Greg Mackie's Blog Archive May 2006
May 6, 2006
I recently wrote a commentary on T-11.VI, "Waking to Redemption." This section of the Text portrays our choice between condemning and forgiving our brothers as a choice between crucifixion and resurrection:
Would you join in the resurrection or the crucifixion? Would you condemn your brothers or free them? Would you transcend your prison and ascend to the Father? These questions are all the same, and are answered together. (T-11.VI.2:1-4)
When we condemn our brothers for their apparent "sins" against us, we are in effect crucifying them and crucifying ourselves along with them. "You have nailed yourself to a cross, and placed a crown of thorns upon your own head" (T-11.VI.8:1). This is what it means to join in the crucifixion. To undo this painful condition, we must take our brothers down from the cross. "You will not find peace until you have removed the nails from the hands of God's Son, and taken the last thorn from his forehead" (T-11.VI.7:1). We do this by forgiving them, seeing them as the risen Christ, recognizing that their true nature is as pure and innocent and holy as Jesus himself. This is what it means to join in the resurrection. Only by freeing our brothers from crucifixion will we transcend the prison of our own cross and ascend to the Father. "Redemption is recognized only by sharing it" (T-11.VI.9:6).
I wrote a visualization of this process that I'd like to share with you here. I hope you find it helpful.
Visualization: From the Cross to the Risen Christ
Think of a person whom you have condemned for his "sins" against you.
Your condemning him is an act of crucifying him,
so visualize this person nailed to a cross with a crown of thorns on his head.
See the blood flowing from his wounds.
See the look of agony on his face.
How do you feel about seeing this person crucified?
Now you realize that in crucifying this person, you have crucified yourself as well.
You too are nailed to a cross, directly facing this person,
with a crown of thorns on your own head.
You too have ghastly wounds with blood flowing from them.
You too are in agony.
The two of you are suffering together.
What can you do to alleviate this suffering?
There is only one way out of your shared agony.
Say, "I will not find peace until I have removed the nails from the hands of [name],
and taken the last thorn from his forehead."
To end your agony, you must see this person whom you have crucified
as the risen Christ, as pure and innocent and holy as Jesus himself.
Now, see this person facing you transform before your eyes.
See a radiant light of holiness, the Great Rays, extending from him.
See the nails disappear from his hands and feet.
See the crown of thorns disappear from his head.
See the bloody wounds fade away.
See the agony on his face melt into a beaming smile of gratitude and relief.
See him step down from the cross.
Notice that as you see this, you are transformed as well.
See the Great Rays of holiness shining forth from you.
See your nails and your crown of thorns disappear.
See your wounds fade away.
You too feel immense gratitude and relief as you step down from your cross.
Now, greet this person warmly as a brother in Christ, redeemed from crucifixion.
Smile, embrace him, and welcome him into your heart.
He is the risen Son of God, and so are you.
The nightmare of crucifixion is over.
You have both wakened to redemption.
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