary stuff.

These chapters and parables in NTI are not about fear, death, or judgment at all. They are much more about trust, willingness, and being open to grace and guidance. I believe by changing the focus we are also made aware of the illusory aspects of fear, death, and judgment.

NTI and 

The wise and foolish virgins--Lesson--do not look to the world for your joy and peace. Joy and peace might seem to be there, but the world's joy and peace is not lasting. Seek God whose light never goes out.

The Talents (FYI-”talent” was a type of coin back then, but it is an interesting ‘coincidence.’)--Lesson-- Fear begets fear; pray to see beyond your fear.

The sheep and the goats--Lesson--you have a choice of which of your thoughts you choose to focus on.

In all these lessons, the Holy Spirit says: “Look to me and ask for help. We will sort through the herd (of your thoughts) together. The sheep shall be separated from the goats. The sheep shall last forever, and the goats shall be no more.” 

Chapter 26 follows up on that idea by stating, “With every thought that comes into your mind, you must make a decision: Will I believe this thought and keep it, to will I let this thought go?”

Instead of condemning Judas, NTI looks at him as a symbol of confusion. Judas is a powerful symbol of guilt and fear. The confusion is in thinking guilt and fear is real, and therefore being in need of punishment.

Can you imagine having thoughts like that and simultaneously being aware of the unconditional love of the Father that Jesus channeled to all He touched? At the time, Judas could not get passed his confusion.

In comparison, Peter also seemed to mess up big time, but unlike Judas, he acknowledged his fear, let it move through him and “began the process of forgiveness.”

Chapter 26 is filled with teachings that are quite different from those most of us grew up with. I would encourage you to read the chapter slowly and lovingly. 

If you need a little refresher course of the traditional interpretation of the events, then read over chapter 26 in The New Testament, get a feel for it, and then read NTI again, and see how it feels.

I am not suggesting judging one over the other. Simply notice which one speaks the truth to you, and perhaps offers you a different way of looking at life.

11/30/11 Matthew 22-23

Chapter 22 THE WEDDING FEAST

When I was a kid this parable really freaked me out. There was a person who showed up at the wedding feast without a wedding garment although proper dress was provided for everyone. 

The host asked him why he wasn’t dressed properly. The poor person was just kind of dazed and confused and really didn’t know why he didn’t have the right cloths on. Instead of just gently guiding him to the clothes closet, the king commands his soldiers to “Bind him hand and foot and cst him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Yikes.

I always identified with the poor slob who seemed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, never fit in, and somehow didn’t have a clue what to do next. If that wasn’t bad enough, I was afraid God would lower the boom on me, throw me into the outer darkness, where I would be weeping and gnashing my teeth forever.

I am blessed to get a new view from NTI.

The Wedding Feast described in NTI is a beautiful metaphor for the spiritual journey. “V12 The journey itself, or what seems to happen along its way, matters not.” 14 It is upon arriving that they will realize what they have been invited to attend. 15 Upon that realization, all else will fall away. (11-14) No one who comes will be turned away…

And most important 3 “When God looks at you, God sees you as spotless and ready for the joining.” (You might also want to read Galatians 3(6-9)).

If you forget, think you have lost your way (15-22) “12-13 When you have forgotten you are on the journey, there will seem to be many things that need your attention. I am in those things too, whether you see Me or not, so do them in peace.”

Chapter 23 Theme “Being in the world, but not of it.” (This is not a direct Biblical quote. It is a squeezing together of some ideas expressed in Jn 17; 11-19 in the Old New Testament).

We are encouraged not to ignore or be afraid of the world (1-4) 1-5.

It is suggesting here that we play our roles in life, but not to become too attached to them and remember these roles are not who you are.

For instance, some roles in my life, husband, grandfather, minister, writer, photographer---they are not who I am. I can enjoy all these roles and play them, and give the “purpose of heaven.”

This is our choice (5-12) 3-4 All things within the world serve one of two purposes: They either distract you from Heaven and tie you to the world, or they free you from the world and bring you closer to the awareness of Heaven.”

6 Follow My guidance within the world. I will lead you truly. Give me your confusion ands ask for clarity, Clarity will be given. 

(23,24) 5-7 When you notice guilt in you heart or fear in your mind, focus first on letting to of those feelings. To let go of them tis to let go of the world, for the world is a world of guilt and fear.

When the guilt and fear have passed, give the design to Me. In peace, you shall know what to do.”

