Waiting for the Messiah
Sunday, August 25, 2024
Chris Johnson, RScP, with Lucinda Alton, RScP, & Rev. Diana Johnson, IM, RScM
Video Chapter Index
| 0:00 | Taizé | Clicking on a chapter link will play the segment in a new YouTube tab. Your link to this page will remain open in this tab, but the video will play in the new window. Clicking on the Play arrow in the video screen above will play both Taizé and the Conscious Conversation on this page. To make the picture bigger, you may click the full screen icon in the lower right corner:  To cast the video to your Smart TV, click the Play on TV button:  . Also, we now have Closed Captioning available! To access Closed Captions, start the video and click on the CC icon next to the gear in the lower right of the video screen:  |
| 13:17 | Guided Meditation | |
| 43:17 | Conscious Conversation |
Taizé
Chris – Let us follow the sound of the bell into the Stillness Within… 3 Bells
Lucinda – Opening Prayer
Chris – Good morning and welcome. My name is Chris Johnson, and I am a Prayer Practitioner in service to Mystic Heart Spiritual Center. We are an Independent Interfaith Community that teaches Universal Principles and Practical Spirituality. We open our hearts and our doors in welcome, trusting that you will be led to the Guidance and Wisdom of your own Mystic Heart.
Let us begin by joining our voices in musical prayer.
Rev. Diana & Chris – Taizé Chants
- Welcome Home to Your Mystic Heart, written by Diana & Chris Johnson
- Come, Holy Spirit, Come, written by Daniel Kopp and Sarah Liberman
Chris – Let’s take a pause to move into the stillness of this moment… allowing attention to rest on the breath… letting everything else go… feeling a deep sense of gratitude for this moment… for the privilege of being alive… of coming together with Spiritual Family in prayer and meditation, Joy, and Celebration.
And now allowing awareness to move away from the breath, grounding even more deeply into the beating of the heart… feeling the Presence of Spirit, breathing the Its Life into your being… and acknowledging your Oneness with the global community…
Together, we envision a web of consciousness that surrounds and infuses the planet… sensing each of us as a radiant point of Light in that web… knowing that all beings carry the Divine Spark… every human, every creature, every plant… part of the web… every rock and grain of sand, every drop of water, infused with God’s Radiant Light… expanding still further to include the wind, the clouds, the stars, the planets… all is one Light, one Life.
Acknowledging our connection with all of life, our collective Work here is empowered… Our prayer and meditation leave an imprint of Peace, of Compassion, of Grace, on the Whole for all time… transformation is under way… Love is being revealed by means of our time together.
This month, our contemplations are centered in Touching the Living Christ, and this morning we contemplate the implications of Waiting for the Messiah.
Messiah comes from the Hebrew mashiyach, meaning the anointed one. The Jewish people believed the messiah would be a future political and military leader descended from King David. First century Jews were eagerly awaiting the arrival of mashiyac, who they thought would free them from the tyrannical Roman occupation of Judea. When Yeshua of Nazareth appeared on the scene, teaching radical spiritual truth, unconditional love, and healing people, many thought him to be the long-expected mashiyach.
But Yeshua was not the warrior-king that would throw off the Roman rule of Palestine. He had a much different strategy in mind… and he encapsulated it in seven words: My kingdom is not of this world.
The heart and soul of his teaching was the Kingdom of Heaven, or the Rule of God, which he told us was both within us and all around us: “The kingdom of the father is spread out upon the earth, and men do not see it[i]…” He tells us that we are already living in Paradise, but cannot recognize it when we look with our ordinary perception… The Kingdom is not something that is established… it is participatory… we must contribute to the creation of a Love-Soaked World… But, how?…
When asked to describe this Kingdom, he replied, “The kingdom of the father is like a certain woman. She took a little leaven, concealed it in some dough, and made it into large loaves.”[ii] What does he mean?… Consider how a very small measure of yeast, when kneaded into bread dough can empower that loaf to rise to nearly twice its size… Or “It is like a mustard seed. It is the smallest of all seeds. But when it falls on tilled soil, it produces a great plant and becomes a shelter for birds of the sky.”[iii]
Both of these parables teach us that our participation does not have to be on a global or even national scale… that the Kingdom of Heaven grows and evolves by means of many of us making whatever contribution we can… we don’t need to try to equal the things that Mohandas Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, or Martin Luther King did… We each have a little something to contribute to the endeavor… and it is something no one else can provide…
So how do we identify what is ours to do?… First, listen to your heart… what or whose suffering calls to you most poignantly?… Next, reflect on your skills, talents, and resources… How might you leverage them to do the most good?… Then, use your imagination to transport you into the future when that suffering has ceased… And finally, start small, right where you are… or as Teddy Roosevelt said, “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”
Rev. Diana – Guided Meditation
The Kingdom of Heaven can only be made visible through the hands, feet, hearts, and voices of humanity. Every thought, word, and action can be a contribution to the creation of a Love-Soaked World.
