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How the Divine feeds the people HOW DID THE BLESSED MASTER feed the multitudes amid a desert place? In the Gospel Records it is stated that it was by means of five barley loaves and two fishes. These he is said to have multiplied to nourish fully five thousand, to have increased the loaves and fishes in such a manner as to meet the demands of so great a number, that all were satisfied, and twelve baskets full of fragments remained over. According to the evangelists it was only a physical event. There is not the least suggestion that the event was a spiritual work. And in that light has it been received and understood through the eighteen centuries of this era in which the Churches have ministered unto the people. And in like manner has the other allegory recorded in the first two Records concerning the feeding of more than four thousand in the wilderness upon seven barley loaves and a few small fishes.

The feeding of the multitudes by the Master had to be by parable. ‘Without a parable spake He not unto them.’ They were parables which appealed to all the senses, the five avenues by means of which they could be fed. The eye, the ear, the taste, the feeling, and the touch, were all spoken to in these parables. Great spiritual truths were illustrated by them. They spoke of the true way of life, and the beautiful issues of following that way; of the false ways of men and women, and the sad results which came to them. They set forth the value of the Soul in dealing with man as a spiritual unit, and how the Divine Love sought unto the finding of every one willing to hear His word and receive its message. They made manifest the nature of the evil in the world which opposed the good, and the hardships it imposed upon all Souls; and they revealed how that evil was to be overthrown, and the whole world of Soul-life

Spiritual Reflections

The Order of the Cross

September October

November 2017

redeemed. They illustrated many phases of the Soul’s experience both sorrowful and joyful, and the profound love of the Father for all. They indicated something of its history in past ages, and implied the nature of the unspeakable loss which had come to it. They pointed out the way by which that loss could be recovered, and encouraged the seeker to strive to regain what had been lost. The way of the redeemed life was clearly implied in them; and there was made obvious the meaning of the blessed inheritance of the Christhood.

The Master pp.288/290/291

THE ORDER OF THE CROSS SPIRITUAL REFLECTIONS

SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER 2017

Thoughts on the Teachings John Pignéguy

OURISHMENT IS CENTRAL TO LIFE. This is, of course, stating the obvious, but then sometimes the “obvious” may not be quite

what it seems or what we may think it is, or what it really means. And nourishment comes in many forms, from the outer act of feeding ourselves in our daily lives to the inner nourishment that comes to each one of us as we seek to find a true spiritual path, true for us as individuals, that is.

“The feeding of the five thousand” is one of the great Bible stories, and while the traditional and more literal Church interpretation of this remarkable story is the one that tends to prevail, nevertheless there must be many people who question this particular approach. Looked at objectively, this parable does not really make a lot of sense, and anyone trying to get to the heart of it will, in conventional terms, probably just have to either accept that what they are being told is the truth, or else try and think it all out for themselves. After all, a healthy scepticism can produce surprising results – careful thought and consideration can often bring a personal sense of illumination, a dawning awareness of some kind of spiritual truth(s). This process brings with it its own gentle momentum.

As Thomas Paine memorably put it in his ground-breaking book “The Age of Reason” in the 1700s – “My own mind is my own church,” and a more enlightened and individual approach to such stories could help make all the difference.

Our Friend’s words in the cover-extract concerning the two parables of “The feeding of the multitudes” give us a clear indication of the true inner meanings of these stories: “Great spiritual truths were illustrated by them. They spoke of the true way of life and the beautiful issues of following that way…..”

Our individual response to such truths will surely be firstly a real sense of gratitude to the Heavens for the dawning enlightenment which such inner awareness brings with it. And secondly, and most especially, gratitude to those who we meet in our own everyday lives, those Souls whose spiritual and personal attributes enable others to learn more of “the profound love of the Father for all.”

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Thus the true meaning of these parables, and of the spiritual nourishment alluded to, can become clearer. Additionally, the fact that “the way of the redeemed life was clearly implied in them” does indeed illustrate “the meaning of the blessed inheritance of the Christhood.”

The Language of Canaan A Service taken by Andrea Kerr in Aberdeen

Alan Anderson "In that day there shall be Five Cities in the land of Egypt which shall speak the language of Canaan"

OW LOVELY IT WAS for the Aberdeen Group and friends to welcome Andrea Kerr as Ministrant at our Worship Service on

a glorious summer's day in June. As usual, we met in the lovely Sanctuary provided for us by Dorothy Reid in her home.

