Early Days Internal Guidance
Message from Saint Francis of Assisi received through an American member in 1980s.
To all of you dear brothers and sisters:
It is the main point of our lives to become zero. Understanding such a concept is difficult. To “deny oneself” initially sounds like such a repugnant idea to many even the devout. But don’t misunderstand the concept. We all want to become beautiful in God’s eyes, do we not? It is the way to beautify the soul. And I dare say we all do need what you might call a “cleanup campaign.” By denying oneself, one comes closer to his original simplicity (as you understand, original simplicity would be equivalent to original nature). Yes, “original nature” is a very good expression indeed, and more accurately expresses the point. The material world surrounds us, so if we are not careful, we are trapped by its delights and pleasures and comforts, to the point where our spiritual senses are dulled. If that happens, then what, my dear brothers and sisters, happens to our spiritual life?
A realm I never imagined
You brothers and sisters of the Unification movement are very special indeed because you have found the truest Holy Father and Mother and have their example to follow. In my time it was quite different, you know there was no true living example on the earth. Everywhere there was corruption and misery. Those of us who wanted to follow a spiritual path had only the word and example of our Lord Jesus. Please don’t misunderstand my using “only.” I use it simply because there is no comparison to the honor and privilege of seeing the living Christ before you.
So in my time, we needed to deny everything including all physical comfort. Because Christ lived that way, we had to live that way. There was no other example no other way to spirituality, to finding God Himself.
But I am aware that you in your time have another way. Since the living Christ is among you and has accomplished so much on so many levels, he is truly living in a realm that I never imagined possible on earth. He has become the Lord of all Creation. Therefore, he lives in harmony with all creation in a state of spiritual perfection. Material things are not his concern, and yet it is right that he should have them, being the King of Kings! Oh, I smile even unto myself because in my own day I could not have understood this . . . how a holy man could have material possessions in abundance.
But dear brothers and sisters, I come to my point: Not all of us are so qualified to live in such comfort. Oh, I know my words fall hard, and please don’t feel judged and cut me off so quickly. All I mean to say is that it is essential and of top priority to first maintain the spiritual life. Sadly, I have seen that too many have a floundering spiritual life as a result of taking an easier way and acquiring material possessions and wealth. I do not mean to state that one must not have possessions! No indeed! I do state that one must have the true right to have such possessions. And that right can only be obtained when our Lord God’s heavenly will is the first and foremost concern in our lives and in our daily thoughts and prayers.
You may say that your modern world is a much more difficult one in which to be “holy.” Most of you call me “saint” for having done very simple things. But my world was even more materialistic there were not the many spiritual movements that exist today, and who could see the clear structure and place of God’s Divine Principle as you understand it today? Today is the time of the emergence of true saints because of one fact only the Holy True Parents are with you in the flesh. You haven’t grasped that meaning.
Dear brothers and sisters, please look to them please focus on comprehending their unending love, the heart that motivates their continuous sacrifice. Do not look at external things. They are the Lords of Creation, of heaven and earth; they have all rights. They have already obtained true dominion over all things of creation, and therefore are qualified to have possessions. Do you see that it even goes beyond that in their case that all things even want to be owned by them?
Know your priorities
So what we must do is qualify to keep even the possessions we already “own.” I do not ask you to discard your wealth or material things, but only to know where your priorities lie. And I only bring this up because the time is upon us when material blessings shall be abundant. However, they can be a curse if we are not first trained in our spiritual lives.
It is such a simple message I bring, this I know only to keep the spiritual before the physical but I can see that you need to be reminded.
Many of us are among you now, and we ourselves have been learning the most amazing and precious things since the coming of True Parents to this world now more than ever, of course, that Lord Heung Jin Nim is present here with us. The joy and love that he brings is unending. We shall be with you more; many of you are already having experiences, and many more could have such experiences if you would but follow the simple guidance I have set forth here. It is nothing you have not heard from the Divine Parents; as I have said, it is merely a reminder from a fellow brother. I am still growing, too, you know.
Do you know I envy you? I don’t like to use that word, but it is apt to describe how I feel about your most incredible future and to be physically alive now with our Divine Parents. It is a most wonderful opportunity to learn numerous treasures and secrets about the very heart of God. In my time, spiritual joy could only be obtained through physical suffering; but you dear ones have a different course. You have the way to complete happiness spiritual and physical if indeed you follow the course of the Holy Parents. That is the key.
Yours in Christ’s name and the name of the Holy Parents.