“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:20)
There is a difference between religion and spirituality. It seems as our awareness has evolved in modern times, especially, with quantum physics and all the wonders that science has brought to us, we sometimes feel like we are floundering, like something is missing.
Religion is an organized system of shared beliefs, rituals, rules, dogma and community centered on worshiping an external savior. This provides a sense of certainty. Many religions were created to help people live together in a civilized society.
Examples are Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism;
Spirituality is more about our internal journey; cultivating, nurturing and practicing how to live in the world of Form from a sense of peace and poise. The tools we use to bring about a deeper connection with Spirit is mindfulness, prayer, meditation, nature, personal reflection.
Spirituality and Religion in themselves are methods to discovering and deepening our understanding, if that is possible, of the Mystery of Life.
Life is a miracle. God is Spirit. Everything we see around us is the Face of God or Spirit expressing. What causes any division between the practice of spirituality and religiosity is the people who insist their cultural upbringing must dominate.
This is not new. Jesus faced much opposition from religious and political authorities of his day; he had deep emotional struggles and grief; yet he knew in his heart he was born to bring to our world a way of life that was based on grace, truth and love.
We lose sight of his humanity when we worship him as the only way to God or the One God, for as he said, when he was questioned, “Good Teacher what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” … his answer was “Why do you call me good? No one is good except one — God.” (Mark 10:18)
Reflect on what this means to you. To me, it is saying our ‘personality’ is not good for only God is good (our higher self). Which when we gather the two together in my name, (in this way) the Holy Spirit overshadows us. (Just as it did with Mary).
We join as a spiritual community to walk in the world with Spirit leading us in our thoughts, feelings, words and actions. The only way we can achieve any of this is through devoting ourselves to practicing the Presence of God, which is practicing the Presence of God/Spirit/Love.
May be be willing to do that inner work, for the world needs our Light.
Blessings, Rev Janice
