Gnostic Gospels (Part IV)

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The disciples said to Jesus: Tell to us how our end will be.

Jesus said: Have you then discovered the beginning so that you inquire about the end? For where the beginning is, there shall be the end. Blessed is he who shall stand at the beginning, and he shall know the end and he shall not experience death.

The disciples were seeking an understanding to physical death.

Jesus had taught that the beginning to Real life is presence to one’s inner Kingdom.

Since the inner Kingdom is eternal and immortal, the beginning of (Real) life is exactly the same at all moments.

He who shall stand, which means that he who is promoting the presence of the inner God, will not experience sleep (death.)

The disciples said to Jesus, Tell us what the kingdom of heaven is like. He said to them, it is like a mustard seed. It is the smallest of all seeds. But when it falls on tilled soil, it produces a great branch and becomes a shelter for birds of the sky.

The soul, like the mustard seed, starts from humble beginnings.  Yet, when evolved to its fullness, it is the spiritual shelter for every emotional and physical malady that may befall us.

If the master of the house knows that the thief is coming, he will keep watch before he comes, and will not let him dig into his house of his kingdom to carry off his vessels.

You, then, be on your guard against the world.

Gird up your loins with great strength, that the brigands may not find a way to come at you.

If our steward (the master of the house) is aware of those instances when we are vulnerable to falling spiritually asleep, he will be extra vigilant (keep watch) so that the lower self (the brigands) does not steal his presence.
Remain alert against the tactics of the lower self (the world.)
Clothe yourself with presence (gird up your loins) so that the lower self does not find a way to enter and dispel your presence to the moment with sleep.

Jesus saw children who were being suckled. He said to his disciples: These children who are being suckled are like those who enter the Kingdom.

(Preface) One must become innocent and in essence as a child before one may enter the inner Kingdom.  Our personalities, desires, and attachments are too large to fit through the narrow gate which leads to consciousness of God.

The Master nourishes his disciples with wisdom, love and compassion as the mother who suckles her child.  Without this nourishment there is little hope of entering the Kingdom.

They said to Him: Shall we then, being children, enter the Kingdom? Jesus said to them: When you make the two one, then shall you enter the Kingdom.

When we are in the spiritual state of presence we lose our sense of duality (when we make the two one.) It is in that state that we are able to perceive the oneness and unity of everything.

Jesus said: I shall choose you, one out of a thousand, and two out of ten thousand, and they shall stand as a single one.

It is rare to find many people who wish to assume the difficulties of walking the spiritual path.  Yet, when all those who have embraced the path are in the serene state of presence they are unified with each other.

His disciples said to him, Show us the place where you are, since it is necessary for us to seek it.  He said to them, whoever has ears, let him hear. There is light within a man of light, and he lights up the whole world. When he does not shine, he is darkness.

The light of God that exists with man is brilliant.  When one is present, this light illuminates all of the man (the whole world.)  However, when man is not promoting presence (when he does not shine) his lives his life in spiritual sleep (he is darkness.)

Jesus said: If you fast not from the world you will not find the Kingdom; if you keep not the Sabbath as Sabbath you will not see the Father.

Until we begin to struggle against the attachments, the judgments, and the cravings of the lower self (the world) we will never be able to promote presence (find the Kingdom.)

If we do not honor that peaceful place within each of us which keeps the world out (the Sabbath,) we will never experience the inner God (the Father.)

Jesus said, I took my place in the midst of the world, and I appeared to them in flesh. I found all of them drunk; I found none of them thirsty. And my soul became afflicted for the sons of men, because they are blind in their hearts and do not have sight; for empty they came into the world, and empty too they seek to leave the world. But for the moment they are drunk. When they shake off their wine, then they will repent.

When the steward wishes to work on promoting presence, but our hearts and minds are blinded by the attachments and attractions of the external world, we have no desire for the spiritual life (none of them are thirsty.)

We entered without wisdom and the understanding of our divine realm, and we will depart the same way: ignorant to the inner light.

However, when we put aside our attachments, then, and only then, will we will seek the Kingdom (repent.)

Jesus said: Indeed, I am amazed at how this great wealth has made its home in this poverty

It is miraculous that the image of God (this great wealth) exists amidst the lower self (this poverty.)