Superior Index Go to the next: Chapter 5
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Blessed Seekers for the Gift of Faith,
What shall we say to a world who has pinned her faith upon a cross of Matter? Matter simply means "Mater," or "Mother"; and the powers of nature - air, sea, and land, wind, and flame - all come under the domain of the spiritual Father. Without the impregnation and the holding pattern of the eternal Spirit, the womb of Matter would be unable to bring forth the Manchild of cosmic reality.
At Banff, in the great Temple of Faith presided over by Archangel Michael, we are continually beholding the needs of a planet and its people. We are also taking note of how destructive innuendos are being subtly introduced through popular figures of society.
For example, one of your well-known television personalities in the United States recently had a man on his program who paraphrased the Master Jesus' statement "Man shall not live by bread alone"1 saying, "I live by bread alone." And the commentator laughed. Around the world a titter was heard, ridiculing the master's statement and seeking to destroy the faith of men in the realities of the Spirit. But these can never be gainsaid. For whereas men have said that if a tree should fall and no one would be there to hear it, that no sound would be made, it is not really so; for the agitations of the air would still occur, and their sound would be sent forth.
Thus the Father pulsates his love and his light and his life out into the universe. He feeds the fountains of faith in the world and in the human heart. He wraps the soul in mantles of cosmic structures, holding to the principle of life everlasting. While men see death everywhere, some preparing for it and some not, some knowing about it and others knowing little about it, the principles of light and faith are seldom really understood or sought.
Mindful of the statement of beloved Gautama that we can help only those whom we can reach in a direct way, we hope this year to produce miracles of worded expressions calculated to make men and women literally leap into the arms of divine reality. We want to make the temples of light live in the consciousness of men, even as earthly edifices do. We want to charge man's search with the affinities of the angelic hosts that will polarize and draw into the world of men the deep abiding faith and love that are a part of the angels.
We know that human destiny has often permitted itself to become wrapped up in a temporal moment. We know that thousands of delusions and clamoring sounds are almost able to insulate men and women from the temples of faith. But, because the angels and the archangels are towering figures in the cosmic world whose majesty of elevation and nobleness of service combine to generate in the world the glory of spiritual blessings, we cannot be still. We must sing out, even when unheard, "Joy to the world, the Lord has come!"
True it is that men and women can pity an age that becomes wedded to materialism. True it is that men and women can see in the fulfillment of their earthly dreams the shaping of reality. But it is also true, and more so, that spiritual goals and spiritual realities span the centuries and exalt the senses out of their limited communion with wells of matter into the cloud-capped domes of celestial spires.
How real is heaven! How real is the invisible world! How real is the world of fire - that is, the fire of the Spirit! How erroneous it is for men and women to linger carelessly in the sacking thoughts of mere mortal life, bypassing those opportunities that often do not come again when desired, while the hand of life stands ready to bestow upon them the joys of heavenly octaves and the power of the Christ consciousness. We pray, then, in full faith that the drawing magnitude of Archangel Michael and his legions of blue-flame angels may continue to send out into the world everywhere their magnificent songs of faith and praise. What a pity that many do not hear these songs. What a pity that the sounds of the world drown out the magnificent oratorios of the heavenly world.
We come this year, when the strength of men needs to be the strength of ten, to offer bowers of faith and even temple alcoves of faith for the repose of the consciousness whenever it is tired and weary of the drudgery and oppressions of the world. Come to Banff, come to the inner temples while the body sleeps! While you rest passively away from the cares of the world, enter into the solitude of communion with the angels!
Men and women whose business upon earth is at executive levels and those of attainment that require a sustaining momentum of power can recharge themselves at our retreat. Through the awareness that they are not identified with their bodies, they can let go of the heavy folds of the flesh that hold and mold them to old inharmonies; they can soar in thought as well as in consciousness in body vehicles pulsing with living flame. The comfortable aspects of all of this are beyond belief, for the flame that engulfs the rising spirit is one of coolness and sweetness, a light and airy reality that draws the soul nigh to the most beautiful experiences that have ever occurred to that one hitherto.
We are concerned with men and women of all ages, but naturally two segments interest us the most from time to time: the children who can be taught and are learning the business of life and who should also be taught the spiritual graces, and those who are more mature whose life fulfillments have been either satisfying or distressing. To these segments of humanity as well as to that band of lifestreams who are in between, we wish to offer our assistance so that all men may receive that which they need today.
The passions of youth can be curbed and controlled, they can be guided. It is not so easy for those who are more mature to change their unfruitful habit patterns; but hope also lives in them, if they will only permit it to manifest. If they will remain receptive to the voice within while looking to be covered with the glory of faith, they will receive from that cloud of witnesses2 who have inhabited the ages the song of their gratitude for the gift of faith from on high.
We seek now through no mystic radiance but only through the direct grace of God to amplify the power of faith that already lives in you, to dissipate the human opacity that has kept you in darkness, to strengthen you immeasurably in those far-reaching experiences that, under the tutelage of cosmic law, will assist you in perpetuating in your life those things that are of true worth.
We are starting slowly this year but with a measured purpose to build into the consciousness of men in the inner ways, in the Within, those elements which raise them to God. The desire is in so many to find him, and they realize that he is nigh at hand. But he does not manifest to them in a tangible way simply because their faith has failed to provide the power to shatter the veils of Matter and to let them see what marvelous gifts life has given. These stand before you now. These are light, truth, and life.
For your progress in exalting faith,