It Would Be Useless
"He answered: I have told you already, and you did not listen: Why do you want to hear it again?" (John, 9:27)
Very frequently, the main preoccupation of many religious people is the idea of forcefully transforming their friends into agreeing with their personal convictions. They usually persist in long and annoying discussions, in an incessant play of words, without achieving a healthy and edificating point.
The sincere heart renovated in faith does not proceed in this manner.
It is indispensable to diffuse this false pride of superiority that infests the sentiment in a great number of students. As soon as they reach new avenues of knowledge, in the gradual revelation of the divine wisdom, the debaters with evil inclinations are intent on hindering and interrupting their progress.
The reply of the blind man from birth to the astute and inquiring Jews plays an active role for the sincere disciples.
Logically, the follower of Jesus will not refuse an explanation regarding the Master, but, if he has already explained the subject matter, and tried to benefit the closest brother with the values that make him happy without achieving the other's understanding, why pursue it further? If a man heard the truth but did not understand it, he has all the evident signs of an individual displaying spiritual paralysis. It will be useless, therefore, for him to continue listening to continuous repetitions; because, no one can deceive time, and the wise man that challenges the ignorant person would be referred to as an insensitive fool.
Therefore, do not waste your precious hours on minute and repetitive elucidation with someone who is incapable of understanding them, before he is overtaken by the sun, the rain, the fire, and the water of experience.
You have a thousand resources with which to work, in favor of your friend, without inducing him to conform to your way of thinking and to your faith.
XAVIER, Francisco Cândido. Our Daily Bread. By the Spirit Emmanuel. Spititist Alliance for Books, 2003. Chapter 37.
To the End
"But he who stands firm to the end, will be saved." Jesus (Matthew, 24:13)
Here we do not see Jesus referring to an end, which could symbolize termination, but rather as finality, an aim, and an objective.
The Gospel shall be preached to the people so that each one can understand and achieve the superior goals of life.
It is for this reason that only those incarnates that know how to persevere are able to break the bud of animalistic conditions.
When the Master applauded persistence, He was demonstrating the arduous tasks of those striving to achieve the excellence of the spiritual path.
It is essential to eliminate those false notions of gratuitous favors from the Divinity.
No one will be able to flee with impunity from the respective effort required of him for his task toward personal perfection.
The doors of Heaven remain wide open. They have never been closed. Nonetheless, in order for the individual to elevate to such heights, he requires wings of love and wisdom. For this purpose, the Supreme Being confers extensive copies of merciful material to all His children; but He also confers to each one the obligation of carving them. Such a task, however, requires tremendous effort. In order to finalize the goal, the contribution of days and lifetimes are recruited. Many persons become disenchanted preferring to remain stationary for centuries in the labyrinth of inferiority; however, the good workers know how to persevere until finally achieving the divine objectives of the terrestrial path, continuing the sublime trajectory toward perfection.
XAVIER, Francisco Cândido. Our Daily Bread. By the Spirit Emmanuel. Spititist Alliance for Books, 2003. Chapter 36.
An Active Christ
"For God who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews was also at work in my ministry as an apostle of the Gentiles." Paul (Galatians, 2:8)
Human vanity always pretentiously maintained the Christ within sectarian religious circles; however, Jesus continues His activities wherever the principle of righteousness flourishes.
Within all the avenues of terrestrial evolution, in sanctuaries and in academies, we see the presence of restless beginners, the false believers, and unfortunate fanatics who light the spark in the bonfire of opinions and maintain them. In spite of this, men of true faith come forth surging as sacred vehicles of the active Christ.
Simon Peter centralized all the Evangelical tasks of the emerging Gospel, readjusting the aspirations of the chosen people.
Paul of Tarsus was a powerful magnet in the renovation of the gentiles.
Through both, the Master expressed Himself with a sole objective: the perfecting of human beings for the Divine Kingdom.