The theme of Andrea's Service was from the Message of Isaiah concerning the relationship of Egypt (the realm of manifestation), Assyria (the intermediary realms between Egypt and the Angelic Kingdom) and Israel (the Divine World in the Soul system) and the necessity for the language of Canaan to be restored to the Children of Issa-Ra-El.

The language of Canaan was the language of Divine Love and Wisdom spoken within the Inner Heavens and interpreted through all the Heavens of Divine Manifestations.

Isaiah, p270

Andrea went on to read of the importance of the City of Jericho in the land of Canaan - the City of Roses very specially related to the Angelic Love and Wisdom – and how the City must be regained by the Children of Israel.

The possession of it was vital to the Soul. For the Soul must know Angelic Love and Wisdom. It is through the knowledge of such Love and Wisdom that the Soul comes at last to know the Presence; not only feel that Presence as a breath around it, as an influence upon it, as a strange surging motion within itself, but to know that Presence as part of itself: though seemingly

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distinct, so vital that it interfuses the whole Being, changing it, exalting it, transforming it, transfiguring it, and thus glorifying it until, knowing the Presence as the LORD of BEING, the Soul becomes like HIM.

Herald 27, p30

And Canaan is a land flowing with milk and honey and we are reminded that milk is symbolic of Divine nourishment and honey represents the Divine Wisdom in its innermost.

It is necessary for Israel, for all the future of this World, to come back to Divine Fatherhood and Motherhood. They were the Fathers and Mothers of Divine Love and Wisdom who gave unto the children the milk and honey of the Life-stream of GOD. Beloved ones, all the future of this World's story is dependent upon GOD. But HE works through HIS Children. And HE can work only in the measure in which HIS Children who are upon these planes respond to the operations of HIS glorious outpouring.

Herald 27, pp40,41

It was a special joy to have with us on this occasion Camilla William-Olsson, our Member from Sweden. Dorothy had prepared a lovely meal and the eleven of us were able to have a time of happy fellowship sharing thoughts on the theme of the Service and news of Members from around the World.

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A Much Loved Hymn Robert Rider

O Love that wilt not let me go I rest my weary Soul on Thee I give Thee back the life I owe That in Thine ocean depths its flow May richer, fuller be.

HUS READS THE FIRST VERSE of one of our much loved hymns. I wonder how many know the poignant story that lay behind the

writing of it?

The composer, George Matheson, was a distinguished minister and theologian. As a brilliant scholar at university he fell in love with another student and they planned to marry. However, he learned that his eyesight, already very poor, was to soon leave him entirely, and she, unable to accept the prospect of life with a blind man, left him.

Many year later on the day of his sister’s wedding, and spending the night alone in the manse, he experienced a crisis which he described as causing him, ‘severe mental distress’ no doubt occasioned by the wedding and its reminder of what might have been. It was then that the inspiration for this hymn came to him.

He wrote: The hymn was the fruit of that suffering. It was the quickest bit of work I ever did in my life. I had the impression of having it dictated to me by some inward voice rather than working it out myself. I am quite sure that the whole work was completed in five minutes, and equally sure that it never received at my hands any retouching or correction. I have no natural gift of rhythm. All the other verses I have ever written are manufactured articles; this came like a dayspring from on high.’

The Mystery here expressed is frequently experienced, commented upon and in varying degree, understood, by many highly creative and gifted Souls, for whom such sudden inspiration appears, but with its source however, unclear.

Sir John Gielgud spoke of it:

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‘One prepares a table and hopes that the Gods will dine with you.’

Dame Janet Baker in a BBC4 interview remarked: ‘If the Fates are with you the magic can descend.’

Charles Dodgson, who wrote Alice in Wonderland, describes how the story came to be written, ‘almost involuntarily’ and of how:

‘...fancies unsought came crowding thick upon him. In writing it out I added many ideas which seemed to grow of themselves upon the original stock ... every such idea and nearly every word of the dialogue, came of itself.’

and, John Buchan, in his autobiography Memory Hold-the-Door writes:

‘I was always telling myself stories or rather; being told stories, for they seemed to work themselves out independently.’

How surprised these souls would be, to learn that such inspiration had its source within themselves, drawn from the rich storehouse we name the Intuition; a granary of gifts acquired, exercised and up-gathered from many lifetimes.

The Intuition is the realm from which great Artists bring out their gifts, the revelation that is within them.’

Herald XXVII, p157 The Flowering Tree and our Inner Life Margery Van Zyl

HE FINE OPENING SERVICE of the 2017 Easter Gathering took as its theme The Tree of Life and some of us were encouraged to

think of helpful correspondences between our inner life and trees on these outer planes; for their quiet dignity belies the intense inner activity in their channels and functioning. “Like the straightness of the pine trees, let me upright be” says the hymn, and we reach up to those New Heavens and imagine the trunk of the tree being within us like a tower.

