According to Love

"If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died." Paul (Romans, 14:15)

In all eras dogmatic prejudices have created victims, and the heirs of Christianity were not missing in this concert of incomprehension.

Even today, the sectarian procedures, although less rigorous in their manifestations, continue to cause heartache and underestimate sentiments.

In another epoch, the students of Judaism provoked violent quarrels in face of the traditions regarding the impure food. Today, we no longer have the problem of carnal sacrifice at the Temple; however, new religious formalities substituted the old motifs of polemics and discord.

There are priests who only consider themselves as missionaries while performing the services that they are competent in, and believers who do not understand the meditation and the service of spiritualization except for the Sunday service, with their prayer just as an exclusive external attitude.

The student that has already succeeded in overcoming such barriers should cooperate in silence in order to extend the benefits of his victory.

It would be absurd to transpose the obstacle and to deliberately continue, in purely conventional demonstrations. It would be, however, lack of charity to hurl insults to the poor persons who are still undergoing mental anguish encountering in themselves, under the idea of a magnificent God.

When you observe a friend who is still prisoner of these illusions, remember that the Master also went to the cross because of him. Place kindness ahead of your analysis and your observation will be constructive and sanctifying. As long as there is understanding in the depths of your soul, you will find infinite resources for assistance, to love and to serve.

XAVIER, Francisco Cândido. Our Daily Bread. By the Spirit Emmanuel. Spititist Alliance for Books, 2003. Chapter 83.