Jesus was a human, but he is also a spirit as present today as he was two thousand years ago. Now, he doesn't appear in human form but as a state of consciousness, which does not make him any less real. ~Marianne Williamson
In her latest book The Mystic Jesus, Marianne Williamson presents Jesus as a living presence, as real as anyone alive today. This is not the historical Jesus of the Bible but a state of mind capable of influencing our lives now.
Williamson is best known for her writings on A Course in Miracles, a complex 1,300-page text from the 1960s she describes as “a self-study program based on universal spiritual themes, using traditional Christian concepts.” It’s a challenging read.
Years ago, I attempted to read A Course in Miracles but found its elaborate prose difficult to get through. Think of Williamson as a kind of interpreter of the Course, helping to extract key messages from its dense text. While The Mystic Jesus is inspired by the Course, it stands alone, vividly illustrating what it means to live with Christ consciousness.
What is “Christ Consciousness”? Spiritual sage Richard Rohr describes it as seeing God in everything. With Christ Consciousness, Rohr says, you are “energized by a force greater than yourself … you are never separate from God, except in your mind.” Like Jesus, God permeates every aspect of your being.
Jesus can connect us to God. Williamson rejects the rigid religion of the church that aims to “oversee and guide our relationship with God.” Her beliefs align more with the spirituality of Teresa of Avila, Julian of Norwich, and the Gnostic Gospels, focusing on finding God through direct experience without intermediaries.
The secret lies within us. The mystic Jesus is a part of ourselves that resides within. “He was present as a man on earth two thousand years ago, and he is present as a spirit within our psyches even now. He is a name for the unchanging love we all share.” Through him, we can develop a deep relationship with God.
A key teaching in The Mystic Jesus is the disconnect between the love in our hearts and how we behave in the world. Internally we feel one way, but externally we act differently. Williamson’s message: “Move toward love and thrive. Move toward fear and slowly, or metaphorically, perish.” Jesus guides us toward love.
Five Key Themes from The Mystic Jesus
We Forget Our Relationship with God
We are like children of the wealthiest, most powerful father who have forgotten their identity and the inheritance that comes with it. We wander endlessly searching for something that cannot be found, only realized.
The world as we know it perpetuates our forgetfulness, constantly disrupting our relationship with God by disrupting our relationships with each other. The only thing that separates us is the illusion in our minds … the misconception that we are separate.
Eventually, everyone begins to recognize, however faintly, that there must be a better way. The mystic Jesus is exactly that. Think of him as a better way. He is like someone who helps us cross the river when we are too tired to continue.
We Are All One
The Mind of God is an infinite ocean of loving thought, and when we think with love, we are thinking with God. The purpose of our lives is to learn to think as God thinks.
We are like waves in the ocean thinking we are separate from other waves. There is no point where one wave ends and another begins. If I see myself as one with other waves, how could I not feel safe and powerful?
We Must Rise Above the Ego
When we align our minds with the Mind of God, we rise above the ego. The thinking of the world is no longer like quicksand that pulls us down. We become invulnerable to the chaos that dominates the world.
The ego’s domain is the low road of negativity and anger, limitation and fear. But there is a high road, a path of peace and positivity, abundance and love. We don’t need to create the high road; we need only to follow it.
The mystic Jesus has the power to override the ego’s dictates, saving us from our chronic tendency to withhold our love. By choosing to align with him, we co-create with God a different kind of world.
What We Seek is Already Here
The world blinds us to who we are and why we’re here. The world as we know it is not home to the true self, and we cannot find ourselves within its walls.
The light we seek is not something to be found but something to be chosen. It is already there waiting to be realized.
The mystic Messiah won’t come from the outside but from within. He’s not descending from the sky; he’s emerging from our higher mind.
We Must Bring Our Own Light to the World
Even the smallest candle dispels the darkness. Even the tiniest thought of forgiveness, mercy, love, can change the course of our lives.
Without our willingness, the miracle cannot occur. When we are willing to forgive, be merciful, be gentle, be kind, we allow our lives to be channels for his appearance. The light Jesus brings to the world is the light he brings to your world.
Additional Insights
Embracing Jesus in Modern Times
Williamson's vision of Jesus is one that is accessible and relevant to modern life. She encourages us to see Jesus not just as a historical figure but as a guiding presence in our daily lives. This perspective allows for a more personal and immediate relationship with the divine, one that transcends traditional religious practices and dogmas.
Transformative Power of Love
At the heart of Williamson’s teachings is the transformative power of love. By choosing love over fear, we align ourselves with the divine. This choice is not just about our relationship with God but also about how we interact with the world. Love becomes the driving force that shapes our actions, decisions, and ultimately, our reality.
Practical Spirituality
The Mystic Jesus offers practical spirituality, suggesting that profound spiritual experiences are accessible to everyone. It's about integrating spirituality into everyday life, finding moments of connection and divinity in our daily routines. This approach makes spirituality less about ritual and more about mindfulness and presence.
Jesus as a Model for Living
Williamson also portrays Jesus as a model for living a life aligned with divine principles. His teachings and example provide a blueprint for living with compassion, integrity, and purpose. By following this model, we not only enhance our own lives but also contribute positively to the world around us.
Community and Shared Experience
Another key aspect of Williamson's vision is the importance of community and shared spiritual experiences. She emphasizes that our spiritual journey is not meant to be solitary but shared with others. This communal aspect fosters a sense of belonging and collective growth, reinforcing the idea that we are all interconnected.
Marianne Williamson's The Mystic Jesus invites us to reconsider our understanding of Jesus and spirituality. By viewing Jesus as a living presence and embracing Christ Consciousness, we open ourselves to a deeper, more meaningful relationship with the divine. This perspective encourages us to live with love, rise above the ego, and bring light into the world, transforming not only our lives but the world around us.
Comments
Post a Comment