Advent: Metaphysically Speaking

Love Came Down at Christmas

Christ is born anew in hearts and minds around the world at Christmas time. And for those with eyes to see and ears to hear, His love fills the earth with glory, the theme for the fourth Sunday of Advent. We come to the Nativity with minds and hearts open and receptive to the Word of God.

The infant Jesus was born to Mary in Bethlehem. Charles Fillmore responded to questions about the Virgin Birth in this way:

Unity accepts the virgin birth of Jesus,
and finds in it a deep metaphysical significance.
Tradition tells us that Mary was not only
virgin by reason of her unmarried state, but she was
also virgin in mind and heart.
Just as Jesus was born to one whose mind and heart were
pure and uncorrupted,
so too is the Spirit of Christ born into individual consciousness
as the mind and heart are made pure and clean.

Awakening consciousness surrounds itself with star light and candle light symbolizing spiritual enlightenment. The angels are messengers of God pointing the way to the Christ. The shepherds keeping watch over their sheep will come to symbolize Jesus as the Good Shepherd—one who protects and guides. The Wise Men from the East represent the inner resources of Spirit giving birth to the One who would be called Teacher. His birth in a stable with a manger for His bed signifies the humble beginnings of all people everywhere.

\

When we follow His star and let love shine through every thought, word and action, we too shall grow beyond the humble to the glorious.

Rev. Claudia Naylor

Read more!

Advent: Metaphysically Speaking

Joy to the World!

Like the Wisemen, we seek the Star in the East. During Advent we journey from that place in consciousness we now inhabit to the birth place of wisdom and love, deep within our soul. Our journey can last a mere heart beat or a life time.

Jesus, the teacher, was born 2,000 years ago in Bethlehem. The Christ is born anew in Man with every prayer, with every awakening soul. No matter who we are, where we are or what we have done along the way, the Christ affirms: "and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age." (Mt.28:20)

The Children of Israel were notoriously bad about going astray on their journey of awakening. During the time of Isaiah, God finally resorted to what we would call tough love because the people failed to heed His Word and ignored punishment. But even as He condemned them to paying the consequences of their actions, He reaffirmed His love for them with the promise of a redemption. Isaiah prophesied the return of the people to the House of the Lord:

Many people shall come and say,
"Come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
To the house of the God of Jacob;
He will teach us His ways,
And we shall walk in His paths."
He shall judge between the nations,
And rebuke many people;
They shall beat their swords into plowshares,
And their spears into pruning hooks;
Nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
Neither shall they learn war anymore.
Is. 2:3-4

If we are to live with hope, in peace, and celebrate the birth of our own indwelling Lord, then we must set aside all warring thoughts and feelings. And if we would feel the joy of Advent, then let us join together to Behold the Christ in all who would war against us. Not to fix them, but to hold them in the Circle of God’s Love.

Rev. Claudia Naylor

Read more!

Advent: Metaphysically Speaking

His Peace Be Upon You!

Advent is a spiritual journey into the birth of Christ consciousness. If we set aside time from the holiday rush to meditate upon the true meaning and purpose of Christmas, then we feel the rush of joy and anticipation which come from seeking and finding God in the very inmost parts of our being.

Jesus was not born to die for us, but to teach us how to live! To know the love of God and to seek a deeper understanding of His law. Advent and the birth of Jesus symbolize the coming of light into the world at the darkest time of the year. The teachings of Jesus are a shining light amidst the confusions and temptations of the world.

Let us pray for peace of mind and heart for all people, everywhere--and mean it! We pray not just for those we know and approve of, but for those who's actions and beliefs are contrary to all we hold dear. When we behold the Christ in everyone, our light shines brightly unto all the world and we are made new again, free again, in Christ.

Rev. Claudia Naylor

Read more!

The Metaphysics of Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Day traditionally is a time for families and friends to get together to overeat and overdose on football. But for many, it is a day of service to others through food banks, feed the hungry programs, visits and calls. We at Decatur Unity Church will be delivering food and cold weather clothing to a local shelter this week.

Thanks-giving is an opportunity for each of us to consciously, and with purpose, give thanks by giving back to the family of God. As Joel Goldsmith wrote in Leave Your Nets:

There is no kingdom of heaven
except on earth,
so there is no way to achieve heaven
except through achieving it on earth;
and the only way to achieve heaven on earth
is to serve God on earth,
and the only way to serve God on earth
is to serve man in the realization
of God as man's real being.

Unity uses the metaphysical approach to understanding the deeper meanings in life and living through study and prayer. Jesus taught by word and by example often using phrases such as he who has ears to here, let him hear. Jesus sought God's presence through prayer and always gave thanks.

Thanksgiving is a state of consciousness and the more open we are to giving thanks, the more receptive we are to the Kingdom of God and all it's blessings. Every blessing we give, flows through our hearts and minds and then into the world--it isn't possible to give a blessing without being the blessing.

Rev. Claudia Naylor

Read more!

Surrender in Faith

Charles and Myrtle Fillmore founded Unity upon the power of prayer--to heal, to prosper, to change lives. We who follow in their foot steps often find ourselves struggling with the concept of surrender. To say Let Go and Let God! is easy to say, but to do it requires a large measure of faith in God. Jesus said:

Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me;
nevertheless, not as I will but as You will.

(Mt.26:38)

We have all faced tremendous challenges at times in our lives and have cried out to God to spare us the pain, to ease our fears and doubts. We long for understanding and comfort. Well meaning friends urge say: just have faith or God never gives us more than we can handle....

Surrender to God is not about giving up, but about getting out of the way! We are told that good can come out of bad, that the ill will of Joseph's brothers put him in the right place at the right time. When we are hurting, that's not all that comforting. It has been said that God can do no more for us, than he can do through us. When faced with loss, I can choose to act as I feel or as I believe.

The search for answers can lead us into a closer, more conscious awareness of God. Robert and Janet Ellsworth wrote in Come Apart for Awhile,

"God, I don't understand what is happening here.

I don't like it. But I know that Your will for me is good.
I trust in You. I surrender."

Rev. Claudia Naylor

Read more!