APRIL NEWSLETTER 2023 REMEMBER JESUS’ TEACHINGS DAILY By Julie L. Harper Every year on Easter, many, many people acknowledge and celebrate Jesus; unequivocal morality and his faithfulness to God;s spiritual laws. Many people wish to emulate his ways. But for many, attention is given to their daily lives with focus on concerns far outside of spiritual matters except for on Easter day. Some people spend little time contemplating the gift of their spirit being allowed to transcend into the spirit world, the continuance of their existence in everlasting eternal life. For some, chocolate bunnies and Easter eggs too often take center stage on Easter day when time would be better spent contemplating how we may better ourselves toward living by moralistic standards as Jesus did. Remember the ways of Jesus, his moral philosophical system that teaches how to live a life of goodness. And remember the meaningful story of his life and his transition into the spirit world that shows that spirit exists within eternal life. You may be asking yourself “where do I begin in raising my consciousness to try to live more like Jesus did?” To do anything well, it must be done from the desire of the heart. Jesus gave discourses on conduct, while he also lived with words by example. Read, contemplate, and have faith in Jesus; teachings because they were offered as infallible spiritual truths that are rooted in the Creator;s love. In the Bible, Mathew 11:28-30, it is purported that Jesus said, “...keep company with me and you;ll learn to live freely and lightly.” All people would do well to keep company with the teachings of Jesus on a daily basis. Such a behavioral choice may sometimes be difficult in some circumstances, but it is a choice that is worth taking because moral conduct spiritually uplifts oneself and also uplifts others through association. Focus on Jesus; ways for elevation toward a freer and lighter life for all.  JESUS; PROGRESS OF THE PLANET “ Christ was the initiator of the most pure and sublime morality… from this morality, which will transform the whole Earth, the planet will become the home of far superior spirits than inhabit it till now… This is the law of progress which will be accomplished… “Once this has been achieved, the beauty and sanctity of this morality will touch all spirits, who will in turn embrace a [spiritual] science which will give them the key to a future life and open the doors to eternal happiness.” (Excerpt of spirit teachings in Kardec’s book, The Gospel according to Spiritism, Ch.1) 2 Spiritist Society of Florida, April Newsletter 2023 A SPIRITUAL AWAKENING Humans of the 21st century, are generally numb about the spiritual responsibilities that correspond to them as reincarnated souls (about their specific purpose and objective) and it takes time to discover the existential and profound meaning of their lives. It is mainly material values that occupy their minds, their desires and their priorities, and for this reason they entertain themselves in the illusion of achieving external conquests, in the delight that passing pleasure provides them… with their thoughts and emotions (turned away from inner harmony) but living towards the achievement of external/material goals: fame, notoriety, wealth, power, possessions, etc. They mistakenly assume that these situations will remain permanently in time, without realizing with the passage of time and the inescapable biological change that leads to frailty, old age, disease and death, plus the unexpected events that appear in the course of life will be the domain of each and every one of us who inhabit the Earth. It is precisely when misfortunes come and surprise us, not being prepared for contingencies, many plunge into bitterness, depression, rebellion and/or harmful actions (drugs, alcoholism, various other addictions, etc.) in order to avoid accepting the reality that has come unexpectedly into our lives and which we did not count on at all. Understanding the immortality of the soul and its significance before and after death, accepting the reality of our immortal spirit and the commitment we made before coming to reincarnate on Earth, driven by the necessity of the law of progress, that impels us to improve and advance intellectually and morally each time we take on a physical body – there is where we see ourselves with the need to awaken the essential values of our immortal spirit. This is necessary to achieve identification with ourselves (we are a spirit with a body, and not a body with a spirit) and with the capacity towards the exercise of goodness. Today, the loss of knowledge of this existential meaning is the great;moral pandemic; for millions of people around the planet, and also is implicated in a lack of meaning of the true purpose of material life that often leads to suicide. It is necessary, then, to remember that all these people who wander aimlessly, intoxicated by the momentary pleasure of the senses and without higher aspirations in life, try to get intoxicated from these attitudes that generate frustration and unhappiness in the long run. And, they also flee from themselves and the commitments assumed with others with whom they have come to Earth with to settle debts from their past, or to simply progress and advance together. Understanding the need to recover the spiritual values of the immortal soul, and incorporate them as purposes and objectives in our daily life, will allow us to achieve the balance and harmony we need; that is the call that our immortal soul constantly makes to us from our conscience. At the same time, discerning which are those values that will help us to awaken to the “true life” (that of an immortal spirit that we are) leads us inevitably to the most perfect moral code of which we are aware - the teachings of Master Jesus…knowing and living these teachings within ourselves fully is the greatest lesson in balance and harmony that we can conceive… (Excerpts of article dated 4/4/2034 from Editorial Board; website: www.amorpazycaridad.es , Association of Spiritual Studies of Group Villena, Alicante, Spain, edited and translated by Y. Limoges) JESUS TAUGHT A SUBLIME LOVE Love refines intelligence, expands the heart, and it is in relation to the sum of love built up in ourselves, that we can measure the progress we have actually made towards God.” Leon Denis, “Apostle of Spiritism” 3 Spiritist Society of Florida, April Newsletter 2023 HUMAN MISERY ON THIS PLANET “ Many