In observance of Lent this year, I chose to explore the daily lessons in the book, Keep a True Lent, by Unity cofounder Charles Fillmore. I was inspired to offer these lessons on Facebook and YouTube so those who desire to do so can join me. I admit that after committing to it, I had second thoughts about it. Forty days of daily virtual sessions! What was I thinking?
Now that I am into it, I am so glad that I followed Spirit’s guidance. It is proving to be a source of inspiration and reconnection for me, and I hope for others, as well. If you have not been following along, you can join at any time. You may also go back and view the previous lessons on our Facebook page or YouTube channel.
Each of the lessons includes a suggested Scripture reading and a short lesson from Mr. Fillmore. I have especially enjoyed reflecting on the metaphysical interpretation of the Scripture lessons, as well as connecting with the deeper meaning in Mr. Fillmore’s teachings.
I have been, once again, reminded of the powerful lessons of embodying our divinity and living our humanity that we can learn from studying the life of Jesus and his teachings. I share here some of the insights I have gleaned from these daily readings and lessons.
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Further, Jesus’ time in the wilderness is traditionally interpreted as his confrontation with and eventual victory over an external force for evil, ‘Satan.’ In Unity we teach that there is no force for evil, but that what we call “evil” is the out picturing of our belief in separation from God.
Mr. Fillmore said that ‘Satan’ is “a state of mind formed by man's personal ideas of his power and completeness and sufficiency apart from God.” ¹ When we reflect on Jesus’ time in the wilderness from a metaphysical perspective, we understand that it represents our willingness to engage with and integrate those personal ideas that would separate us from our Truth. It is an illustration, once again, of a process that happens through us, one that we consciously undertake to embrace our wholeness.
Jesus’ ministry illustrates the ways our lives reflect how we choose to view and interact with the world. We can allow ourselves to be controlled by the subconscious and unconscious myths, messages, and beliefs, and ride the waves of turmoil that often ensue. Or we can claim our dominion over them as Jesus demonstrated and say, “Peace, be still.” We can choose to own our power, stand in our Truth, and not be buffeted by the storms of the past.
We can allow ourselves to become paralyzed by fear, pain, resentment, or anger, most often stemming from attachments to our judgments of the past, either of ourselves or another. Or we can choose to claim forgiveness for ourselves and others as Jesus demonstrated.
When he spoke the words, “Your sins are forgiven, take up your bed and walk” to the paralyzed man, he was not providing a dispensation. He was stating a truth. What we call ‘sin’ is a misperception born from a belief in separation. No other labels need be attributed to it.
Forgiveness is not something we do for another, nor something that happens to us. Forgiveness is something that happens through us. It requires a conscious choice to clearly see the truth of ourselves and all others. When we awaken to our divine nature, when we know ourselves as the Christ, we know it for all.
When Jesus told the woman who touched the hem of his robe and was healed of twelve years of hemorrhaging, “Your faith has made you whole” he was making a statement of truth. He was not the source of her healing. She was healed because of her willingness to consciously exercise the power of faith. She was willing to open herself to see beyond the limitations of the physical eyes. She was able to perceive that which exists beyond the capacity of our physical senses to perceive.
She opened her heart and mind to the essence of life itself and in doing so, she experienced a return to the natural flow of life through her being. It was not because she touched his robe that she was healed. Faith is not something we acquire; it is something we choose to apply from within. Results are not something awarded by an outside source based on our actions. As we live from faith, through faith, results are a manifestation of connection with our spiritual Truth.
Embodying the spirit of Jesus not only calls us to a life of conscious choice and awareness, but also to a life of compassion, conviction, and courage. Jesus shows compassion for those who are suffering. In his presence, the sick were healed, the lame walked, the blind began to see, and the demons were cast out. He did it all without joining in the suffering. He stood in his truth as the Christ and responded from that consciousness.
We, too, are called to meet the needs of the world with compassion from the consciousness of truth. We are not called to join the suffering, but to stand with those who are suffering and do all we can to help meet their needs and assist them in claiming the truth for themselves.
We need not look far to see that there are many of our brothers and sisters who are suffering and in need. In her song, All the Good, singer-songwriter Jana Stanfield says it well, “I cannot do all the good that the world needs, but the world needs all the good that I can do.” Jesus did attempt to heal all the suffering in the world, but he responded to the need he witnessed.
Jesus also exampled a life of conviction and courage. He spoke out against the abuses of those in power in the church, as well as in the government. He stood up against the religious and societal elite who profited at the expense of the common people. He challenged the corruption of the temple priests and scribes. He dared to walk among and even touch the lepers, those whom others shunned. He spoke to the woman at the well, which was considered unacceptable at the time. Although they were often considered to be less-than fully human in his culture, Jesus called the children to him and blessed them. He welcomed the Gentiles and Samaritans who were unacceptable to the Jews. He stood for Truth even when he knew his life was in danger for doing it.
Embodying the spirit of Jesus, challenges us to courageously stand in our power and speak truth to those in power. There are many societal, financial and governmental structures in the world today that support the abuse of power and the exploitation of many people. We must be willing to stand up for truth, justice and equality for all.
We are not all called to surrender our physical lives for the sake of our conviction as depicted in the Jesus story. As we follow the example of our way shower, Jesus, we are asked to claim our divine essence, engage in practices that solidify our realization of it, and to do our utmost best to live in integrity with it. Each of us is responsible for and to our own awakening.
I invite us to ask ourselves, “If not me, who? If not now, when?” Now is the time; We are the ones.
¹Metaphysical Bible Dictionary
I to was drawn to Unity because of the metaphysical interpretation of the Bible that I had grown up with. I resonate and am connected by the conscious effort to understand. Thank you for the Fillmore lenten lessons.
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