Saying 94
Jesus said: "Whoever seeks will find. Whoever knocks, it will be opened.
Jesus said: "Whoever seeks will find. Whoever knocks, it will be opened.
Saying 95
Jesus said: If you have some money, don't lend it out at interest but give it to someone who will not return it to you.
Jesus said: If you have some money, don't lend it out at interest but give it to someone who will not return it to you.
Saying 96
Jesus said: The kingdom of the father is like a woman who took a little yeast and concealed it in dough. She made large loaves of bread. He who has ears let him hear.
Jesus said: The kingdom of the father is like a woman who took a little yeast and concealed it in dough. She made large loaves of bread. He who has ears let him hear.
The Gospel of Thomas Sayings Index: 1 2 3 | 4 5 6 | 7 8 9 | 10 11 12 | 13 14 15 | 16 17 18 | 19 20 21 | 22 23 24 | 25 26 27 | 28 29 30 | 31 32 33 | 34 35 36 | 37 38 39 | 40 41 42 | 43 44 45 | 46 47 48 | 49 50 51 | 52 53 54 | 55 56 57 | 58 59 60 | 61 62 63 | 64 65 66 | 67 68 69 | 70 71 72 | 73 74 75 | 76 77 78 | 79 80 81 | 82 83 84 | 85 86 87 | 88 89 90 | 91 92 93 | 94 95 96 | 97 98 99 | 100 101 102 | 103 104 105 | 106 107 108 | 109 110 111 | 112 113 114
Reflections on Saying 94
What a bold and beautiful promise completely echoed in the Big Book, "God could and would if sought." In the original manuscript the words read, "God can and will if sought." It is in the seeking, the process, that God is found, uncovered. It is not unconditional, "IF sought." How do I seek God? Through living the 12 Steps, attending meetings and listening, through service work. What have I found? ALWAYS something beyond what I know, a connectedness, humility, shared humanity, sense of Presence even when, or especially when, starting from a place of deep deep despair, cynicism, or confusion. "It will be opened." I knock by surrendering to God"s way of life.
What a bold and beautiful promise completely echoed in the Big Book, "God could and would if sought." In the original manuscript the words read, "God can and will if sought." It is in the seeking, the process, that God is found, uncovered. It is not unconditional, "IF sought." How do I seek God? Through living the 12 Steps, attending meetings and listening, through service work. What have I found? ALWAYS something beyond what I know, a connectedness, humility, shared humanity, sense of Presence even when, or especially when, starting from a place of deep deep despair, cynicism, or confusion. "It will be opened." I knock by surrendering to God"s way of life.
Reflections on Saying 95
So easy to loan to those who can pay back. GIVE IT to someone who WILL NOT return it to you. I ask people not to return it to me if that is what comes to do, assure the door is closed. That way, my eye is not on remuneration. If someone insists on paying back, at times I surrender to their will but maintain my intent to expect nothing back. This is a very concrete way for me to trust God. It belongs to God so I release it and my needs have always been cared for. When I hold on, the financial fear returns.
So easy to loan to those who can pay back. GIVE IT to someone who WILL NOT return it to you. I ask people not to return it to me if that is what comes to do, assure the door is closed. That way, my eye is not on remuneration. If someone insists on paying back, at times I surrender to their will but maintain my intent to expect nothing back. This is a very concrete way for me to trust God. It belongs to God so I release it and my needs have always been cared for. When I hold on, the financial fear returns.
Reflections on Saying 96
I sponsor a beautiful young woman at a point in my sobriety when I had lost all expectation that anyone would do the work, have an experience, and in turn share it with others. So many had vanished. So much time had been poured into alcoholics who took and never gave back. And then, I turned around and this person was having a vital experience, was sharing, sponsoring, talking about her new experience boldly. The yeast was in the dough and rising. Large loaves have ensued. Her sponsees sponsor. They share enthusiastically. The original beautiful woman continues to grow in honesty and bear fruit. Surprised by joy! Surprised that "a little yeast" hidden in dough rose into large loaves.
I sponsor a beautiful young woman at a point in my sobriety when I had lost all expectation that anyone would do the work, have an experience, and in turn share it with others. So many had vanished. So much time had been poured into alcoholics who took and never gave back. And then, I turned around and this person was having a vital experience, was sharing, sponsoring, talking about her new experience boldly. The yeast was in the dough and rising. Large loaves have ensued. Her sponsees sponsor. They share enthusiastically. The original beautiful woman continues to grow in honesty and bear fruit. Surprised by joy! Surprised that "a little yeast" hidden in dough rose into large loaves.