I invite you more deeply into inquiry…bringing focus to the heart, and to the knowing we can sense in the gut…that trusting that as the brain holds knowledge, the heart holds Wisdom and the gut holds Guidance…and that the three, working together, create an open pathway in which Spirit can enter, can make Itself known.
Take a moment to feel the connection…the coherence…between the brain, the heart, and the gut. Sense and envision the energy moving in a continual loop, from the brain, down the right side of the spinal column, entering and flowing through the heart, and on down to the gut…
…and then bringing that energy back up the left side of the spine, through the heart, and up to the brain. Spend a few moments, breathing slowly, and feeling the connection.
With all systems working in coherence, we are open to the Wisdom and Guidance of Spirit. Becoming receptive to the Still, Small Voice, we ask, “What is mine to do at this time in my life? Whose suffering calls for my time and attention?”
What are the skills, talents, and resources that might assist me as I seek to make a difference?
How might I best use my skills, talents, and resources to do the most good?
Beginning where I am, I take a final moment of silence to envision the journey…the gift of time and attention I am offering…the comfort I am bringing…the suffering that is being relieved by means of my gift of Service…see it through to the end.
As Taizé continues, we are inspired by the message…we take it in, fully receiving… allowing ourselves to be transformed… willing to actually be the change that we wish to see in the world…willing to ask the hard questions – “What would Love do now?” and then doing it…“How can I be of the greatest Service?” and being it. There is nothing complicated here…nothing outside our capacities, nothing outside our reach. As the Master Yoda once said, “Do or do not. There is no try.”
Chris – The Kingdom of Heaven is, indeed, at hand… right here in our midst… but we can experience it only to the extent that we bring it into our day-to-day lives… Heaven is a choice we make in every moment… What can I do in this moment that will be most helpful?… How can I respond more compassionately to this person?… Can I make myself an opening through which more Love enters the world?… Consider this invitation from Rabbi Yeshua:
The king will say to the righteous, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave me food, I was thirsty, and you gave me drink, I was a stranger, and you welcomed me, I was naked, and you clothed me, I was sick, and you visited me, I was in prison, and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me… And as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’[iv]
Closing Prayer
Please join me in a closing prayer:
Great Spirit of God… Abba… thank you for the wisdom and example of the Rabbi Yeshua… May we remember that his words are timeless truth… every bit as relevant as when he spoke them so long ago… And that his life was in complete harmony with his teaching… He didn’t just preach the Kingdom of Heaven, he lived it…
Grant us the courage to face the suffering we see in the world and not turn away… to never lose hope even in the face of so much need… and always to remember that whoever we are looking at, it is the face of the Christ… Your Divine Spirit temporarily clothed in human form… Let us live compassionately from our shared Divinity as we freely share our humanity…
Help me to remember to enter lightly, never forcing my will on those I am trying to help… to reflect deeply on the interior motives that give rise to my actions… for even a good thing, when done for the wrong reason, is never the right thing… and help me to stay alert for opportunities to serve others in my community…
I release this prayer in profound gratitude, knowing that it is answered even as it is spoken… Thank you, Abba… Amen.
I invite you now to return your awareness to your body… to this time and place… When you feel ready, gently open your eyes, and allow your gaze to take in whatever is before you.
Feel free to look around and say good morning to everyone who is here celebrating with you this morning. This is your Spiritual Family… one of your support systems. These are some of the people who care about you and are there for you.
Chris – Love Offering
At the close of our Taizé Meditation, we offer the opportunity for you to share of your financial good in support of the work we do in the world, should you so choose. If you’re joining us online, you can find a Donate Button on our homepage at mysticheart.org, or our mailing address, if you prefer to send a check. We thank you in advance for your gifts.
Here is a video of Kathy Mattea and Bill Cooley doing a song you’ve heard us do:
Offertory Video
- Holy Now, written by Peter Mayer, performed by Kathy Mattea featuring Bill Cooley. https://youtu.be/Bboz0CQSVMk
Chris – Blessing for the Offering
Feel free to grab something warm to drink next door and meet us back at 10:30 for a Conscious Conversation – it might just be heavenly! If not, know that the blessings of your Beloved Community go with you on this beautiful Sunday.