In you HE has built HIS Tower. HE built it great ages ago. It is a tower of observation for from its summit, you can look out in your vision; and it is also a water tower to gather the Waters

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of Truth up into you. You are supplied with Eternal Waters that give life unto those to whom you minister.

Herald XX, p147

The trunk of the tree signifies the upright way of life, feet firmly on the ground but head in the clouds, a symbol of strength and power but at the same time supple. The wind can bend a sapling double but the same ‘give’ is present in the mightiest oak. The cells of the wood are like hollow brick tiles made of double walls of cellulose, which are flexible but strong.

We have wonderful inner circulations in our seven bodies and planes; the tree trunk has channels – xylem in the sapwood taking water and elements upwards and phloem in the outer layer of the cambium carrying elements and sugars down from the leaves to all parts of the tree. The cambium is a very thin green layer just under the bark and the cambium cells are divided in two – the inner part the nourishing channels, the outer, the active cells laying down new growth – the rings we see displaying the tree’s age in years. Could this remind us of the wall of the Vineyard with its two sections? – the Vortexya drawing down the Divine Streams and the other our microcosmic processes of growth and evolution midst the Atmospheria of the planet.

The trunk of a mature tree is indeed a power house drawing up twenty tons of water a year to the branches and leaves and having an amazing power to repair injuries, akin to the preservation that has been ours over the aeons with the aid of the divine Myrrh. At the centre of the trunk is the dark heartwood, stained by resins and witness to the pressures of a lifetime, while the light sapwood is converted to a pillar of strength, its defences intact – waterproof and often fireproof.

The roots of a tree gather water and minerals from the earth and store sugar brought down to them by the phloem from photosynthesis in the leaves. The elements and water contain spiritual forces vital with power. There are no magnetic currents in stagnant waters. The roots of a vine can go down to forty feet often to the lower water table and springs (such as Buxton) come from a depth of four thousand five hundred feet with a travel time of five thousand years. Think of the channels in our inner life: that

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of the aetheric body is the emotion while at the same time the aetheric is the vehicle for the Divine Lifestream dispersing its flow throughout our whole structure – plexuses, bodies and planes.

We learn of the circulation of electric and magnetic forces by means of the Endocrine system, first through the Aetheric Body and then to the lower centres. There are two ducts along the length of the spine and these along with the Pituitary and Thyroid are involved in the work of the Aetheric. There is too the Divine Standard, our inner correspondence of the Golden Candlestick each of the seven branches a conduit for the nourishing Golden Oil.

We come across mention of special trees in the Teachings – the Olive with its precious oil and the Fig, nourishing the soul with its wisdom. Frankincense comes from the Boswellia Tree Boswellia sacra, Myrrh from the Cistus Tree Commiphora myrrha (editor’s note: this is not the same as the Cistus of horticulture with which Members will be familiar) and Spikenard from the shrubby Valerian Nardostachys jatamansi.

In the unfallen days, the vessels of transit between the Isles of the Great Sea, the Great Deep of the planetary circuli, were built of very special woods:

The Fir Trees of Senir were the evergreen or abiding spiritual elements out of which life itself is built up. For Senir is of Mount Hermon where the Dews of GOD rest upon the tender roots and leaves. The uprights or standards were of the Cedars of Lebanon for the standards relate to Righteousness and are of the substance of the Christhood. The Oak Trees of Bashan signify fruition and the offering up of the fruits in sacrifice. The Asshurites had a ministry of guardianship and so are said to have fashioned canopies from the Cypress Wood which has an inner meaning relating to the Eternal Youth of the Soul.

Ezekiel, p21

A short article cannot do justice to the wealth of wisdom given to us in the Teachings on the Tree of Life; suffice to mention the leaves of spiritual knowledge “for the healing of the nations” and the function of the leaves in their dual action of indrawing on the

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breath, the atmosphere of HIS Presence and giving forth of Divine attributes in service.

We are told too, describing the blooms of the Tree: In states of our life we may be as buds held by the mysterious calyx against the day of our opening, our unfolding. But we are meant to unfold and not remain all our life as buds.

Herald XXIX, p182

We remember lovely poetic images of blooms on the tree kissing the sunbeams (Divine Renaissance II, p490) and the winds of GOD having blown for aeons through the elements and essences of our Being. In trees that fructify, the fruit is a crystallisation of the essences of the life of the tree, gathering up into itself the glory of the Sun. In us the fruitage means the up gathering of the inner powers for our service in everyday life.

