CARRY YOUR CROSS. HE WHO WILL SAVE HIS LIFE SHALL LOSE IT. (J.A -.01/ 01/ 2013.

) Theme: CARRY YOUR CROSS. HE WHO WILL SAVE HIS LIFE SHALL LOSE IT.(1) Source: the Gospel according to Spiritism, XXIV: 17 a 19.

CARRY YOUR CROSS. HE WHO WILL SAVE HIS LIFE SHALL LOSE IT 17. Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man's sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the Prophets (Luke, 6: 22 & 23). 18. And when He had called the people unto Him with His disciples also, He said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for My sake and the Gospel's, the same shall save it For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? (Mark, 8: 34-36. Also Luke, 9: 23-25; Matthew, 10: 39; John 12: 24 & 25). 19. Jesus said: "Rejoice when men hate and persecute you for My sake, seeing that you will be recompensed in Heaven." These words should be understood in the following manner: Consider yourself blessed when there are fellow creatures who, by their ill-will towards you, give you the opportunity to prove the sincerity of your faith, seeing that the evil they do to you will only result in your benefit. Lament their blindness; however, do not curse them. Then He added: "Take up your cross, all those who wish to follow Me," by which He meant that you must courageously support the trials and tribulations which your faith may bring about, since the one who wishes to save their life and their property by renouncing Christ will lose all the advantages of Heaven; while those who lose everything here in this world, even to their life, for the sake of truth, will receive a prize for courage, perseverance and abnegation in the future life. But to those who have sacrificed the heavenly benefits for earthly pleasures God will say: "You have already received your recompense." *********

CONSIDERATIONS:
The man has in himself two natures, the spiritual and the natural, that is, the one of his soul which is immortal and the one of his carnal body, due to the influences from the necessities of the body the man is attracted very much towards the material, that is, the physical world, where reigns selfishness, pride, vanity, the superiority of some to others, the preconcepteousness, evilness, ignorance, the dominant superstition, the intolerance, ambition, covetousness, the struggle for Earth conquests, the dominating avarice of wanting everything for oneself, the political power, the religious power, the monetary power, the struggles for survival, the lack of faith in God by conditioning in the habitat which one may live influenced or not by the conduct of the society accordingly the country or culture in which co-lives, privileges for some and not for others, hence, the choice of life that a person demands from the inner self of how to live:

A youngster in dialogue with himself in an analogical conflict:

I do know, I am going to reflect: whether to live in anything goes, whether I am to conquest the world for myself and whoever be before me I am to throw down, pass over, push down, smash down and push aside all from my way, because I have in me a winning strength and ahead of me is the world awaiting for me to conquest it, get out of the way for I am here, yes, I shall be rich and powerful and the world shall be at my feet, here what I will want shall be what will be prevailing? However I have a question which is: whether I am to carry my cross and follow Jesus or not? Here it is the law of the strongest which is valid, it is the law of the most clever which is valid, if I follow Jesus who is justice and love, I will have to have tolerance to the next, my neighbor, I have to love my neighbor as myself 2, and what is going to happen to my ambitions and conquests? What is going to happen to my future, will it be that I am going to live of the left overs of the world or will take from the world what I should want, need and so should think, and hence be rich and in me it will be only me who orders myself? I shall study all methods which may help myself in the ambitions of my conquests, because the world

