Week 29: Self-Effort, too, is Needed
Our Affirmation For July
Stanza 7:
“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”
Matthew 5:8
Blessed are they who live unshakably in the consciousness of inner peace; who emanate peace to everyone whose lives they touch. They shall be hailed as instruments of the Lord.
Swami Kriyananda
From the book
The Beatitudes: Their Inner Meaning by Swami Kriyananda
Rays of One Light: Weekly Commentaries on the
Bible and The Bhagavad Gita
by Swami Kriyananda
“Who was it who touched me?” Jesus asked. When everybody denied it, Peter remonstrated, “Master, the crowds are all round, pressing you on every side!” But Jesus said, “Somebody touched me. I felt power going out from me.” When the woman realized that she had not escaped notice, she came forward trembling and fell at his feet, and admitted before everyone why she had touched him, adding that she had been instantaneously cured. “Daughter,” Jesus said, “It is by your faith that you have been healed. Go in peace.”
St. Luke, Chapter 8
To those who meditate on Me as their Very Own, ever united to Me by incessant worship, I make good their deficiencies, and render permanent their gains.
Bhagavad Gita, the ninth Chapter
Excerpted From Week 29 Self-Effort, too, is Needed
113. I Want to Feel Thee Just Behind the Voice of My Prayer
O Father, Thou art just behind my vision with which I see Thy beauty without. Thou art just behind my listening power with which I hear Thy voice in all Creation. Thou art just behind my touch with which I feel Thy world. In the sweetness of flowers and in the zest of sustaining food lies hidden the essence of Thy being: Thine eternal sweetness. Thou art just behind the voice of my prayer. Thou art just behind the mind with which I pray. Thou art just behind my glistening feelings. Thou art just behind my thoughts. Thou art just behind my cravings for Thee. Thou art just behind my meditations. Thou art just behind the veil of Nature’s splendors. Thou art just behind the screen of my love. Behind all these mystic screens, reveal Thyself as Thou art!
What inspired me from this week’s reading from the Rays of One Light to share with everyone was…
She came up behind Jesus and touched the edge of his cloak. As a result, her hemorrhage stopped immediately. “Who was it who touched me?” Jesus asked. When everybody denied it, Peter remonstrated, “Master, the crowds are all round, pressing you on every side!” But Jesus said, “Somebody touched me. I felt power going out from me.” When the woman realized that she had not escaped notice, she came forward trembling and fell at his feet, and admitted before everyone why she had touched him, adding that she had been instantaneously cured. “Daughter,” Jesus said, “It is by your faith that you have been healed. Go in peace.”
In our meditation, I thought we would spend some time reflecting on what does having faith mean to you? What does having faith in Jesus mean to you? What did having faith mean to the woman who touched Jesus's cloak? What do you think having faith in Jesus would mean to Jesus? But before we enter into our reflection and meditation we will listen to Peace by Swami Kriyananda.
Peace by Swami Kriyananda
Lyrics
1. Peace gave us the mountains.
Peace gave us the sky.
Nightly, when starlight enfolds us,
Peace is its lullaby.
Amen. Amen.
2. Peace gave us the morning.
Peace gave us the sun.
Bird songs that call us to welcome
Day, and fresh labors begun.
Amen. Amen.
3. Peace gave us the seasons.
Peace gave us the rain—
Cool clouds that gather to bless us,
Mist hands that soothe away pain.
Amen. Amen.
4. Peace gave us our hearts’ love.
Peace gave us our smiles:
Rays of God’s presence within us.
Light that all strife reconciles.
Amen. Amen.
