A Holy Day

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Christmas is coming. It is a "holiday," a contraction of "holy-day." It is arguably the "most holy" day of the year. Of course, to the spiritual, each and every day is holy; in a sense, every day is "Christmas." For each day gives us opportunities to express our Love. And our Love is the "interior Spirit of Christ," expressing in our little world.

Some rigid literalists reject Christmas. They argue that Jesus was not born on December 25. And this is likely true. No one really knows the exact day when Jesus was born.

But it is a good, healthy, helpful practice to celebrate Love in many forms. For it is not simply the birth of the human Jesus that is most commemorated by Christmas. It is instead the birth of the Christ-nature within our hearts. (This is the Lovemind.)

For this is the deeper, and more spiritual, meaning of Christmas. Love includes, and is powerfully expressed by, generosity. And that is why we give gifts. Christmas is not all about materialism, or gifts. But despite the commercial cynicism that has contaminated the holi-day, it is about giving, generosity, kindness, charity, and goodness. Cynics who refuse to celebrate it are often concerned more with their bank-account than with the happiness of the people around them. This might be the
real, deeper reason that some reject Christmas.

As Francis said, It is in giving that we receive. So, to give generously during Christmas is a special opportunity to serve God (Love) by giving gifts to others. For the only Way to love God is by loving others. And our giving should be a pleasure, not a task, job, or assignment. So, let us celebrate our special and very spiritual Christmas. Let us remind each other that we care. Let us touch bases with old friends, often neglected during ordinary days.

Let us abandon hard cynicism. Let us dare to believe-- in Love, in goodness, in generosity. Let us give the greatest gift of all-- our time and attention-- to accompany the merely material gifts. Let us shine the Love of the heart upon each other, in friendliness, in friendship, in forgiveness, abandoning old hurts and healing our friendship-circles. For this is the true meaning of Christmas, and this is what Love is all about.
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Loving God

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The main "command" of Jesus was to love each other. This applied, he made it clear, to not only friends but "enemies" as well.

To "love Jesus" or to "love God" is not simply to do legalistic things (obeying laws) or mechanical things (work) or spouting Scriptures. None of these, lacking Love, will ever serve God. And none, by itself, demonstrates a real Love for God.

The bottom line: The only Way to "love Jesus" is to love other human beings. So, Love must not become an abstract or academic teaching, but must become a real and active part of our day-to-day living.
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"Lovelight" magazine

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We truly, deeply appreciate any ideas for our monthly Lovelight magazine. However, it is a magazine of high spirituality. That is, it is not a magazine of religion. (The same is true of the uld, this present infosheet, the "Universal Love Digest." This is its "sister magazine" online.) We are very interested in the presentation of great truths. But we are not at all interested in the doctrines (dogma) of any
particular church or denomination.

Thus, we use, and are open to, texts from the Bible. But, if these are too numerous, they start to get a bit overwhelming; worse, they start to look like religion (dogma and doctrine) rather than purest spirituality-- which is the practice of universal, unconditional, and consistent Love.

So, please feel free to send in anything, any time, if the piece feels more spiritual than religious.
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First and Second Corinthians

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First Corinthians is considered one of the great written classics of Christian spirituality. It begins, in chapter 2, with correcting the "errors" in the church.
There is a warning against factionalism, against "following men."

Spiritual people are encouraged to agree with each other, not because of centralized dogma or doctrine, but because they all receive from the same Source, and God wants peace, not disputations and disagreements. The church was factionalizing, fragmenting due to human selfstyled "leaders," each getting a following. This is analogous to the formation of cults, in which people receive "new understandings," and break away from, and disagree with, all others. But "Christ" (God, Love) should be the only "leader."! Even Paul did not want people to follow him. God's message
is not intellectual. From that view, it looks "foolish."

The Gospel was rejected by the Jews because it did not have the "proper authority." God does not use merely human wisdom. The "Holy Spirit" teaches spiritual people directly.

We are God's "living building." It is built upon Christ (God, Love). No human leader is to be followed, but you are to follow only the "Word" of God. This is not only the Bible, but the living Word, which is God Itself. (Jn. 1:1) Christians should avoid intimate association with people who are openly sinning. Our bodies are the temple of God. We should not abuse them through fornication.

Both marriage and the single state are acceptable to the Lord of Love. Paul implores Christians to support his ministry via charitable giving. Yet he refused to be "hired" for "payment." As the people of Love (God), we are unified through Communion.

Next, Paul supplies the famous and important principle, "All things are lawful." That is, everything which does not resist or destroy Love is not forbidden by God. Next, Paul betrays some chauvinism no doubt picked up during his days as a Pharisee, and commands that women symbolically cover their heads when praying. Paul then gives advice re the ceremony of Communion (Eucharist). Paul then examines the famous analogy of the Church as a "body," unified although it contains many "parts." God gives spiritual gifts and Love-gifts. This is where we find the famous "Canticle of Love," in First Corinthians chapter thirteen. Paul also has much to say about "glossolalia," or speaking in foreign languages. Again, Paul's old bigotry slips through into his words, and he prohibits women to teach in the public church. Paul closes with what has been called the "Gospel of the Resurrection," in chapter fifteen. He says that everyone who has a physical body also has a spiritual one designed for "heaven" (perfect Mindworld of Love). The "resurrection" is a fundamental tenet of true spirituality, and is associated with several other important ideas. As we reflect the nature of "dusty" man, Adam, so we must also reflect the nature of heavenly Spirit, Christ. We will not all die; some of us will be "translated" into our heavenly bodies.
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2 Corinthians summary


The truth is only hidden from those who do not hear the call to believe
(4:1-6)
The weakness of the suffering apostle demonstrates the glory of god which
we will share in the resurrection (4:7-5:10)
the apostle is even willing to suffer to bring people to Christ (6:1-13;
7:2-4)
Holiness is separation from the "world" (material order]. (6:14-7:1),
possibly non-Pauline]
Against the "super-apostles" (chapters 10-13)
Do not be led astray by their flattery (11:1-6)
True sign of an apostle is God’s power manifested in suffering and
weakness (11:16-12:13)
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