All These Things

I have shared in recent posts that “Love – The Religion of Jesus” is my Lenten theme this year, both for my blog posts and my Sunday lessons at Unity Spiritual Center Denver. As I have said previously, with this theme in mind I am reading many of Jesus’ teachings through a different lens, and I am discovering a new perspective from which to embrace them. The following is my attempt to express new insights gained as I read and meditated on a familiar Scripture this morning.

I have frequently used the following Scripture as a basis for written and spoken lessons. As I pondered it today, I felt some discomfort as I realized that my previous understanding of it seemed shallow.

 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear? For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” – Matthew 6: 25 – 33 NRSV

I fear that my personal interpretation of New Thought teaching has given me a perspective that is overly focused on individualism. I am not suggesting that is the intention of New Thought teaching, rather that I have approached it as that. My assumption is that I am not alone. It seems that many of us have done our best to apply the “science of the mind” and the “power of thought” teaching to creating the lives that we want, to manifesting our hearts’ desires, and satisfying our needs. We have taken Jesus’ teachings and interpreted them predominantly for our personal gain.

I am not implying that personal application is not an aspect of the teaching, rather that it is not the ultimate purpose to which Jesus was pointing. Applying the teachings of Jesus to ourselves and learning first-hand the power we possess to manifest in this dimension is essential in our spiritual and human evolutionary process. It is vital to recognize that it is a phase in the process, not the culmination. I am encouraging us to open to the possibility that it is time for us to develop beyond this phase and embrace the broader perspective of the master teacher.

As I read the Scripture today through the lens of “Love – The Religion of Jesus,” I heard his words as a call, not only to awaken to our power of manifestation, but also to the collective vision of the Kingdom of God demonstrated here and now in this time and place upon this planet and in this world.

Jesus is calling us to a higher vision, a vision of what is possible for all. He is asking us to move beyond focusing solely on our individual wants and desires and to hold the vision of sufficiency, equality, and justice for all creation.

Reverend Bruce Sanguin, in his book The Emerging Church, captures the essence of what Jesus was referring to when he talked about the “Kingdom of God.” He says,

“[Jesus’] mission is summarized in a single metaphor – the kingdom of God…I suggest that we drop the “g” and change it to kin-dom of God, reflecting the biological and spiritual truth of evolution that everything derives from common stock.

The metaphor suggests an ethic that reverses cultural norms: the last are first and the first last; the poor are lifted up and the rich sent away empty; the persecuted are blessed; rulers are servants; the well-being of the soul, not the size of one’s bank account, defines the person; true wealth consists not of accumulating money but in allocating it; spiritual wisdom, not political power is the hidden treasure; the humble, not the high and mighty, have access to wisdom; non-violence, not redemptive violence, is God’s way. God’s kin-dom makes for a topsy-turvy life.”

We manifest the Kingdom, or “Kin-dom,” not simply by envisioning it and praying for it, but by taking action toward demonstrating it. It will not happen miraculously, if we think of a miracle as a sudden occurrence that defies natural laws. It will only come when the hearts and minds of humanity awaken to our unity; embrace the vision; and work together to bring it about. When we come together and work toward demonstrating that world, all of our needs will be met, both individually and collectively.

Unity cofounder, Charles Fillmore said,

“If the “kingdom of heaven,” to which Jesus referred, is a city with golden streets in the skies, he could have easily located it; but he did nothing of the kind. On the contrary, he again and again gave illustrations to show his listeners that it is a desirable condition which can be brought about among them by the power of the Spirit.”

Jesus also taught, “It is the Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom” (Luke 12:32). My hope and prayer is that we will embrace the vision and awaken to the present possibility of the Kingdom that Jesus said is already prepared for us (Matthew 25:34). It is awaiting our recognition of it and our willingness to realize it. Now is the time and we are the ones who have the power to bring it into demonstration. Let us be the ones to answer the call and truly live “Love – the Religion of Jesus.”

Join us on Sunday at 10:00 for our service as I share my lesson, “All These Things.” We will explore what we allow to get in the way of our realization of God’s Kin-dom on the Earth and what we can do to move through it.