The fruits are the quintessence of the life expressed in the plants and their substances are beautifully spiritual.

Life’s Mysteries Unveiled, p168

Even as the flowering tree needs the sunshine as well as the stimulating chemicals of the earth at its roots: even as it needs the breaths to blow through its arms and its leaves; so we need to draw from the great deep of the sacred Mystery of Being, and to drink in continuously of the glorious magnetic streams which proceed from the Lord of Being as the Sun of our life, and to feel the wafting of HIS Breath through all the planes of our Being. We grow thus before HIM, and as we grow we are endowed

Divine Renaissance II, p150

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The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Patrick Barnes

RECENTLY PICKED UP Gibbons’ Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire and was surprised to learn from the modern foreword

that the author had been vilified by the Church for his portrayal of early Christianity.

While reading the offending chapters (13, 14 and 15) I discovered a most curious unveiling that appears to originate from the Roman records of the reign of the Emperor Vespasian of the actions of his Procurator in Judea.

And I quote ‘Among the Christians who were brought to the Tribunal of the Emperor, or, as it seems more probable, before that of the Procurator of Judea where two persons, were said to have appeared, distinguished by their extraction, which was more truly noble than that of the greatest Monarchs. These were the grandsons of St Jude the apostle, who himself was the brother of Jesus Christ. Their natural pretentions to the throne of David might perhaps attract the respect of the people, and excite the jealousy of the governor, but the meanness of their garb, and the simplicity of their answers soon convinced him that they were neither desirous nor capable of disturbing the peace of the Roman Empire. They frankly confessed their royal origin and their near relationship to the Messiah but they disclaimed any temporal views and professed that His Kingdom, which they devoutly expected, was purely of a spiritual and angelic nature. When they were examined concerning their fortune and occupation, they showed their hands hardened with daily labour, and declared that the derived their whole subsistence from the cultivation of a farm near the village of Coccible, of the extent of about 24 English acres, and of the value of 4,000 drachmas or 300 pounds sterling. The grandsons of St Jude were dismissed with compassion and contempt.’

What a truly inspiring example of humble but regal manifestation these two showed. It gives a fullness of the heart to me that there was indeed a family carrying on quietly, humbly, with the true nature of a Christhood as their banner.

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New Web Site new Order of the Cross website has now been launched, it can be found in a similar way to the old one i.e.

www.orderofthecross.org this will get you to the home page as below:

Just navigate by either clicking on the pictures or by clicking on the boxed text. Anywhere there is text in light blue indicates a link and you can click on this to find more information.

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HE COMMUNAL SHARING CIRCLE is international and open to all. All you need to join us is a phone! Three regional calls are

scheduled to serve our global community:

I: North America, Australia and New Zealand – 00h00 GMT II: Europe, Australia and New Zealand – 08h00 GMT III: North America and Europe – 16h00 GMT

Local times and dial-in numbers are listed below (pp13,14). Readings taken from the books are referenced on the schedule; others require a service document, which may be received by email or post.

WE WELCOME YOU to join us as a reader or listener. Feel free to participate as frequently or infrequently as you like. If possible, please call in 3-5 minutes before the hour and introduce yourself when joining the call.

FELLOWSHIP CALLS on 2nd Saturdays – September 9, October 14, November 11 – help us get to know each other better and consider ways to improve our Sunday calls. Fellowship calls begin at 8:00 am Pacific time (11:00 am EDT/EST, 4:00 pm in the UK).

SCHEDULE SEPTEMBER 3 I & III Worship Service – Ministrant: Elsie Danielsson The Garden of Eden [Document provided]

10 III Ongoing Study taken from Divine Renaissance II Ministrant: Elsie Danielsson

17 II & III Spiritual Linking – Ministrant: Christopher Nye Mystery of the Light Within Us, pp.186-192, The Girdle

24 III Communal Sharing – Ministrant: Esther Gowan Herald 20, pp.205-215, A Meditation on the Regeneration

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Communal Sharing: Services and Studies by Phone

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OCTOBER 1 I & III Worship Service – Ministrant: Dawn Culverwell The Call of the Prophet [Document provided]

8 III Ongoing Study taken from Divine Renaissance II Ministrant: Jan Holmes

15 II & III Spiritual Linking – Ministrant: Christopher Nye The Message and the Work [booklet]

22 III Communal Sharing – Ministrant: John Blossom LMU, pp 367-3, The Way of Divine Healing

NOVEMBER 5 I & III Worship Service – Ministrant: Lindajean Stewart Creation [Document provided]

