"Be You Perfect Even As I Am Perfect"

(God)

One of the preeminent scientific organizations on the planet is known within the United States as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration or NASA. To mark the new millennium the organization published a roadmap to facilitate discovery with respect to the origins of life. The Origins Study, as it is called, outlines a series of objectives and investigations to be pursued over several decades.

One of these investigations will seek to "Characterize the traits of the universal common ancestor through phylogenetic analyses of contemporary microorganisms." The plan makes reference to a "Universal Tree of Life" constructed recently by scientists. And so it would seem we have come full circle with a new physicality metaphor that borrows liberally from the realm of spirituality. We will soon see if these scientists are prepared for the paradigm shift that, by comparison, will dwarf the Copernican Revolution.

When fact finders set out to characterize the traits of the Universal Common Ancestor they may find themselves well beyond the limits of dead reckoning. And if the finite mind of humankind is ever to be released from the time-bound and space fettered forms of reasoning, it just may discover what Our Universe Sovereign meant when He said I AM that I AM. As the evolving soul incrementally displaces a sub-conscious mind, the survival value, of an individual human, increases. For at the nucleus of the super-conscious mind there is a Divine Presence committed to insuring the eternal survival of each personality. The essence of mind ministry is revealed through its unifying and coordinating qualities of Truth, Beauty and Goodness. These qualities are also a recurring theme within the ancient wisdom.

Of the great monotheistic religions in existence on the world of the cross at the time of the cross, each has something to say about the Universal Common Ancestor and His traits.

Shinto revealed "In both the beauties of nature and the virtues of men does the Prince of Heaven seek to reveal Himself and show forth His righteous nature." Hinduism declares, "God is our Maker and the last destiny of the soul. He is the splendor of the splendid and the goodness of the good." Taoism observes "How good and tranquil is the Supreme One and yet how powerful and mighty, how deep and unfathomable."

Searching the Heavens under the starry sky can be a soul satisfying experience. The ancients of earth began this journey long ago, first with what was to be discovered within the evolving soul. Confucius said "What Heaven appoints is without error. Heaven has bestowed its nobility upon the soul of man." Zoroaster taught, "All things come from and belong to, the One God - all wise, good, righteous, holy, resplendent and glorious."

Buddha had this to say about one essential trait determinant when he taught, "Out of a pure heart shall gladness spring forth to the Infinite." Jainism addressed the gulf between existential and experiential concepts of Deity with the early observation that "The Lord of Heaven is Supreme." The Cynics too, early recognized that "God is Supreme; He is the Most High of Heaven and Earth."

While many, but not all, of the "chosen people" apparently failed to recognize the gift for which they were "chosen," Judaism hosted the Incarnation because of an unswerving Hebrew belief that "The Lord, He is God, there is none beside him in Heaven above or upon the Earth.

Prior to the Incarnation of Christ, when the people of these various religious persuasions occupied a much less populous world, their views were markedly similar. Separated by distance and preferences more than by any fear of commingling, religious antagonisms though sometimes serious were relatively few. It should come as no surprise that where freedom of association prospers, people seek synergies, act in accordance with the grand design.

Where there is deviance, it is a departure from the highest and best pathway to the goal of destiny. With the whole social body pushing towards extinction or survival, the way it adjusts for antagonisms is a major factor with respect to the question of viability.

In the early cinematic masterpiece The Day The Earth Stood Still, a running parable underscored the universal truth that global violence can be, and is, effectively circumscribed. Rebellion can be quarantined and humanity's apparent willingness to export malady has a direct bearing on its so-called right to ascension.

Earth's religious heritage, taken in its entirety, clearly emphasizes our interrelatedness. We are each called to fulfill some vital function. We are all vested in the grand design and, as all things work together for good to the extent we are responsive to the Divine leading, the universe of universes benefits.

Our loving God occupies the center of creation and at the same time can be found at the nucleus of every human mind. The Creator is limited only by his own volition and, to the extent it is our will that his will be done, we serve the universal good. Otherwise we are as a cancer cell running the risk of separation and eventual extinction.

We are rooted in animal soil. It is the impulse of animal nature that would lead us into retrograde motion. But, just as a delicate lily raises its head high into the sunshine while its roots are grounded in the slime and muck, a person of faith can raise his spiritual nature to enjoy the light and the power of truth.

Humanity as a whole exhibits great trend and effort. Aborigines believe "We are as much alive as we keep the earth alive." The Cynics from early on taught "The evil you would not have done to you, do not to others." Zoroastrianism teaches "Do not do unto others whatever is injurious to yourself." The Jews taught "Love your neighbor as yourself; bear a grudge against no man. Whatever you hate, do to no man." Buddha taught "Do not to others those things you would not wish done to you. Pay good for evil; overcome evil with the good." From the writings of Baha'u'lah we glean "Lay not on any soul a load that you would not wish to be laid upon you, and desire not for anyone the things you would not desire for yourself."

From the teachings of Hinduism we learned "This is the sum of duty: let no man do to another what would be repugnant to himself; cherish no malice, smite not him who smites you, conquer anger with mercy, and vanquish hate by benevolence." The followers of Jainism taught "Man should journey through life treating his fellow creatures as he would like to be treated." And the model from Sikhism "I am a stranger to no one; and no one is a stranger to me. Indeed, I am a friend to all."

Muhammad held "Not one of you truly believes until you wish for others what you wish for yourself." Taoism admonishes "Regard your neighbor's gain as your own gain and your neighbor's loss as your own loss. Relate yourself to every man as if you were in his place. Recompense injury with kindness." Confucius spoke of one concept "which sums up the basis of all good conduct . . . loving kindness. Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself."

All of this builds to one great crescendo in the exemplary life of Jesus and with his commandment that we love one another as he loved us.

The life of Jesus is wholly and supremely replete. While he left no writings on earth, or anything else of a potentially idolatrous nature, his example is one of perfection. It is the common heritage of all religions and of all people. Ecclesiastical authority cannot contain it, by secular boundaries, by holy books, by relics or by usurpation. When Jesus promised to send a Spirit helper that would lead all of humanity into all truth, the days of self righteous exclusivity and pseudo-religious hucksterism were numbered.

Christ chose to appear on the most disordered and disturbed planet of a far-flung universe as a helpless babe. Just as all of us are wholly dependent on the Creator Son, the Christ Child became wholly and unreservedly dependent on a human family and the Paradise Father. It was by the perfection of this relationship that all of that world, indeed all of his creation beheld a new, comprehensive revelation of Our Father.

It is now time for you to withdraw for a period of deliberation and decision. As you are thus engaged, carefully consider the arrogant effrontery of Lucifer in contrast to the way Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, the way they conduct spiritual warfare.

It was a fitting climax when the Son of Man dethroned the prince of darkness and abruptly ended the Lucifer Rebellion, leaving certain unworthy children confounded and disillusioned. For in His humble estate, willingly assumed, our beloved Sovereign confronted and wrested dominion from the self-indulgent, pretentious, leadership to whom it had once been entrusted.

All celestial onlookers immediately recognized the fairness, the justice and the timeliness. The creator, assuming the status of the creature, having divested himself of all creator prerogatives, did in due season put an end to insurrection. A man, made powerful by faithful submission to our Father's will, was able to do that which mercy forbade him to do by arbitrary authority.

The self-forgetful service performed by the Son of God, as the Son of Man, forever silenced all but the most deluded of rebel personalities. Though Lucifer and his cohorts did much damage, though there is still work to be done on behalf of the children of earth, the era of unbridled encroachment and unchallenged sophistry by these once powerful fallen children of light ended that day when Jesus received the vinegar and said

"It is finished!"