February 22, 2010

Paragraph 1.35

"Should any one of them be called upon to confront all the hosts of creation, he would assuredly prevail through the ascendancy of My Will. This, verily, is a proof of My power, though My creatures comprehend it not. This, verily, is a sign of My sovereignty, though My subjects understand it not. This, verily, is a token of My command, though My servants perceive it not. This, verily, is an evidence of Mine ascendancy, though none amongst the people is truly thankful for it, save those whose eyes God hath illumined with the light of His knowledge, whose hearts He hath made the repository of His Revelation, and upon whose shoulders He hath placed the weight of His Cause. These shall inhale the fragrances of the All-Merciful from the garment of His Name, and shall rejoice at all times in the signs and verses of their Lord. As for those who disbelieve in God, and join partners with Him, they shall indeed incur His wrath, shall be cast into the Fire, and shall be made to dwell, fearful and dismayed, in its depths. Thus do We expound Our verses, and make plain the truth with clear proofs, that perchance the people may reflect upon the signs of their Lord."

Comments:

• Speaking of those “people” whom Baha’u’llah indicated in Paragraph 1.34 He would “raise up”, “who will arise to win victory for” Him and “will purge mankind from the defilement of the outcast and the ungodly”, Baha’u’llah further explains in this Paragraph that each one of these “people” “would assuredly prevail” “through the ascendancy” of His “Will”.

• The creation of such “people” and their triumph in fulfilling their mission, Baha’u’llah confirms, is:

  o “a sign of My sovereignty, though My subjects understand it not”;
  o “a token of My command, though My servants perceive it not”;
  o “an evidence of Mine ascendancy, though none amongst the people is truly thankful for it, save those whose eyes God hath illumined with the light of His knowledge, whose hearts He hath made the repository of His Revelation, and upon whose shoulders He hath placed the weight of His Cause.”

• Reflecting on such phrases should help us further appreciate the majesty and the power of the Manifestation of God. We also become aware that to “understand”, to “perceive” and to become “truly thankful” of these powers of the Manifestation of God, are all conditional on the Will of the Manifestation of God Himself.

February 15, 2010

Paragraph 1.34

"Erelong shall God draw forth, out of the bosom of power, the hands of ascendancy and might, and shall raise up a people who will arise to win victory for this Youth and who will purge mankind from the defilement of the outcast and the ungodly. These hands will gird up their loins to champion the Faith of God, and will, in My name the Self-Subsistent, the Mighty, subdue the peoples and kindreds of the earth. They will enter the cities and will inspire with fear the hearts of all their inhabitants. Such are the evidences of the might of God; how fearful, how vehement is His might, and how justly doth He wield it! He, verily, ruleth and transcendeth all who are in the heavens and on the earth, and revealeth what He desireth according to a prescribed measure."

Comments:

• We explored the historical background associated with the metaphor of drawing forth “out of the bosom” in the comments portion associated with Paragraph 1.23.

• In this paragraph Baha’u’llah makes a reference to the appearance of “a people”, raised by God, who “will arise to win victory” for Baha’u’llah and who “will purge mankind from the defilement of the outcast and the ungodly.” Let’s consult the Writings to see how we could enrich our understanding about these two groups of people, the ungodly and the outcasts. Before we do it, let’s remind ourselves that all we could do is to “strive” to gain a better perspective on such issues in light of the explanations provided in the Writings and that this “learning” process has no end, as Baha’u’llah has stated: “Know assuredly that just as thou firmly believest that the Word of God, exalted be His glory, endureth for ever, thou must, likewise, believe with undoubting faith that its meaning can never be exhausted. They who are its appointed interpreters, they whose hearts are the repositories of its secrets, are, however, the only ones who can comprehend its manifold wisdom.” (Baha'u’llah, Gleanings LXXXIX) And, that furthermore, Baha’u’llah has said: “"Verily I say! No one hath apprehended the root of this Cause. It is incumbent upon everyone, in this day, to perceive with the eye of God, and to hearken with His ear. Whoso beholdeth Me with an eye besides Mine own will never be able to know Me. (Baha’u’llah, quoted by Shoghi Effendi inThe Advent of Divine Justice, p. 77)

February 8, 2010

Paragraph 1.33

"Say: O people! This is the Hand of God, which hath ever been above your own hands, could ye but understand. Within its grasp We have ordained all the good of the heavens and the earth, such that no good shall be made manifest but that it proceedeth therefrom. Thus have We made it the source and treasury of all good both aforetime and hereafter. Say: The rivers of divine wisdom and utterance which flowed through the Tablets of God are joined to this Most Great Ocean, could ye but perceive it, and whatever hath been set forth in His Books hath attained its final consummation in this most exalted Word -- a Word shining above the horizon of the Will of the All-Glorious in this Revelation which hath filled with delight all things seen and unseen."

Comments:

• A reminder that the “Hand of God”, as represented by His Manifestation, is “above” the “hands” of people. This is very comforting and reassuring!

• Furthermore, we are being educated in this paragraph that Baha’u’llah has “ordained” within the grasp of the Manifestation of God “all the good of the heavens and the earth”, and that the Manifestation of God is “the source and treasury of all good” for present, past and future. Also, knowing that “no good shall be made manifest” unless it “proceedeth” from the Manifestation of God. These are all very interesting concepts and realities to reflect on. They will enrich our overall attitude towards life and people.

• Let’s do some reflection on the phrase: “The rivers of divine wisdom and utterance which flowed through the Tablets of God are joined to this Most Great Ocean ..”. In one of His Tablets Baha’u’llah explains that:

February 1, 2010

Paragraph 1.32

"Say: O people! Can ye ever hope to escape the sovereign power of your Lord? By the righteousness of God! No refuge will ye find in this day, and no one to protect you, save those upon whom God hath bestowed the favour of His mercy. He, verily, is the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Compassionate. Say: O people! Forsake all that ye possess, and enter beneath the shadow of your Lord, the All-Merciful. Better is this for you than all your works of the past and of the future. Fear ye God, and deprive not yourselves of the sweet savours of the days of the Lord of all names and attributes. Take heed lest ye alter or pervert the text of the Word of God. Walk ye in the fear of God, and be numbered with the righteous."

Comments:

• Let’s remind ourselves about this phrase in Paragraph 1.31:

“O Living Temple! Stretch forth Thy hand over all who are in heaven and on earth, and seize within the grasp of Thy Will the reins of command. We have, verily, placed in Thy right hand the empire of all things. Do as Thou willest, and fear not the ignorant.”

In Paragraph 1.32 we are being educated that indeed there is no way that one could “escape the sovereign power” of the Manifestation of God – whether a person accepts this fact or not is a different story. Having acknowledged this fact, one can then humbly bow down to the realization that unless he becomes the recipient of God’s “mercy”, through His Manifestation, he could find no “refuge …in this day, and no one to protect …[him] ..” See how much we need to crave for God’ mercy and how Baha’u’llah assures us that “He, verily, is the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Compassionate.”