Upon further reflection…
Christmas is not a holiday where a particular religion has been placed on the mantle of humankind, but rather one in which all humankind is placed at the foot of the mantle of God. Jesus said,
“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and everyone who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Why make idols of religion; bow humbly toward your own center. Why not – considering that the messengers to whom we ascribe (in error) multiple disparate religions – came not to compel, but relieve us of idle compulsion and to soothe discordance and imbalance; humbling the haughty, and exalting the oppressed under the common salve of real love.
From the time we were made aware of a loving Singularity, we’ve walked as brothers and sisters along parallel paths through the heart. None have walked alone, whether in acceptance or denial of whatever truths they sought.
Come among us have been those especially blessed, who arrived to clear both the path before us and the paths towards others beside us; that we might find peace through clarity, and clarity through peace. They proclaimed a harmonious unifying gift that could not be divided into to shares, but shared by all in its totality.
These prophets came in succession from the story of Adam, each perfecting the manifestation of a single essence of religion… Braiding and re-braiding the frayed tassels of religion as men desperately tried to part the threads of the same unbreakable rope handed to them, prophet after prophet. Indeed, faith is like spokes of a wheel, coming from all distant directions toward the same center.
As we walk the path, look right and left and say as each of us has been taught, “may the peace and mercy of God be with you.” And say this on the eve and day of celebration and then all seasons after to whomsoever you meet. Say this when it seems you are alone, because you are not –
“…the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in this world.” (Jesus)
I pray that we all deeply explore this quote by Jesus.
Are you of the limited world outside, or the limitless Kingdom within? Your soul spreads infinitely vast within the universe of your own secret. All of mankind sits at your supper table before the hearth of your own heart, and seated there finds warmth and infinite nourishment; for they have the same secret to tell and hear as you – whether they whisper, shout, or wait silently.
This is also the time that our Muslim brothers and sisters celebrate Mawlid, the birth of the Prophet Muhammad. Do not be hasty in your mindful judgment of the differences in these two auspicious events and men – rather humble your heart to see their connections, for they are indeed threads in the same rope.
The story, not just the books, goes this way – Jesus spoke as an infant, saying
“I am indeed a servant of God: He hath given me revelation and made me a prophet; And He hath made me blessed wheresoever I be, and hath enjoined on me Prayer and Charity as long as I live; He hath made me kind to my mother, and not overbearing or miserable; So peace is on me the day I was born, the day that I die, and the day that I shall be raised up to life (again)!”
What is especially noteworthy is this quote is revealed by Muhammad in the Quran, 19:30-33.
The same message has been carried from the dawn of man, through Abraham, Jesus, and Muhammad – the message is a single river elegantly carving the intricate hearts of all mankind.
Their paths are parallel, let us look right and left; they are spokes of the same wheel, let us spin together; they are each tributaries from the same source toward one Ocean, let us submerse ourselves in the message of love and peace.
Merry Christmas and Mawlid Mubarak to all.
This is beautiful! Thank you for sharing!!
Thanks Debbie – kind of you take time for a note!