This Week’s Quotation:
And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth; for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
Luke 21: 25-27
With Power and Great Glory
Everything is Ascending
These prophetic words spoken by Jesus reflect the condition of the world in his time but also describe the current state of humanity with remarkable accuracy. “Distress of nations,” absolutely! Take a look at the Middle East, the chaos in Venezuela, and the chronic tensions between the United States and China. The Coronavirus pandemic is still raging and the specter of climate change threatens the very existence of civilization.
Is it any wonder that fear is abroad in the land, consuming the sense of comfort and certainty in human beings all over the globe? This is an existential fear, burrowing deep into the consciousness of humanity. Even if it doesn’t reach the surface of consciousness, the unspeakable dread exists that the sixth mass extinction on the planet may well include human beings.
“The powers of heaven shall be shaken.” Heaven refers to human consciousness, something that is mightily being shaken at this time of profound and penetrating change. All of the assumptions human beings have made about the nature and purpose of life are being challenged and shaken loose. It is as if the Universe is saying to humanity: I will not tolerate this defiance of how life is designed to work any longer. Either honor the creative process of life or vacate the planet.
Only then will we see “the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” Does this mean, as perhaps some expect, a kind of “second coming” where Jesus will drop down from the sky to raise up and rescue believers? Definitely not. The “Son of man” refers to human beings, to you and me, and the “cloud” may refer to our spiritual breath. Clouds are composed of water vapor and water is the symbol of truth.
In other words, the salvation of the human race on planet Earth does not depend on some kind of Divine intervention to rescue “the faithful.” It depends entirely on human beings, on you and me, on our spiritual breathing. Love is the elemental energy of the Universe. Are we breathing out the Truth of Love or some distortion concocted by the human mind in a state of separation? The future of our Earth project depends on the answer.
About Open Windows
We, the authors of this blog, dedicate it to the transparent exploration of the world’s sacred scripture and enlightened spiritual thought. We believe that the original inspiration of all faiths comes from a common source, named and revered in a myriad of ways. With that understanding, the innumerable symbols, beliefs, and practices of faith cease to divide. They become open windows to a common reality that inspires and unifies us. We find deeper insight and nourishment in our own faith and from the expression of faith from others.
We hope these weekly quotations and meditations speak to your heart and soul.
Jerry – this is so relevant and so ‘right on’ Thank you
These Open Windows blogs are a magnificent pulse to me and to many more. Yes there is a divine outworking, greater than my mind knows. I open my windows to something far far higher and keep on living and loving fiercely. Thank you.
The scripture’s words, “men’s hearts failing them for fear” certainly seem to indicate our current state of affairs, and I agree with your conclusion, “This is an existential fear, burrowing deep into the consciousness of humanity.” Love is a powerful antidote to fear, and now more than ever, we need to tap into love, wisdom, and faith. In addition I find it helpful to have wonderful friends and guides on life’s journey. You are both a friend and guide to me, Jerry, and I thank you!