Rev. Diana & Chris – Taizé Closing Sing
- A Soul’s Blessing, written by Chris Johnson
Conscious Conversation
Lucinda – Opening Prayer
Chris – Good morning, Mystic Heart! Welcome, if you’re just joining us, welcome back if you were here for Taizé, and welcome to those joining us online. For any who don’t know me, I am Chris Johnson, Prayer Practitioner in service to Mystic Heart, and I am honored to be here with you this morning. We are an Independent Interfaith Community that teaches Universal Principles and Practical Spirituality. We open our doors, our hearts, and our arms in radical welcome, trusting that you will be led to the Guidance and Wisdom of your own Mystic Heart.
So, let’s start by lifting our voices in some high-energy musical prayer.
Rev. Diana & Chris J – Opening Songs
- Welcome to the Mystic Heart, written by Diana & Chris Johnson
- One Big Family, written by Robin Hackett & Gary Lynn Floyd
- Down In My Soul, written by Jan Garrett & JD Martin
Chris J – I invite you to join me now in the imaginal realm, as we engage our Divine Gift of creative spiritual power to envision and realize a Love-Soaked World…
See and feel with me now, a world in which all beings live from their Highest Potential… from Kindness, Generosity, Peace, Compassion, Joy, and Beauty.
In this world of our creation, all people honor, respect, and care for one another, for all of the life forms that share this beautiful planet with us, and for our Mother Earth Herself.
We remember that we are connected to all of Life… that we are dependent on the planet to sustain us, and on one another.
By aligning every thought, word, and action with our Vision, we are creating a world in which all people are well-fed… have the safety and comfort of home and a deep sense of purpose and belonging…a world in which health, education, and healthy relationships are supported by social systems grounded in Integrity, Compassion and Wholeness.
Valuing every being for its uniqueness… we practice living truly Authentic lives where vulnerability is celebrated… there is no need to defend or protect. The work we are doing within ourselves shows up as a world free of hatred and violence.
We recognize and appreciate the abundance that surrounds us… greed is a thing of the past, generosity is the norm, and all beings gratefully receive all that is needed to live physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually fulfilling lives.
The planet and its beings thrive like never before as we recognize the sacred in everyone and everything…we walk in reverence, humility, and gratitude for all that we have been given.
We are creating a new world moment by moment, aligning our actions with our Vision, living these changes first in our own lives, with our families, friends, and neighbors. One neighborhood, one community at a time, a new world is being born. In this process of profound change, this Beloved Community stands as an open and welcoming place for all who seek support, belonging, Family.
By the power of our deep faith and inspired action, this prayer is acted upon, answered even as it is spoken, for Spirit knows our heart’s desire and intent. In full expectation of its Graceful unfolding, and with the deepest humility and gratitude, we release our Word to the Creative Power and Intelligence that I call God… to the One that gets it done… And so it is!… Amen!
I invite your awareness back to the here and now… to your body, to the room, to this beautiful life, and to the amazing beings who share this space with us this morning…look around to say good morning to your Spiritual Family.
Our theme this month is Touching the Living Christ, and today at Taizé, we reflected on the Kingdom of Heaven, and how many first century Jews and Christians even in our time were and are Waiting for the Messiah…
So, let me do a brief recap, and then we’ll engage in our conversation. Messiah, or in Aramaic, mashiyach, means “the anointed one.” In the Greek of the New Testament, the anointed one is called khristos, from which we get Christ. The mashiyach was believed to be a descendant of King David and a political-military leader who first century Jews hoped would overthrow the Roman occupation and re-establish the independent Kingdom of Judea.
Although many hailed Yeshua as the long-awaited messiah, he had a much different plan. His statement, my kingdom is not of this world dashed the hopes of Zealots seeking a leader for their revolution.
Instead, he taught that the Kingdom of Heaven is already established, within us and all around us, right here and now. By his words and example, he presented it as a participatory process, in which each of us contributes to the well-being of each other, all plants and animals, and the earth herself. Sound a little bit like a Love-Soaked World?