You choose what purpose and meaning you give the events in your life. You can give everything you experience the meaning and purpose of healing if you choose.  

(15-25) is a beautiful summary of this whole thing

And there is a great one-liner on p. 52 v4 near the top of the page:

“When you are tried of loss, lack, and suffering, you will give yourself to Me to be made complete.” 

That is very cool.

11/22/11 Matthew 21-22

Reminder: Matthew can be considered a “survey course” for NTI. Each one of the themes will be explored more deeply and in greater detail in the following books. So know that we are not skipping over anything nor are we assuming a limited meaning behind such topics as Oneness, forgiveness, non-judgment, etc.

Please note also that all this teaching is a continual reminder of who you really are--the One Son of God. All these lessons, no matter what the specific topic, are ways of either reminding you of who you really are or an offering of help to let go of any falsehoods that are getting in the way of the Truth.

Matthew 21

(from p. 6 of the text “The New Testament is a symbol, just as you are a symbol, and the words I share through you are a symbol. What they point to is the Truth.”) 

By this we are encouraged to continually be open to the guidance of the Spirit to tell us what something (anything) means. When we start putting meaning on ideas, we are limiting them. 

These next few chapters of Mathew are commentaries on the Old New Testament. I would encourage you to read these chapters in the original to give yourself a feel for the old message and its new interpretation.

OK now for Chapter 21

“The donkey is a symbol.” This is a great example of symbol. You think you know what it means; you think you know what other people think it means, yet it is suggested we let go of what we think it means, and open to completely letting go of expectations. (Who would have expected the “savior of the world” enter the capitol of his country riding on a donkey?) 

How do your expectations ambush you; set you up? 

We are both the money changers and the temple. How can you learn from each of those symbols?

Notice when you are right on purpose (recognizing and reinforcing your Oneness), and when you are distracted and off purpose?

Much of the rest of this chapter focuses on the theme of “differences.” Differences are simply another way of saying, judgment or thoughts of separateness. (Notice too, how our expectations can and do produce thoughts of separateness and judgment.)

Chapter 22 is one of those chapters that contains the WHOLE STORY in one concise piece. Here the story of grace/salvation/and return to Oneness (which you never really left) is detailed in the metaphor/symbol of the wedding feast.

COMING UP Matthew 23 “Being in the world and not of it.”

Matthew 24 “How the world sees and how the Spirit sees.”

These themes will continue. To avoid repetition, I would encourage you to be open to any questions or comments that might come up around these ideas.

11/15/11 MATTHEW 19-21

NTI STUDY OF MATTHEW 19-21

Mt. 19(1-6) 1 “it is not what you do that is important, but why you do it.”

See also 5(33-37); 23(5-6)

Obviously an important concept.

The concept of joining encompasses becoming one with; we might even align this idea with the Atonement (at-one-ment) spoken of in ACIM.

Major themes

Letting go of the world: the world is a “place” of impermanence and change so it cannot be the truth since the truth never changes. 

One of the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism is that, “All suffering comes from attachment.” One of the reasons is that we become attached to that which is changeable and impermanent, but we do not want it to be changeable; we want it to stay the same. So we are bound to suffer.

You probably notice how “sticky” all that can be.

Letting go of the world is freedom. In this case letting go of the “world of differences.” p.39 (7-9)

We will continue to explore this idea of “the world.” 

There are several sections to refer to here: Mt. 19 (7-9)(22-24)(27-30)

You also might want to check out Galatians 3 (21,22).

[While you are at Galatians 3 I would also suggest you read (6-9). It is a little off the subject, but it is one of my favorite passages.]

Guidance. I know for me being open to guidance is a continual effort. 

As I enter into the day, I become someone who is very busy with all sorts of things to do. Notice, I forget I am the One Son of God open to continual guidance from the Spirit. Of course, as soon as I forget who I am, it is difficult for me to hear the guidance or even know it is there.

I believe the guidance is always here, but I have to be “tuned into” the proper channel to hear it.

“Thinking for yourself is not the way to understanding, for it is your self you must lay aside. And so it is your thoughts you must lay aside. They are but thoughts of confusion. Believe not in what you think. 

P. 35 bottom of the page

“You are lost and you do not know” p.39 (7-9) 6

∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆

Chapter 20 explores the enigmatic parable of the workers in the vineyard. You can check out the original version if you like. The abbreviated version is: a man hired workers early in the day and promised to pay them a very fair wage. As the day progressed the owner of the vineyard kept hiring more and more people even hiring some an hour before quitting time.

