“Where are the great saints and saviors to help guide us today? God doesn’t seem to be present in the world anymore.” As the world appears to be descending into a downward spiral of lost values, faith, and hope, we often hear this lament from friends.
Yet if we change our expectations of God to appear as a wise, benevolent bearded sage in flowing robes blessing the multitudes, we might see that He is very much present, but in a different guise. For in the evolution of human consciousness, God appears according to the lessons that mankind needs at any particular time.
In the Bible Jesus Christ describes how to please God and therefore enter the kingdom of heaven: “For I was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in; naked, and ye clothed me; I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came unto me.”
Then the righteous asked, “Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?”
And the Lord answered, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” (Matthew 25:35–40)
When we see photos of boatloads of homeless immigrants looking for sanctuary; or starving children whose country has been devastated by civil war; or medical providers in hospitals working past the point of exhaustion, what is evoked in our heart? Is it compassion, pity, and the desire to do what we can to help others? Or indifference, judgment, and the thought that it’s not our problem?
Perhaps God needs to come to us now as widespread suffering in order to awaken selfless love for others in our breast and break the dominant thoughts of greed and self-interest. At the heart of every saint or savior of any religion is the deepest compassion for the anguish of “the least of my brethren.”
Now, in this age of cynicism, great saints might appear, only to be rejected by the majority of mankind. Instead God may be coming to us in the form of human suffering to awaken divine compassion within humanity. For as Christ said, when we alleviate someone else’s suffering, we are actually drawing closer to God, who is present both in our acts of compassion and in those we help.
A friend recently sent me a beautiful prayer/poem written by a French priest, Michel Quoist, who died in 1997. It’s rather long, so I’ll condense it here for you:
Lord, Why Did You Tell Me to Love?
Lord, why did you tell me to love all men, my brothers?
I have tried, but I come back to you, frightened . . .
I did not know they were so near; in this house, in this street, in this office; my neighbor, my colleague, my friend.
As soon as I started to open the door I saw them, with outstretched hands, anxious eyes, longing hearts . . .
They are too hungry; they are consuming me!
Lord! I have lost everything . . .
Don’t worry, God says, you have gained all,
While men came in to you,
I, your Father,
I, your God,
Slipped in among them.
Now more than ever we need to bring joy and hope to someone who has sunk into despair. We need to practice patience with people who have very different views of reality than our own. We need to accept that even though we can’t change the whole world, we can bring light into the lives of those around us.
And now, more than ever, we need to understand that every act of service, compassion, and love draws God’s presence powerfully into the world. That day will come when no one will doubt the reality of His existence, and when we feel our oneness with Him and with one another.
Joined with you in world brotherhood,
Nayaswami Devi
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About World Brotherhood Day at Ananda Worldwide: Sunday, December 6, 4pm PST
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23 Comments
Thank you Devi ji🙏
Yes he is hidden within us all. All we need is the eyes that can see clearly. Radhe Radhe.
I impressed with your article . Thanks for sharing such a valuable info with everyone.
God is Omnipresent. He is everywhere inside us and outside in every creation he has made. He is watching everything. All sufferings will come to an end. All evils will be defeated. We have to keep faith on him. We will have stand beside the all sufferers, fight against all monsters and keep a victorious attitude to defeat all unfair inhuman activities with a promise and firm conviction that this beautiful creation of almighty will be a real land of God where peace and tranquility reigns. Amen
Thank you very much for these important words in this challenging time. It feels so true what you share. Very useful to read.
Namaskar dear sister,
Your words have released tears and I am very grateful for your truthful and powerful insight. I was meditating this morning and heard, ‘This too shall pass.’ While that gave me some steadiness, I still felt that isn’t enough. That isn’t enough for the countless people who are facing challenges like COVID, or other illness, or the threats of political violence or actual violence. The fearsome negativity of divisive politics that dominates the media these days can only be faced with the compassion you describe. I will strive to shine my light and love to those around me and do what I can for those from afar. Thank you again.
How beautiful and inspiring. Thank you.
Atma Namaste Deviji
Your words are very soothing and inspiring. I always read your blogs. Here you explained the importance of service in such a wonderful way. I feel that our beloved God is helping us through you.
Thank you very much for the blessings.
Regards
Snehal Shinde
Dear Deviji – I’m finding God in small ways like praying for a little more sleep. I watched a lady get run off a beach by a life guard Wednesday while watching big waves on the North Shore. A couple of minutes afterwards a 10-12’ monster wave crashed right where she’d been standing in the shallow surf and rolled far up onto the beach. I wanted to shout, “Hey, did you see that!” But it was too late, she had just walked past me into the parking lot, the life guard was parking his 4-wheel and the wave was gone. Maybe both lives were saved. I may have been the only witness to the whole thing. You had to be paying attention and looking right where she’s been to see all of what had I had just seen. She’d been out there for several minutes before the life guard climbed down out of his tower, started his 4-wheel, drove 200 yards to where she was and angrily ran her out of the surf and basically off the beach. It still powerfully resonates in me as something I will never forget. And, it’s got me thinking about experiencing God in smaller ways. Namaste, Mac
Why ? Why you need, why do you expect a comment ??
Such an article,shinning with jewels and blessings of Kriyananda-ji actually a light in itself.
Beautiful Devi, an unique piece to convince others the importance of being a human being at this hour on the earth.
Like me, thousand would love it, remember it and resonate it over and over.
Thank you for the nice reminder.
I recommend you pay attention to Mata Amritananda Devi in Kerala, India.
A beautiful reminder. I have a conservative friend who believes we should be enforcing our legal boundaries and exercising tough love. The Tree of Life in Kabbalah has three lines – one representing compassion, one representing the middle road, and one representing tough love. My question is what type of decision criteria a spiritual person should use to determine on what line to fall. I personally have not figured that one out. Jai Guru
Dear Devi, Your words have shed a bright light on how we can co-create with the Divine to bring loving peace into the world through our thoughts and actions. I will refer to your words and the poem this holy season as I dive deeper into trying to live a more Christ-like life. With a deep gratitude for all you and Jyotish are doing to inspire so many to be channels of Light around the world, now. Blessings, Lalaan
Very much inspired by your words. Many blessings
Great explanation of the present situation in the world! Ones humans consciousness will reach the state of oneness with the Lord then it will change the world! Namaste!
Thank you for such a wonderful message i.e. we shouldn’t forget the message of the Divine in times of needs of our brethrens around the world. To see the presence of God in our brethrens’ eyes of famine, anguish faced to war, illness and other tribulations and offer a helping hand. The message of the Master Jesus is also a reminder that whenever we do the least to our brethrens, we do it for Him. The message to see the Divine in our differences with our brethrens and resolve them in a peaceful manner. Disharmony among us is an opportunity to work out our Harmony. Again, thank you for such a wonderful message.
It’s such a beautiful blog. I feel it should reach each n every soul on this earth 🌹🙌🙌🙌.
Heartfelt thanks dear Devi ji for this beautiful words.
Om Guru,
Priya, Ananda Chennai
Beautifully expressed.Thank you for sharing!
Aum Guru!
Neela
Beautifully explained ! Thank you for sharing!!
So nice. Thanks for sharing 🙏
Dear Nayaswami Devi Ji,
Thank you for this wonderful blog,
A great reminder and one that is required during this time.
At Master’s service
Prem