“Mastery of Love” by Rev. Jan Mahannah
Unity’s Theme for February 2019 is: Living Love
Our Affirmation is: “I am a living, loving expression of God, right here and now.”
Scripture: 1 John 4:18 “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. We love because he first loved us.” – without fear!
Scripture: John 15:12 “This is my commandment that you love one another as I have loved you.” I Peter 3:8-9 “Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing.”
Opening: As you know Love has been defined by those who perceive its true character as the greatest thing in the world. Love has been described as the greatest healing force in the world. It’s been said that the Divine Principle of Love may be used to eliminate every sorrow, every infirmity, every harsh condition, and every lack that harasses humanity.
As a poet said: With wings outstretched, love searches out the arid spots of the human heart, the waste places of life, and with a seeming magic touch redeems humanity and transforms the world.”
As Unity writers have written: “Love is God, eternal, limitless, changeless, going beyond all vision into infinity. Love is the creative energy of the Creator, the Creative energy of the Universe. Love fulfills the law of its own, consummates its perfect work and reveals the Christ within the soul of man.”
“If it is not disturbed by humankind’s perversity and discordant, selfish thinking, God’s eternal, changeless current of love flows ever onward, dissolving before it, every appearance of inharmony or ugliness which disturbs the peace of man.”
“Love is the perfect fruit of the Spirit; it goes forth, binding up the wounds of humanity, drawing nations into closer harmony, and bringing peace and prosperity to the world – IF we allow it to.”
Beloved New Thought Author Emmett Fox has written in “The Golden Gate”: “Love Is by far the most important thing of all. It is the golden gate of paradise. Pray for the understanding of love and meditate upon it daily. It casts out fear; it IS the fulfilling of the Law; it covers a multitude of sins.
“Love is absolutely invincible! There is no difficulty that enough love will not conquer, no disease that enough love will not heal, no door that enough love will not open, no gulf that enough love will not bridge, no wall that enough love will not throw down, no sin that enough love will not redeem. It makes no difference how deeply seeded may be the trouble, how hopeless the outlook how muddled the tangle, how great the mistake. A sufficient realization of love will dissolve it all. Love is absolutely invincible.
“IF you could love enough, you would be the happiest and most powerful being in the world.”
AS we often affirm from the Gospel of John: God is love. Because we are made in the image and after the likeness of God, we can conclude that we are made in the image and after the likeness of Love. Love is the essence of our being; it is what our spirit is made up of and what our soul’s quest is all about. Being our essence, Love must first come from within us before it can go before us.
You have all the love you need for healing, prospering, and experiencing happy relationships right within yourself. You do not have to search outside yourself for love, though your love is amplified by sharing it. You can begin releasing it from within, moving it outward through your thoughts, words, actions and affirmative prayers.
We have been told that love is the great healer, the great provider, and the great sustainer of our lives and the lives of all persons everywhere. Whatever need we believe we have in life, in some way it is always met through love.
If we have a particular challenge, problem or concern about ourselves or someone else, know that in love, the challenge has already been met. In God/Love, the solution abides. All we have to do is work with the presence and power of God’s love to draw it forth from within us, and to express it in everything we do, and in particular, in relation to that situation.
Does life press heavily upon you this morning? Do you need courage and strength to meet the problems that confront you? Is there something that needs resolving? Are you sick or afraid? Do you fear for another loved one?
What is your question? Love is the answer!
The presence and power of God/Love individualized in us is the source of love and all good in our lies. We have access to this indwelling love every moment of our experience when we remember.
In ministerial school, beyond all the Bible classes, metaphysical understanding, intellectual learning, inspirational personal growth, inspirational talk and meditation preparation techniques, and church management, we were taught that to be most inspiring for others,( in addition to being prepared and “prayed up”), the greatest need was for us to go out and love those persons we would find in our congregations. To love them!..