He paid these last people first, giving them the same wage that he had promised those he hired at the beginning of the day. The people who worked all day long were quite upset; they thought they should have gotten more.

The many times I have read this parable, I agreed with the guys who worked all day. If I were one of them, I wold have been pretty annoyed myself.

But NTI flips the whole thing around and states, “There are not many, there is only One.” Well, if there is only One, there is no more argument, there is no loss of fairness, there is no comparison, and no complaints.

In 19 and 21 we are again offered the injunction of “becoming as little children.” We spoke of how babies, just by their nature exude love; how younger kids are open to guidance, and how children can so often be DELIGHTED by what is happening around them. You can see it in their eyes. It doesn’t have to be a toy, it could be a bubble, a firefly, the car going over a bump, getting splashed with some water, or practically anything at all.

When was the last time you were DELIGHTED?

Next week our focus will be on Mt. 23.

Peace and Delight!

11/8/11 Focus on Mt. 16-18

MATTHEW 16-18 

 It seems to me that we could consider the book of Matthew as a “survey course” through the whole of the teachings of NTI. All the basic themes are introduced and all will be explored at more depth in later chapters. Matthew gives us a “taste” of each of these which leaves me hungering for more. 

Chapter 16 is a good example of how Matthew covers many points in a small amount of space: death and the world are not real; be committed and diligent in your search; face your fear and doubt, let it rise up to be released; there is no such thing as separateness; willingness is the key; the Holy Spirit’s work cannot fail; the Christ is within; you must choose what you focus on.

The following is a short list of comparative choices we have as described in NTI: 

Love and fear 

Light and darkness 

Willingness and resistance 

Life and death 

Awake and asleep 

Aware and unconscious 

Purpose: Heart or world 

Truth and illusion 

Oneness and separateness 

Healed and unhealed 

Real and unreal 

A very simple question from NTI sums up most of our work. What do you choose to focus on? (Luke 4(14-30) 3-6

In Mt. 16(25) we are told that nothing on the right side of that chart is real or true! 

Chapter 16 Everything we see is a symbol. (for those of you who are very adventurous you might want to check out what is called Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, which gives a fascinating description of the world we think we see). We are cautioned not to attempt to figure out what everything means, but to ask for help and guidance (this asking for help and guidance is essential ALWAYS AND IN EVERY SITUATION). 

Some other themes that are introduced: forgiveness; the ego’s fear of letting go; the continuing help and gentle guidance of Spirit (Mt. 17(6-8) and (9-13).

Chapter 18 continues with a reinforcement of some of these ideas: let go of who you think you are; “Ask Me in all things and leave all things to Me”; although you might feel resistance, do not fight it or judge it, which just gives it more energy, let go, give your heart to Spirit and resistance “passes on to nothingness.” 

 For next time, I suggest you look over the next few chapters. 

 Peace, Gerry

11/1/11 FOCUS ON MATTHEW 15

Some notable differences between NTI and what I lovingly refer to as the Old New Testament: The New Testament as we know it today has gone through many translations, and historically, even the earliest of books were written long after Jesus was in physical form. Each evangelist had his own particular focus on what he was writing since each one wrote for a different “audience.” 

It also seems to me that what we call Christianity today is much more the religion of Paul rather than Jesus.

Anyway, the message many of us received was that we are broken, unworthy sinners and that God sent His Son to redeem us, even though we are not worth it, and we should be ever groveling grateful, and at the same time live in fear that God is going to get you.

All of this greatly conflicts with the Truth that God is Love, but since many of us have grown up in an atmosphere of fear, we  are much more used to being afraid than being loved.

NTI brings us the message of the Holy Spirit which tells us over and over, WE ARE  ONE. There is no separateness, therefore there is no sin (you did nothing wrong/you could not), therefore there is no guilt, therefore there is nothing to fear.

The Holy Spirit cannot fail in bringing you home.(Well, you already are home, so let me put it this way, The Holy Spirit cannot fail in convincing you that you never left home in the first place).

OK onto chap. 15

(1-9) 1 ...it is not what you do that is important, but why you do it.” see also Mt. 5(33-37); 23(25,26)

You might also want to check the index in the back under the topic of Guidance.

Very consoling thought. Many of us grew up with the mistaken notion that, “Hell is paved with good intentions.” That one screwed me up for a long time. There were many things I did with loving intentions that turned out pretty crappy, and because the results were not productive that seemed to negate any of the love that might have been involved.

This statement in Matthew corrects that false idea.

