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− | There is no death. The Son of God is free. | + | There is no [[death]]. The Son of God is [[free]]. |
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− | Death is a thought that takes on many forms, often unrecognized. It may | + | [[Death]] is a [[thought]] that takes on many [[forms]], often unrecognized. It may |
− | appear as sadness, fear, anxiety or doubt; as anger, faithlessness and lack of | + | appear as sadness, [[fear]], [[anxiety]] or [[doubt]]; as [[anger]], faithlessness and lack of |
− | trust; concern for bodies, envy, and all forms in which the wish to be as you | + | [[trust]]; concern for bodies, [[envy]], and all forms in which the wish to be as you |
− | are not may come to tempt you. All such thoughts are but reflections of the | + | are not may come to [[tempt]] you. All such thoughts are but [[reflections]] of the |
− | worshipping of death as savior and as giver of release. | + | [[worshipping]] of death as savior and as giver of release. |
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− | Embodiment of fear, the host of sin, god of the guilty and the lord of all | + | Embodiment of fear, the host of [[sin]], god of the [[guilty]] and the lord of all |
− | illusions and deceptions, does the thought of death seem mighty. For it | + | [[illusions]] and [[deceptions]], does the thought of death seem mighty. For it |
− | seems to hold all living things within its withered hand; all hopes and | + | seems to hold all living things within its withered hand; all [[hopes]] and |
− | wishes in its blighting grasp; all goals perceived but in its sightless eyes. | + | wishes in its blighting grasp; all [[goals]] [[perceived]] but in its sightless eyes. |
| The frail, the helpless and the sick bow down before its image, thinking it | | The frail, the helpless and the sick bow down before its image, thinking it |
− | alone is real, inevitable, worthy of their trust. For it alone will surely come. | + | alone is real, [[inevitable]], [[worthy]] of their trust. For it alone will surely come. |
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− | All things but death are seen to be unsure, too quickly lost however hard to | + | All things but [[death]] are seen to be unsure, too quickly lost however hard to |
− | gain, uncertain in their outcome, apt to fail the hopes they once engendered, | + | gain, uncertain in their outcome, apt to fail the [[hopes]] they once engendered, |
− | and to leave the taste of dust and ashes in their wake, in place of aspirations | + | and to leave the [[taste]] of dust and ashes in their wake, in place of [[aspirations]] |
| and of dreams. But death is counted on. For it will come with certain | | and of dreams. But death is counted on. For it will come with certain |
− | footsteps when the time has come for its arrival. It will never fail to take all | + | [[footsteps]] when the time has come for its arrival. It will never fail to take all |
− | life as hostage to itself. | + | life as [[hostage]] to itself. |
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− | Would you bow down to idols such as this? Here is the strength and might | + | Would you bow down to [[idols]] such as this? Here is the [[strength]] and might |
− | of God Himself perceived within an idol made of dust. Here is the opposite | + | of [[God]] Himself [[perceived]] within an idol made of [[dust]]. Here is the opposite |
− | of God proclaimed as lord of all creation, stronger than God's Will for life, | + | of God proclaimed as lord of all [[creation]], stronger than [[God's Will]] for life, |
− | the endlessness of love and Heaven's perfect, changeless constancy. Here is | + | the endlessness of [[love]] and [[Heaven]]'s [[perfect]], changeless constancy. Here is |
| the Will of Father and of Son defeated finally, and laid to rest beneath the | | the Will of Father and of Son defeated finally, and laid to rest beneath the |
| headstone death has placed upon the body of the holy Son of God. | | headstone death has placed upon the body of the holy Son of God. |
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− | Unholy in defeat, he has become what death would have him be. His | + | Unholy in [[defeat]], he has become what death would have him be. His |
− | epitaph, which death itself has written, gives no name to him, for he has | + | [[epitaph]], which death itself has written, gives no name to him, for he has |
− | passed to dust. It says but this: "Here lies a witness God is dead." And this it | + | passed to dust. It says but this: "Here lies a [[witness]] God is dead." And this it |
