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

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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!