It is now time to recognize the light of those eternal truths.
Jesus continues to work and His infinite mercy is revealed wherever love is erected toward the supreme ideal.
No one should feel victim to the unjust complaints accusing the sincere and devoted disciples of retaining divine privileges. Let each student make every effort to establish the propitious atmosphere on behalf of the manifestations of the Father and His emissaries. Work, study, serve, and help others always, in search of the superior spheres, and you will feel the active Christ, at your side, engaged in everyday activities.
XAVIER, Francisco Cândido. Our Daily Bread. By the Spirit Emmanuel. Spititist Alliance for Books, 2003. Chapter 35.
A Quiet Place
"He said to them: Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." (Mark, 6:31)
The exhortation of Jesus to the companions is of singular importance to the disciples of the Gospel in all epochs.
It is indispensable to learn about the "quiet place " in which the Master awaits the students for the constructive repose in His love.
In this precious symbol we find the intimate sanctuary of the heart, thirsty for the divine light.
At no time did the Lord make reference to the locations of solitude that would be conducive to meditation, where one could customarily encounter vivid reflections of human nature. He was referring to the silent chamber situated within our own selves.
Furthermore, we cannot forget that the spirit thirsting for divine union upon emerging into a superior idealism encounters itself disturbed, in profound isolation in the world, in spite of being of daily service, and in conformance with the infallible plan from on High.
In the secret temple of the soul, Jesus Christ awaits us, in order to reinvigorate our exhaustive strength.
Men initiated the search for a "quiet place" choosing the shelter of monasteries or of rustic areas; however, the teaching of the Savior is not located in the external world.
Prepare yourself to serve in the Divine Kingdom, in the city or in the field, in any season, and do not seek senseless rest, convinced that, quite often immobility of the body is torture for the soul. Before anything else, seek to discover, within you, that distinct "quiet place" where you will find rest in the company of the Master.
XAVIER, Francisco Cândido. Our Daily Bread. By the Spirit Emmanuel. Spititist Alliance for Books, 2003. Chapter 34.
Let Us Also Work
"Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you." (Acts, 14:15)
The cries of Paul and Barnabe to this day resound amidst the faithful students.
The Christian family quite often has desired to perpetuate the illusion of the inhabitants of Lystra.
The missionaries of the Revelation do not possess privileges regarding the services they have to accomplish. The achievements that we could bring to mind as grace or special prerogatives only express a most profound effort on their part to learn and to put the teachings into practice, together with Jesus.
Christ did not found a Doctrine involving gods and devotees, individually separated. He created a vigorous system of spiritual transformation for the supreme good, destined to all hearts thirsting for light, love and truth.
In the Gospel we perceive Magdalene dragging painful deceptions, Paul, pursuing ideals of salvation, Peter, denying the Divine Friend, Mark, battling in his own hesitations; but, even at that point, we contemplate the daughter of Magdala renewed and pursuing a redeeming path, the great persecutor converted into a messenger of the Glad Tidings, the fragile disciple being conducted to the spiritual glory, and the hesitant companion transformed into an evangelist for the entire human race.
Christianity is the blessed fountain for the restoration of the soul for God.
The error committed by many apprentices stems from the idolatry in which they become involved around the valiant exponent of living faith, who accept in the sacrifice the true formula for spiritual evolvement; they imagine them in fanciful thrones bowing at their feet, feeling confused, inept, and miserable, overlooking the fact that the Father concedes the required energy for a successful victory to all His children.
Logically, we should all pay respect to and love the great representatives of the Christian path; on the other hand, we cannot forget that Paul and Peter, as were many others, originated from the human weaknesses toward the celestial gifts, and, that the terrestrial Planet is a school of illumination, power, and triumph, any time that we seek to understand its great mission.
XAVIER, Francisco Cândido. Our Daily Bread. By the Spirit Emmanuel. Spititist Alliance for Books, 2003. Chapter 33.