I was reminded of a quote from the early Christian mystic Augustine, “Love God and do as you please.” (Notice that the ego can run wild with that one, but if you sit with it in the quiet of your heart you can see that it is not saying, “Go ahead and do anything you damn well please.” It is saying, “Go ahead and do anything and everything from Love, which is God and all things.”

I still need to chew on that one for a while.

Added to our list of distinctions is a new one Eternal and temporal, that which exists forever and is unchangeable and that which exists within time and therefore is changing all the time.

The temporal is not bad, we are simply cautioned not to become attached to it or make it more important than it is.

(If you are interested in following the story of the Canaanite woman, you can read the original in the Old New Testament Mt. 15; 21-28 and Mark 7 24-30, AND you can also check out a more detailed story in NTI Mark 7(24-30).

The continuing message through out the chapter is to focus on the Spirit, focus on the eternal, that which never changes, and the last paragraph is also quiet consoling (29-39).

I Believe when the Spirit speaks of focusing on Him, He is also saying, “Focus on Love.”

There were a couple of times during our reading when I was reminded of that beautiful prayer of Thomas Merton in Thoughts in Solitude:

MY LORD GOD, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore I will trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

Next week, Chap. 16ff

GATHERING #8 10/25/11

Gathering #8   10/26/11

Final lines of the Zen poem the Hsin-hsin Ming:

“Words!

The Way is beyond language, for in it there is no yesterday, no tomorrow, no today.”

“Those who know, do not speak. Those who speak, do not know.”

                                                                       -Lao Tzu

So here I am chattering away!

Quick review: NTI and ACIM will focus on some major themes again and again.

I feel it is important to keep these in mind, as it is easy to get lost in thoughts, speculations, “trying” to discover the meaning of things, and even being right!

Continually being aware of the Truth being expressed can help keep me on track.

ONENESS--we are One with God, always.

There is no separation, never was. Any thought of separation is untrue.

From Mt. 7 (1-5) 1Judgment is like a knife that cuts the Son of God into pieces, for what you judge as separate from you is seen as separate, and so it cannot be seen as one.

The emphasis here is on NON-JUDGMENT, letting go of judgment.

Because we still might fall into judgment, the Holy Spirit created the correction  of FORGIVENESS, including SELF-FORGIVENESS

SURRENDER, although the process is expressed in many ways, it is essentially letting God be God in you and with you.

********************

Chapter 13

MATTHEW CHAPTER 13 IS VERY JUICY. WE COULD PROBABLY SPEND A FEW MONTHS ON THIS CHAPTER ALONE.

I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO MARK IT OFF AND READ IT OVER SEVERAL TIMES. PERHAPS READ IT ONCE A WEEK AND NOTICE WHAT DIFFERENT THINGS YOU PICK AND STAND OUT FOR YOU.

I call your attention to a few key verses towards the end of Chapter 13.

(36-43) 1-2 I could not help but have the image of the Prodigal Son here with the realization that he never left home. His seeming journey into selfishness, addiction, poverty was a dream. He never left the Father’s Home; he never left the Father’s love. He could not. He just believed the impossible could be true for a while until “he came back to his senses” and came back home (came back to the Truth that never changes).

7-12 We choose, God cannot choose for us, but once the choice is made in favor of Truth, then Truth, the Holy Spirit takes over. (Again, let us realize the HS is the truth of who we are).

And even more consoling (47-50) 4-6 and (53-58) 6The HS will even help us make the choice if we are willing.

ACIM put is this way: “If you are willing to renounce the guardianship of your thought system and open it to ME, I will correct it and gently lead you home.”

Chapter 14

This chapter begins to introduce the idea that fear is what keeps us from “joining with God.”

We are reminded again, “it is you who must overcome it”(your fear).

What I get here is that the Holy Spirit recognizes we have fear, but cannot take it away from us because it is an illusion. So it is up to us to recognize fear as illusion so that we can let it go.

The catch is that by focusing on fear, I seem to give it more substance.

So what do we do? 

We have a choice of what we focus on. I can focus on the strength, wisdom, love of the Holy Spirit that is always with me or I can focus on fear.

By focusing on the spirit, I give less and less energy to fear (to illusions).

As my awareness of my Oneness with Spirit increases my fear of “joining with God” becomes less and less and less and less important, until I realize fear was a big joke to begin with. 

For next gathering read over Chap. 15--explore the concept “it is not what you do but why you do it that’s important.” How does that apply to your life?