From the parables of the yeast and the mustard seed, we learned that our contribution doesn’t need to be on the scale of Gandhi, Mandela, or King… We simply look and listen to Spirit within for what is ours to do… for where we are called to serve… and then, as Teddy Roosevelt advised, “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”
The Kingdom of Heaven – a Love-Soaked World – is a choice we make in every moment… to act in service to our highest vision of what life on this precious planet can be… in whatever ways we can…
So I want to turn a corner here and share a little of what we are discovering in our study of the Book of Revelation. In John’s vision, he sees Jesus “coming with the clouds.” Aramaic scholar Rocco Errico tells us that this Semitic idiom means “coming with glory and honor” and that’s how John’s followers would have heard it. It is only in the last 250 – 300 years that anybody took the Bible literally, and mostly only in the United States. I find it amazing how many people today actually expect Jesus to return surfing on a cloud or riding a white horse through the sky.
So, let’s start there.
First of all, what is your definition of Apocalypse?
(from Greek apokalupsis, meaning to uncover or reveal – revelation; the use of it to mean any disaster or cataclysmic destruction began near the end of the 19th century; it became a synonym for the violent events described in Revelation about 30 years earlier [OED])
In theology, the term eschatology refers to conceptions of the last things: immortality of the soul, rebirth, resurrection, migration of the soul, and the end of time. We talk a lot about the eternality of the soul, but what is meant by the end of time?
(the end of an era; a paradigm shift; the fall of a civilization)
If we think of the end of time as a paradigm shift, what possibilities might that open up for us?
(creation of a Love-Soaked World; a “new heaven and a new earth”)
In his book, Who Killed Jesus, Bible scholar John Dominic Crossan defines two types of eschatology: apocalyptic and sapiential. He wrote,
Apocalyptic eschatology announces that God has given us alone a special and secret revelation about an immanent and cataclysmic divine intervention to restore peace and justice to a disordered world.
Examples in our time include David Koresh’s Branch Dravidians, and Marshall Applewhite’s Heaven’s Gate cult.
Sapiential is defined as relating to wisdom, and
sapiential eschatology announces that God has given all human beings the wisdom to discern how, here and now in this world, one can so live that God’s power, rule, and dominion are evidently present to all observers. It involves a way of life for now rather than a hope of life for the future.
This was the message that Jesus taught, and it was Gandhi’s strategy in his nonviolent work for India’s independence. The first depends on a supernatural intervention, while the latter requires of us a complete lifestyle change. Or, as Dom Crossan put it, “In apocalyptic eschatology, we are waiting for God to act. In sapiential eschatology, God is waiting for us to act.”
So, which makes more sense to you? Which is easier? Which is more empowering?
In light of that, how or why do you think people started taking the Bible literally?
(they may think concretely and have difficulty with abstraction; they think of God as a supernatural being who can suspend the laws of nature at will; If the Messiah is coming, I don’t have to take responsibility for fixing the world; they have such a desperate need to believe in the “Rapture.”)
In Paul’s first letter to the church in Thessalonica, He states that the “dead in Christ” will be resurrected first. Then in verse 4:17 he says, “Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.”
This has been called the Rapture. How might we interpret this verse metaphorically or metaphysically?
(a sudden, powerful mystical understanding that changes us profoundly – perhaps so intensely that our current friends no longer relate to us; a radical shift in what is important to us)
If we think of the end of time as a paradigm shift, what are some of the actions we can take to help that paradigm shift?
(What did Jesus do? Be radically inclusive; treat all people with dignity; find ways to help those in need; food ministry; homeless ministry; speak truth to power; don’t compromise your values)
That leads me to this invitation. Mystic Heart has been involved with the Goodwater Crossing Micro-Shelter project at St. James Lutheran Church. We are looking for people to volunteer to be Accompaniment Partners with the residents. This would involve weekly contact with your partner, providing mediation or advocacy as needed, and checking in about progress toward their goals moving forward. It would not include driving them places, counseling, or advising them. If you think you might be interested or just want more information, let Rev. Diana or me know.
OK, is there anything else that needs to be shared before our closing prayer?
Closing Prayer – Holy Spirit of God… Divine Mother… Abba… Thank you for this amazing time of conversation and communion in Beloved Community… Thank you for the revelation that we are the ones we have been waiting for… we are the anointed… the khristos… the mashiyach… Rabbi Yeshua showed us the way… and now it is up to us to continue his work of revealing the Kingdom of Heaven…
The second coming of Christ is not an enormous supernatural phenomenon… it happens in every action that we take to create a Love-Soaked World… every time we feed a hungry person… each time we recycle… when we acknowledge another’s suffering… and their joy… When we speak truth to power without hostility or judgment… when we extend compassion to another…
Every moment is the End of Time… a chance to begin anew… to live from a new perspective… In order to create a new paradigm, we must fully inhabit it… and I choose to inhabit the Kingdom of Heaven right now… humbly grateful for Divine Guidance that reminds me when I slip into old habits… and for the courage to persevere in the face of social pressure…
I give thanks for that day when the sun rises on a new Heaven and a new Earth… a Love-Soaked World in which all beings and all of Creation is loved and respected as expressions of their Divine Creator. I accept that whether or not I live to see its physical manifestation, holding the vision and working toward bringing the Realm of Heaven into the experience of all inhabitants of this beautiful planet is work that is mine to do. I am so grateful for all the others who help and support me in this work and on our shared journey.
