Dear Friends and Donors,
Richard Rohr’s Daily Meditation, The Kingdom as Consciousness
Jesus uses one particular phrase repeatedly: “the Kingdom of Heaven.” You can easily confirm this yourself by a quick browse through the gospels; the words jump out at you from everywhere…
So, what do we take it to be? … (Jesus) says, “The Kingdom of Heaven is within you” (that is, here) and “at hand “(that is, now). It’s not later, but lighter-some more subtle quality or dimension of experience accessible to you right in the moment. You don’t die into it; you awaken into it…
The Kingdom of Heaven is really a metaphor for a state of consciousness; it is not a place you go to, but a place you come from. It is a whole new way of looking at the world, a transformed awareness that literally turns this world into a different place. The hallmark of this awareness is that it sees no separation-not between God and humans, not between humans and other humans. And these are indeed Jesus’s two core teachings, underlying everything he says and does…
When Jesus talks about this Oneness…what he more has in mind is a complete, mutual indwelling: I am in God, God is in you, you are in God, we are in each other. His most beautiful symbol for this is in the teaching in John 15 where he says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Abide in me as I in you” John 15:4-5. A few verses later he says, “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Abide in my love” John 15:9. There is no separation between humans and God because of this mutual interabiding which expresses the indivisible reality of divine love.
As many of you remember, I have been very involved in Cuba, working with Moises and his family. We recently started to help Moises Jr. with a new children’s program based out of the church that we assisted for many years in Cienfuegos, Cuba. The program provides meals for kids every month so we are helping with the cost of this program.
Children in Cienfuegos, Cuba
Church in Cienfuegos
Let your spirit be filled with His joy, the Joy He gave to the world and you and I. It is available now. And always, by His Spirit.
Thanks for partnering with us over the past year to bring food, clothing and meet the physical needs of the poorest of the poor children. You have also helped us bring the good news of the love of God in Christ. We could not do it without you.
May you and yours be blessed this holiday season. Merry Christmas!
Cameron