APRIL NEWSLETTER 2021
JESUS & the DIVINE LAWS
Written by Miguel Vives
“To attain the level of morality that every Spiritist needs in order to fulfill his mission as properly as possible, and to have peace somewhat while on earth, and to attain some happiness in the spirit world, he should fulfill the Divine Law. Where is this Law? It is the Gospel as proclaimed by Jesus…
“The fulfillment of those laws is vital to our moral progress, our inner peace and for our happiness...
“We know that he said that we should love each other as brothers and sisters…we should love our enemies, bless those who speak ill of us, pray for those that insult us and persecute us and return good for evil…
“It was not in vain that the Creator sent us the greatest spirit that has yet to set foot on this earth... Allan Kardec, with communications from the superior spirits, pointed out Jesus as our model and guide… [1]
“Therefore, those who follow him will not lose their way in terrestrial life…We should study him; the moral sense of his words, the spiritual laws [most importantly, we have an immortal soul that never dies] he taught us. We should study his behavior through his sacrifices, his abnegation, his love and his wisdom.
“We should, above all, study the purpose of his elevated mission because within this issue, there are two essential points of foremost importance…
“I have said that it is necessary to comprehend the Divine Law in order to fulfill it, and that is the first point that a Spiritist should attend to in order to follow the path of justice and love. Yet, there is the mission of Jesus another lesson…that is the consolation, the resignation and patience that his sacrifice can inspire within us…
“We are all here on this earth to be tested, and many are in expiation. At times, many years pass when the trials are not hard and the expiations are not very severe, but when the trials are such that we feel as if it will overwhelm us, when the expiation is so painful that we can hardly bear them, it is of great benefit to remember not only his commandments, but also his sufferings and the resignation of our great Teacher Jesus… Amidst his afflictions [abandoned by his apostles, imprisoned, scourged and finally crucified] he never complained, having only resignation with a superior calmness…he loved them all and pardoned them…The memory of such great acts should impel us towards resignation, to suffer pain without complaint and suffer trials with serene courage...”
(Excerpts from A Practical Guide for the Spiritist translated into English by our founder Edgar Crespo)
JESUS & DIVINE LOVE
Written by Léon Denis
“If Christ was the greatest of all missionaries and prophets, if he exerted so much power over humans, it was because he bore in him a more powerful reflection of Divine Love.”
(From his book The Problem of Life and Destiny, Ch. XXV, pp. 422-423. Translated from French by H.M. Monteiro. Copyright 2018, United States Spiritist Council, U.S.A.)
REINCARNATION & HELPING OTHERS
Inspirationally received by Yvonne C. Limoges
Regarding the law of reincarnation, Spiritists are periodically asked this question:
If someone is suffering or struggling through something and they deserve it (whether due to their own fault now or due to past life debts) should we help them if we can?
Whether we believe in reincarnation or not, all the major religions teach the Golden Rule, “treat others as you would want to be treated,” and it is the same with Spiritism.
However, to address the situation purely from a reincarnation perspective, the answer is still the same. Help them if you should and can.
You may be the very person placed in their path, through the natural course of events (many times planned prior to incarnating), to end that very person’s suffering because it was time for that person to get help or their suffering to end.
Another question frequently asked is:
What can we do to help someone if we are unable to assist them?
If we feel unable to help a person who we know needs help, we can provide words of comfort, encouragement, expressions of caring and love.
And, by PRAYER, requesting spiritual assistance for others is a charity and the good spirits second our intentions by providing aid in whatever way they can. We can pray for those we care about (and for ourselves) to receive emanations of healing, and spiritual vibrations for moral strength and courage in the midst of trials and tests, as well as to provide encouragement and hope.
We are all here in the material world to progress and we do that by interacting, learning from and helping one another. This can be very stressful, heartbreaking, frustrating, adversarial, and even dangerous. Yet, it also can be very wonderful!
“Do not judge, lest ye be judged.” We all have our particular faults and we are all very imperfect beings. We should do our very best to practice forgiveness, compassion, charity and love. We incarnate together to care for each other.
Remember, we are also held responsible for all the good we could have done, but did not do.
CHARITY – A Spirit Communication
“‘Love one another and do unto others what we wish they would do unto us.’ All that is religion and moral is contained in these two precepts. If they were observed in this world then everyone would be happy and there would be no more hate or resentment. I go even further; there would be no more poverty because all the poor people would be fed from the superfluity of the rich…
“Remember…if you repel a poor or needy person you may be repelling a spirit who was once dear to you (a brother, father, or friends from other times [past lives]) ...” - spirit of Sister Rosalie
(Excerpt from a spirit in Kardec’s book The Gospel according to Spiritism, Ch. 13, pp. 140-141, translated from the French by Janet Duncan)
A PERSON of VIRTUE
Written by Ramon Ortiz
What is virtue? It is the prize that a person of goodness gains when he/she puts into practice those things that enhance its spirit, things that are always based on morality and love, that we should partake with our fellow human beings without caring about race, color or creed.