are surprised that on Earth there is so much wrongfulness, so many crude passions, so many miseries and every kind of sickness. From this, they conclude, the human species is a very miserable one. “This judgement comes from a very narrow point of view…which gives a false idea of the whole. We must consider, however, that in actual fact, the entirety of [the souls of] humanity is not all on Earth, but only a small fraction of the total. “In effect, [they] cover all those endowed with reason who inhabit the innumerable worlds of the Universe. “Well then, picture the Earth as a combination of a prison, a hospital, and an unhealthy place, because it is all of these put together. Then it can be understood why afflictions outweigh pleasures… “So, in the same way that the total population of a city is not to be found in hospitals and prisons, we do not find the total population of humanity [all the spirits in the Cosmos] here on Earth. Just as the sick leave the hospital when they are cured and those who have served their term leave prison, when man is cured of all its moral infirmities, it will also leave the Earth environment to go to happier worlds.” MOTIVES FOR RESIGNATION “Man can soften or increase the bitterness of his trials according to the manner in which he regards earthly life. His suffering will be all the more depending on how long he imagines it to be. “But those who can see life through a spiritual prism understand bodily existence at a glance. They see that life is but a point in eternity, comprehend the shortness of its duration, and recognize that this painful moment will soon pass. “The certainty of a happier future sustains and animates them and far from complaining, they offer thanks to God for the pain [trials and tests they chose] which will permit them to advance. From these attitudes comes calmness and resignation, so useful to bodily health as well as to the soul… ” HOW DO YOU SUFFER? “ When Jesus said, ‘Blessed be the afflicted, for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to them,’ he did not refer to all those who suffer, seeing that everyone on Earth suffers, whether they be seated upon thrones or lie upon straw. “But alas, so few suffer well! “Prayer supports the soul; however, alone it is not enough. It is also necessary to have a firm belief in the kindness of God [and the Divine Laws] as the basis for deep faith. “You have heard it said many times that He does not put a heavy burden on weak shoulders. The burden is always in proportion to the strength, just as the recompense depends on the degree of resignation and courage. The more painful the affliction the greater the recompense… “You asked to fight with body and soul against both moral and physical evil [trials and tests], knowing that the harder the trial the greater and more glorious the victory; that as long as you have triumphed…it will then release a soul of radiant whiteness purified [more morally elevated] by the baptism of atonement and suffering. There is but one infallible way [to support the tests; trials of life]: through faith …Faith is the only sure remedy for suffering. (The above excerpts from Ch.5 in The Gospel according to Spiritism) 4 Spiritist Society of Florida, April Newsletter 2023 POINTS TO PONDER Written by Sarita Rogers Be a lover of everything beautiful and good. Be appreciative of the value of things and people, there is nothing insignificant. Examine life; there is no more beautiful study. Let your spirit dream; learn to act without fearing reality. Observe and know yourself. Love the truth; with your heart and through your actions. Let your first virtue be sincerity, without falling into the ugly defect of indiscretion. Be optimistic without being deluded. Learn to smile in adversity; be brave, but cry tears if your soul, like a garden needs the nourishment of rain. Death is just a dream that puts one;s passions to rest, restoring the spirit to freedom for it to continue its infinite evolution... Believe in something, but don´¨t drown your criteria in narrow circles. Thought is free. Reason everything logically. Avoid hypocrisy, fanaticism and vulgarity. Consider love sublime. LOVE - nothing makes us so great as this feeling which brings us closer to God. However, accept pain equally as necessary, because it perfects our understanding of Divine Justice. (Article in issue 106, dated 02/2009 from magazine – Dawn of the Spiritist Society;Matilde R. Del Villar; in Mexico; translated; edited by Y. Limoges FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES “ Lord, each one of our infractions is an offense against Your laws …a debt contracted, which sooner or later will have to be paid. We implore that You forgive us through Your infinite mercy…. “You made charity an express law for everyone; but charity does not only consist of helping our fellow beings in all their needs, but also in the forgetfulness and the forgiving of offences… “Dear Lord, give us the strength to stifle within ourselves all resentment, hate and rancor. Do not let death surprise us with a desire for vengeance in our hearts. If You approve of our being taken from this world today, help us to be able to present ourself to You completely cleansed of animosity, just like Jesus, whose last words were in favor of His tormentors. “The persecutions… inflicted upon us constitute part of our earthly tests; we should accept them without complaint, as we should accept all other tests, without cursing those who by their wrongdoing, open up a pathway for us to eternal happiness seeing that You said, through the intermediary of Jesus, ‘Blessed be those who suffer for the sake of justice!’ “You have taught us that our destiny is not irrevocably fixed after death; we will find in yet other existences, the means by which we may make atonement and repay all our past debts, and be able to realize in a new life, all those things to help our progress that we were unable to do in this one. “In this manner all the apparent irregularities of life are finally explained. The light is cast over our past and our future, as a brilliant sign of Your supreme justice and of Your infinite goodness.” (Excerpts from spirit teachings in The Gospel according to Spiritism, Prayer section Ch. 28) *************************************** Edited by Yvonne Crespo Limoges, Director E-mail: ylimoges@aol.com Spiritist Society of Florida (est. 1982) 5042 22 Avenue North, St. Petersburg, Florida 33710 www.spiritistsocietyfl.com