What is required for the mastery of love? To master anything requires that we practice and experiment. So it is with love. Even though love is the essence of our being, if we are to master love we must practice centering in love and radiating it though us outward to all the different circumstances, experiences and people in our lives. I had a great opportunity this week during a misunderstanding, but did not remember in time…only afterwards.
Transcendentalist Emerson has written: “The more experiments you make the better. What if they are a little coarse, and you get your coat soiled or torn? What if you do fail, and get fairly rolled in the dirt once or twice? (or more?) Up again you shall never be so afraid of a tumble.” So it is with experimenting with love.
Practicing love to become a master of love requires;
- A belief that God/Love is available in all situations.
- A willingness to come from an inner awareness of love.
- Loving actions. No matter what the challenge, no matter what the problem, love is the answer.
So here are some experiments. I invite you to close your eyes and reflect:
Identify any issue or problem you may be currently facing this morning. We will direct love to any issue, any problem facing you now.
Affirmations for refocusing your mind in order to direct love to any issue or problem you are facing: *I praise Divine love that there is a strong, wise way out of this dilemma now. *Divine Love is now doing its perfect work in this situation. *The good that is for me in this matter now seeks me and I accept it.
Identify any individual you may currently be at odds with. We will direct love outwards to any individual. Affirmations for refocusing your mind in order to direct love to another individual: God loves you…and I am trying! I behold this situation between us with love. Divine Love is doing its perfect work in you and through you and through me now. Thank you God!
Consider any concern about financial lack. Become a radiating center of love to attract to you prosperity in every area of your life. e Affirmations for refocusing your thoughts in order to direct love for prosperity: I walk in the charmed circle of God’s love. I am divinely irresistible to my highest good now. I welcome love’s prospering opportunities. I love my life!
Identify any part of you body that may be in discomfort or pain. We will direct love to any part of your body that is in discomfort now. Affirmations to direct love to your body: I remember that deep slow breathing is love’s gift of life to my body. I take a deep breath and direct it with love to my physical body, giving thanks for perfect health. I love my body back into wellness and balance now.
Poetic Thoughts: The spirit in my heart is smaller than a grain of mustard seed. Yet, the spirit that is in my heart is greater than the earth, greater than the sky, greater than heaven itself, and greater than all these worlds. This is the spirit in my heart.
The light in my heart is smaller than a firefly in the night. Yet, the light in my heart is greater than a cosmic sun, a galaxy, or the universe. This is the light in my heart.
The love in my heart is smaller than a fly in the wind. Yet, the love in my heart is large enough to embrace my fellow man, to serve all of nature, and reach for the stars to touch the face of God. This is the love in my heart.
My spirit, my light, and my love all have unlimited dimensions. I can join everyone through compassion and community. I say this again… My spirit, my light, and my love all have unlimited dimensions. I can join everyone through compassion and community…
My Spirit, Mind and Body are now charged with the current of Divine Love. The imperishable love of God enfolds and informs me now. Love is the law of my immortal being and I am becoming a Master of Love. I open my eyes to behold that this is true.
From “The Prophet” by Kahlil Gibran
“Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself. Love possesses not, nor would it be possessed; for love is sufficient unto love. Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself.
“But if you love and must need have desires, let these be your desires: To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night. To know the pain of too much tenderness. To be wounded by your own understanding of love;
“To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving; to rest at the noon hour and meditate love’s ecstasy; to return home at eventide with gratitude; and then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.”
Solo: Give Yourself to Love
Meditation: Deep slow breathing is Love’s Gift to your Body… Direct love’s breath from your lungs to your whole body. Feel your breath as love moving through, sustaining, and renewing you, body, mind, and spirit. May you have the intention to become a Master of Love, rightly expressed with the love of God. Amen
Closing Prayer:
Through all my journeys, keep me in the buoyance of hope. Transform dark alleys into sunlit paths of Inner peace. Teach me to face everything with Love, to dissolve my worry in Your eternal grace. Teach me to live in each present moment as if only Love mattered. Thank you God.
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