12 III Ongoing Study taken from Divine Renaissance II Ministrant: Patrick Barnes

19 II & III Spiritual Linking – Ministrant: Christopher Nye Herald 31, pp.2-12, The Triune God

26 III Communal Sharing – Ministrant: Ian van Zyl Love [Document provided]

FOR MORE INFORMATION and to receive service documents by mail or email, please contact the Communal Sharing Coordinator:

Esther Gowan • [email protected] • (1) 805-542-9133

LOCAL TIMES – With the advent of service to Australia and New Zealand, Communal Sharing calls are now scheduled year-round on Universal Time (GMT). To find the call-in time for your locality, refer to column A or B according to whether your Time Zone is currently observing Daylight Saving Time.

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A – Daylight Saving Time in Northern Hemisphere

I A: 00h00 GMT 5 pm PDT (Sat. eve.) 8 pm EDT (Sat. eve.) 8 am AWST 10 am AEST 12 pm NZST

II A: 08h00 GMT 9 am BST (U.K.) 4 pm AWST 6 pm AEST 8 pm NZST (1 am PDT) (USA)

III A: 16h00 GMT 9 am PDT 12 pm EDT 5 pm BST (U.K.) (12 am next day AWST) (4 am next day NZST)

B – Daylight Saving Time in Southern Hemisphere

I B: 00h00 GMT 4 pm PST (Sat. eve.) 7 pm EST (Sat. eve.) 8 am AWST 11 am AEDT 1 pm NZDT

II B: 08h00 GMT 8 am GMT (U.K.) 4 pm AWST 7 pm AEDT 9 pm NZDT (12 am PST) (USA)

III B: 16h00 GMT 8 am PST 11 am EST 4 pm GMT (U.K.) (12 am next day AWST) (5 am next day NZDT)

INTERNATIONAL PHONE NUMBERS FOR COMMUNAL SHARING CALLS

COUNTRY PHONE NUMBER Australia

Canada Ireland

New Zealand Sweden

United Kingdom United States

(0) 2 8355 1039 (1) 647-497-9379 (0) 19 030 050 (0) 9 925 0481 (0) 853 527 817 (0) 330 221 0099 (1) 646-749-3117

ACCESS CODE: 506-112-581 # #

(Same code for all countries)

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Spiritual Linking Christopher Nye

HE READING FOR SEPTEMBER IS

“The Girdle” Part 2 The Mystery of the Light Within Us

It will take place on Sunday 17th

There are two Readings for September. Firstly, 08h00 GMT that is 9am in the UK, 4pm in Western Australia, 6pm in Eastern Australia and 8pm in New Zealand. Secondly, 16h00 GMT that is 5pm in the UK, 9am PDT in North America.

HE READING FOR OCTOBER IS

The Booklet “The Message and The Work” It will take place on Sunday 15th

There are two Readings for October. Firstly, 08h00 GMT that is 9am in the UK, 4pm in Western Australia, 7pm in Eastern Australia and 9pm in New Zealand. Secondly, 16h00 GMT that is 5pm in the UK, 9am PDT in North America.

HE READING FOR NOVEMBER IS

“The Triune God” Herald 31 pages 2-12

It will take place on Sunday 19h

There are two Readings for November. Firstly, 08h00 GMT that is 8am in the UK, 4pm in Western Australia, 7pm in Eastern Australia and 9pm in New Zealand. Secondly, 16h00 GMT that is 4pm in the UK, 8am PDT in North America.

Dial-in numbers are listed in the Communal Sharing Circle announcement.

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If you are interested in joining us at one of these Gatherings

contact us using the Order of the Cross contact details below, telling us something about yourself and which Gathering you

would like to attend.

September 29-02 Oct S, SE, and W Areas Gathering, Charney Manor, Oxfordshire October 20-27 Northern Area Gathering, Gartmore House, Stirling

GATHERINGS AND EVENTS

CHANGES OF ADDRESS If you have changed your address or any of your contact details, please notify Roger Score at:

The Order of the Cross 27 Old Gloucester Street, LONDON, WC1N 3AX

Email: [email protected] or Telephone 0207 1176 059

This will ensure that Spiritual Reflections is sent to your new address and that all your contact details are updated on our database. If anyone wishes to reproduce a portion of Spiritual Reflections, permission should be sought from the Editor in advance, at the above address, or:

Email: [email protected]

All articles are the individual responsibility of the writers and should not be taken as authoritative.

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ow did the blessed aster - orderofthecross.org remarkable story is the one that tends to prevail,...

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