The person that is good, is one that considers those that surround them as if they were their relatives, and shares with them whatever they have, always recognizing that under the Sun on Earth all children come from one Father, our Creator.
All human beings are created simple and innocent, but with a broad path opened to progress before them so they can work towards it individually, then, to therefore gain their infinite progress.
The ones that are wicked [ignorant of not comprehending being good and goodness is beneficial for eventual happiness] maintain thoughts of base passions, which has a tendency to make them fall under a spell which accumulates feelings of bitterness and suffering, multiplying, each time getting stronger.
Until one day, for the spirit, it is almost impossible for it to suffer anymore.
It is then, it begins to ponder and realize the error of their ways. It next decides to commence reparation of its harmful ways, which are many, because the spirit had alienated itself from the path of goodness, and instead taken the path of lower passions causing so much unhappiness and suffering, in their present and would in the future, if there is no change.
However, remorse causes the spirit to try and correct its ways (since the spirit stores in its inner self all the good and wrongfulness it has done).
Finally, it begins to change and sees the results of the beginning of its going along the right path, and being somewhat content, although still sorrowful due to its past indiscretions.
Afterwards, it will be happier knowing it has begun to acknowledge its errors, and that in the future, it will be more joyful.
When the spirit decides to transform itself into a person of goodness, doors will then open and they will lead it towards infinite progress.
It will begin to develop virtues which will conducts it towards humanity and the Creator, and this is what can be defined as a spirit of goodness and morality.
The morality that Jesus spoke of.
It is a goodness that can lift a person towards that infinite Supreme Creator!
That is then a person of virtue.
(A writing from a dear friend of my father’s, Edgar Crespo, and a member of the Spiritist Center they both attended in New York City – The Center for the Liberty of Spiritism [El Centro Libertad del Espiritismo] established in 1933)
CHANGE & PROGRESSION
Written Yvonne Crespo Limoges
Truly knowing ourselves, realizing our faults and making a conscious decision to change and putting changes into practice can be very difficult. Bad habits die hard. Selfishness and ego are tough enemies. More times than not, we have to learn the hard way through trial and error. Thank God, our spirit has innumerable lifetimes in order to make the necessary changes we need!
EDITORIAL: JUSTICE & PROGRESS
Written by Yvonne Crespo Limoges
Growing up and throughout my schooling whether it was in NYC or in Florida, all my teachers taught and spoke of our country as a “melting pot” made up of immigrants from many countries and this was a good thing, and what made our country great and different from others. We were all Americans no matter our heritage! It saddens me that the tone and the actions of some people have gotten so away from that idea.
Yet, we cannot forget that since our country’s beginning, we always had division problems (religious intolerance, slavery, injustice and inequalities of all kinds, etc.) among people and penetrating all our institutions, and continues to this day. Other countries have them, too.
Problems cannot be fixed unless they are exposed first, then they can be debated, and then there can be some changes in attitudes, which can then be channeled into creating laws to reflect more fairness and justice in a society. It is an ongoing struggle and constantly evolving situation…
However, our country is NOT the same as when it began. We have no institutional slavery; women can vote – it took 100 yrs.; we have labor laws, rights for disabled, etc., etc.). It has been a continual and difficult struggle by committed people (of which too many unfortunately have died throughout the many years) for the cause of seeking justice for themselves and others.
Sometimes, it seems we take two steps backward and one step forward. Yet, beneficial changes have been made throughout the years and continuing, and this shows us change is possible so we can never lose hope for a much fairer more unified less divisive society. As mankind evolves in morality, there is change towards goodness.
The law of progress is very slow, but persistent. It is a Divine law, and therefore shall be fulfilled.
BEARING WITNESS - Points to Ponder
Written by Yvonne Crespo Limoges
Technology can be used for good or ill. Its most powerful use in modern times has been to bear witness, that is, “to show that something exists or is true” (Merriam-Webster dictionary). The smart phone and social media have revealed human acts that may have never been known and it has had great impact on society. May the truth set us free!
A PRAYER of GRATITUDE
Inspirationally Received by Julie L. Harper
Dear Lord, I revel within glorification of your Divine Laws that support and sustain life in perfect order. And, I humbly rejoice in the wonders of what I do not know, for your superior ways are far beyond my intellect.
Thank you for seeding the hearts of all people with the essence of your love.
May each and every one of us connect to this love and express it daily in your honor so that we may enliven peace within ourselves, and be equipped as bringers of the peace upon Earth that we desire.
Thank you for our free will to choose, for that enables us to receive the merit of our efforts in rising above all that is not of love and grace...
May all people's hearts open to the magnificence of your loving truths, for even just a glimmer, can become a spark to ignite progress. Amen
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Edited by Yvonne Crespo Limoges, Director
E-mail: ylimoges@aol.com
Spiritist Society of Florida (est. 1982) 5042 22 Avenue North
St. Petersburg, Florida 33710
Website: www.spiritistsocietyfl.com
[1] Revealed also by high moral spirit teachings received from the spirit of Silver Birch by mediumship of Maurice Barbanell (1902-1981) and from the spirits communicating by the mediumship of Rev. William Stainton Moses (1839-892).
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