Reading & Meditation (wholeness) by Rev. Christine Emmerling 8/20/2023

Opening Reading & Meditation Wholeness Rev. Christine Emmerling 8/20/2023

Today I’m sharing excerpts from Nona Brooks book “In the Light of Healing” based on a collection of her talks.

Jesus asked the man at the pool of Bethesda what may seem to some of us a strange question. This man had been troubled with an infirmity for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he said to him, “Will you be made whole?” This invalid man answered him, “Sir, I have no man when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” Jesus said unto him, “Rise, take up your bed, and walk. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked.” John 5:1-9.

Jesus asked the question of the man at the pool of Bethesda doubtless to prove that we have something to do with our own healing. We must have a part in it. Jesus wished to show the man that he must have the desire to be whole. It is unto us as we will. Jesus said: “Be it unto you even as you will.”

There is a reason why some are healed, and others are not. Jesus was deeply interested in the attitude of those who came to him for healing. He tested them. The one who came must be willing to become whole. Faith and willingness were stressed by Jesus.

To be made whole, we must come into the realization of our Divine Birthright – our heritage as children of God – sharers of God-Life... We seem to dwell in sickness and lack, but it is because we have not realized God’s Presence and Power as the reality of every man. Let us realize, as Jesus did, the reality of the one who comes to be healed of sin, sickness, or lack – and if we can stir up the gift within him until he realizes his divine possessions, he will be made whole...

Persistence right action without, and the will to be made whole within – will bring us into the realization of the blessing and into the attainment of wholeness. Jesus tells us that it is God’s good pleasure to give us the kingdom. What is the Kingdom? It is the Christ within us. Seeking, finding, and understanding – such is the way of inner blessedness.

Meditation

We shall now move into a meditation on Wholeness. Let us turn inward to our holy temple. Now bringing our attention to our breath breathing in deeply and exhale slowly as we focus our attention from our head to our heart - connecting mind and heart. We still our thoughts as we listen and take these words in.

“Seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matt. 6:33

Infinite Spirit, a Divine Living Presence is all knowledge, all power, all good, and all One. This One is right here and everywhere and everything. It is whole holy One. Then I too am one with the wholeness and allness of God. I am an individualized expression of God. Wholeness is my true reality. I live and move and have my being in wholeness.

I am whole and holy good. (Repeat)

What is true of me is true of everyone for we are one in Spirit. This whole universe and all universes are one in Spirit. Every dimension is one in Spirit. My consciousness is as vast as the cosmos. All at once I am here, there and everywhere. I am the stars. I am the oceans. I am the earth. I am the air. I am that I am.

Let us take a moment to let the joy of gratitude fill our hearts. Thank you, Divine Presence, for these moments of Oneness. So it is, Amen.

I invite you to bring your attention back to your breath, to your breathing.