− | writes again and still again, while all the while its worshippers agree, and | + | writes again and still again, while all the while its worshippers [[agree]], and |
− | kneeling down with foreheads to the ground, they whisper fearfully that it is | + | kneeling down with foreheads to the ground, they [[whisper]] fearfully that it is |
| so. | | so. |
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− | It is impossible to worship death in any form, and still select a few you | + | It is impossible to [[worship]] [[death]] in any [[form]], and still select a few you |
− | would not cherish and would yet avoid, while still believing in the rest. For | + | would not cherish and would yet avoid, while still [[believing]] in the rest. For |
| death is total. Either all things die, or else they live and cannot die. No | | death is total. Either all things die, or else they live and cannot die. No |
− | compromise is possible. For here again we see an obvious position, which | + | [[compromise]] is possible. For here again we see an obvious position, which |
− | we must accept if we be sane; what contradicts one thought entirely can not | + | we must [[accept]] if we be sane; what [[contradicts]] one thought entirely can not |
− | be true, unless its opposite is proven false. | + | be true, unless its opposite is proven [[false]]. |
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− | The idea of the death of God is so preposterous that even the insane have | + | The [[idea]] of the [[death of God]] is so preposterous that even the [[insane]] have |
| difficulty in believing it. For it implies that God was once alive and | | difficulty in believing it. For it implies that God was once alive and |
| somehow perished; killed, apparently, by those who did not want Him to | | somehow perished; killed, apparently, by those who did not want Him to |
− | survive. Their stronger will could triumph over His, and so eternal life gave | + | [[survive]]. Their stronger will could triumph over His, and so [[eternal]] life gave |
− | way to death. And with the Father died the Son as well. | + | way to death. And with [[the Father]] died the Son as well. |
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− | Death's worshippers may be afraid. And yet, can thoughts like these be | + | Death's worshippers may be [[afraid]]. And yet, can [[thoughts]] like these be |
| fearful? If they saw that it is only this which they believe, they would be | | fearful? If they saw that it is only this which they believe, they would be |
| instantly released. And you will show them this today. There is no death, | | instantly released. And you will show them this today. There is no death, |
− | and we renounce it now in every form, for their salvation and our own as | + | and we [[renounce]] it now in every [[form]], for their [[salvation]] and our own as |
| well. God made not death. Whatever form it takes must therefore be | | well. God made not death. Whatever form it takes must therefore be |
− | illusion. This the stand we take today. And it is given us to look past death, | + | [[illusion]]. This the stand we take today. And it is given us to look past death, |
| and see the life beyond. | | and see the life beyond. |
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− | <center>''Our Father, bless our eyes today. We are Your messengers,''</center> | + | <center>''[[Our Father]], [[bless]] our eyes today. We are Your messengers,''</center> |
− | <center>''and we would look upon the glorious reflection of Your Love''</center> | + | <center>''and we would look upon the glorious [[reflection]] of Your [[Love]]''</center> |
− | <center>''which shines in everything. We live and move in You alone.''</center> | + | <center>''which shines in [[everything]]. We live and move in You alone.''</center> |
− | <center>''We are not separate from Your eternal life. There is no death,''</center> | + | <center>''We are not separate from Your [[eternal]] life. There is no [[death]],''</center> |
| <center>''for death is not Your Will. And we abide where You have''</center> | | <center>''for death is not Your Will. And we abide where You have''</center> |
− | <center>''placed us, in the life we share with You and with all living''</center> | + | <center>''placed us, in the life we [[share]] with You and with all living''</center> |
− | <center>''things, to be like You and part of You forever. We accept Your''</center> | + | <center>''things, to be like You and part of You forever. We [[accept]] Your''</center> |
| <center>''Thoughts as ours, and our will is one with Yours eternally.''</center> | | <center>''Thoughts as ours, and our will is one with Yours eternally.''</center> |
| <center>''Amen.''</center> | | <center>''Amen.''</center> |