And centered in that gratitude, I leave this prayer on Spirit’s Holy Altar. It is in God’s hands, and I know that I am Divinely Guided as to how I can help facilitate on this physical plane. I see everything from this moment forward as evidence of this prayer being answered. Heaven on Earth… World without end… Let it Be… Amen
I invite you to return your awareness to this time and this place… to this Beautiful Gathering of your Beloved Community..
Love Offering
I invite you to join in the celebration of the work we are doing in the world by sharing of your financial Good, should you choose to. If you are at home, you can go to mysticheart.org to use our Donate Button or to find our mailing address if you prefer to send a check.
We also have a Gracious Giving Program for those who would like to make a heartfelt monthly commitment of support so that we can more effectively budget and plan for our growth.
As we pass the basket, please enjoy this video of Eddie Watkins, Jr. performing When You Believe.
Offertory Video
- When You Believe, by Eddie Watkins, Jr. https://youtu.be/kPTjK5dzZbU
Lucinda – Blessing for the Offering
Lucinda – Invitations
- Fast Track to Wellness is back on our regular Thursday schedule, from 12:00-2:00 pm to take a deeper look at the 3rd brain, and its effect on your overall health. We’ll also continue our study of Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself by Dr. Joe Dispenza.
- Metaphysical Bible meets on Thursdays from 3:00 – 5:00 pm when we continue our exploration of the Book of Revelation. Join us for the Apocalypse!
Mark Your Calendars…
- A Survey of the Christian Bible begins on Wednesday, September 4th from 2 – 5 pm, and runs 15 weeks, ending on December 11th with a week off for Thanksgiving. Join Rev. Diana as we explore the culture, history, metaphor, and symbolism behind one of the most influential collections of stories in the western world. Contact Rev. Diana to register in advance.
- Emotional Intelligence and the Power of Positive Prayer: Join Rev. Diana on Thursday evenings from 6-9 pm, beginning September 5th for a 10-week deep dive into the world of the emotions, how they work, why they’re sometimes triggered, and how we can use affirmative prayer to move toward greater Harmony and Wholeness. Contact Rev. Diana to register in advance.
- The Mystic Heart Book Club will be returning Tuesday, September 10th. We will be reading Conversations With God, Book 2 by Neale Donald Walsch.
- The Mystic OAKS group invites you to join them for a return trip to Dakaro Vineyards, this time for wine tasting and Pizza! Saturday, October 12th, 12:00 – 4:30 pm. Wine tasting is free, purchase of a bottle of wine is appreciated. Cost of pizza will be shared among participants. More details to come…contact Chris Netto for more information.
There is more information available in the May Bulletin…take one home with you. And check out our amazing website.
Information Cards if new people
Prayer Requests: I am available after service for prayer, or fill out a prayer card and she will get your request to our Prayer Team for daily prayer – We invite everyone to help us make a private space for prayer here in the Sanctuary by joining us next door for lunch
We invite you to sing along with our Closing Song, Love Be With You.
Rev. Diana & Chris J – Closing Song
- Love Be With You, written by Lainey Bernstein, RScP & Gary Lynn Floyd
Notes:
[i] Gospel of Thomas, Logion 113; also Mt 4:17, Mk 1:15
[ii] Gospel of Thomas, Logion 96; also Mt 13:33, Luke 13:20
[iii] Gospel of Thomas, Logion 20; also Mt 13:31–32, Mk 4:30–32, Luke 13:18–19
[iv] Mt, 25:34 – 40, 45
©2024 Mystic Heart Spiritual Center, All Rights Reserved
Permission is granted to duplicate for non-commercial educational use only.
All rights to music performed remain with the copyright owners.
Diana Johnson’s music is © by Barefoot Angel Publishing, ASCAP.
Chris Johnson’s music is © by SeaJay Music & Publishing, ASCAP.