is already in my plans and dreams of mine, it is in my wanting, but Jesus spoke: that man does not live by bread alone 3, therewith, I shall study religions also. However, Jesus is not of this worlds kingdoms 4, as he himself explains that he is from the spiritual world, which is the true lasting life and real, He says: what profits a man to gain the whole world and lose ones own soul 5, and does invite us to follow him, Yes, he is calling me, but the world also attracts me offering everything that my body may have need, Yes, Jesus says: seek ye out the kingdom of Heaven and everything shall be added unto you 6. Even so, how am I to understand that? I am Young and it is just that I should seek out to live on the maximum that the world can offer, after all, is it not that what everyone does? Nonetheless, if I am an immortal soul who has already made some conquests in the past of my soul, some of the impulses and reflexes which I may have, could be linked with the desires and ideals of that away past with desires of my realization and to follow Jesus, and why not, to follow on Jesus and learn the mysteries of the spiritual life and get to know my own self, insomuch that I have deep reflexes that I know they are not belonging to the flesh; Yes, there is something in myself that my fleshly body does not know to explain and I ask myself: After all who am I? Should I? shall I seek my origins? As from now, I am in understanding that I am an incarnated spirit, and that I have two natures and that of the flesh nature, the physical nature, the world itself around me does teach me, that is easy to learn paying attention to it, however of the spiritual nature I can only know and learn following Jesus Master and Lord and the Doctrine which he has left to us which in truth was not his, but of the Father who sent Him 7. Which moral will ever be surpassed? I do know now: I am going to follow Jesus, Yes, I am going to live upon the gifts, vocations and inspirations which are imbued in my heart, I am going to analyze all things and retain what is good 8 as suggested St. Paul, I am not going to steal, I am not going to ill-treat anybody, I am not going to prejudice anyone for conquests of the material world, I am going to shorten up ambitions which may be prejudicial to the spiritual life, I am going to pick out from my heart the forces of goodness, I shall not want but my merits fruits from the strengthing which God has in me, to overcome my desires and even problems of the world and I shall seek up to develop and progress always in the spiritual resources. I am not to trust in myself at all, but trust in God who is my Creator 9, my Potter 10, who molds me accordingly to His will and to the aim of the spiritual finalities and divine, and as He being the Lord my Pastor my cup fills over 11, because God is the inexhaustible fountain of the spiritual life and In Him all life contains 12, He is the supreme intelligence and principal cause of all the effects 13, all the worlds 14 are submitted to His will, In Him we do live and have our being 15, I am not going to be worried about what to eat, considering that Jesus said: that even the very birds God does feed 16 and that God has no privileged, but causes to rain upon the good as well as upon the bad 17. And when I die I am going to evaluate or judge myself of how much was it Worth to have lived honestly, judiciously, dignifyable, lovingly, friendly, charitable, solidarable in good and in peace? Meanwhile, if I do not attain that, I shall incarnate anew with the permition of God willing and shall try again to reach up the upper objective of evolution and progress of my true self, my own soul? And with the love of God in me overcoming the obstacles and difficulties of the world, living in harmony with the Laws of God in love, and deducting that, so as God is Love 18, I shall be imbued in love, and, therefore I should be able possibly to say: I and the Father are one 19, because I shall be co-living in His divine essence? (End. of lhe
analogy)

********* Let us learn from the Spirits Book somewhat that pertains to this study: Questions: 177, 178, 179, 180, 192 a 196?
177. In order to arrive at the perfection and the supreme felicity which are the final aim of mankind, is it necessary for a spirit to pass through all the worlds that exist in the universe? "No; for there are a great number of worlds of the same degree, in which a spirit would learn nothing new." - How, then, are we to explain the plurality of his existences upon the same globe? "He may find himself, each time he comes back, in very different situations, which afford him the opportunity of acquiring new experience." 178. Can spirits live corporeally in a world relatively inferior to the one in which they have already lived? "Yes; when they have to fulfill a mission in aid of progress; and in that case they joyfully accept the tribulations of such an existence, because these will furnish them with the means of advancement." - May this not occur also as an expiation and may not rebellious spirits be sent by God into worlds' of lower degree? "Spirits may remain stationary, but they never retrograde; those who are rebellious are punished by not advancing, and by having to recommence their misused existences under the conditions suited to their nature." - Who are they that are compelled to recommence the same existence?

"They who fail in the fulfilment of their mission, or in the endurance of the trial appointed to them." 179. Have all the human beings who inhabit any given world arrived at the same degree of perfection? "No; it is in the other worlds as upon the earth; there are some who are more advanced, and others who are less so."
180. In passing from this world into another one, does a spirit retain the intelligence which he possessed in this one? "Undoubtedly he does; intelligence is never lost. But he may not have the same means of manifesting it for that depends both on his degree of advancement and on the quality of the body he will take." (Vide, Influence of Organism.) 192. Is it possible for us, by leading a perfect life in our present existence, to overleap all the intervening steps of the ascent, and thus to arrive at the state of pure spirits, without passing through the intermediate degrees? "No; for what a man imagines to be perfect is very far from perfection; there are qualities which are entirely unknown to him, and which he could not now be made to comprehend. He may be as perfect as it is possible for his terrestrial nature to be; 'but he will still be very far from the true and absolute perfection. It is just as with the child, who, however precocious he may he, must necessarily pass through youth to reach adult life; or as the sick man, who must pass through convalescence before arriving at the complete recovery of his health. And besides, a spirit must advance in knowledge as well as in morality; if he have advanced in only one of these directions, he will have to advance equally in the other, in order to reach the top of the ladder of perfection. But it is none the less certain that the more a man advances in his present life the shorter and the less painful will be the trials he will have to undergo in his subsequent existences." - Can a man, at least, insure' for himself, after his present life, a future existence less full of bitterness than this one? "Yes, undoubtedly, he can abridge the length and the difficulties of the road. It is only he who does not care to advance that remains always at the' same point." -193. Can a man in his new existences descend to a lower point than that which he has already reached? "As regards his social position, yes; but not as regards his degree of progress as a spirit." 194. Can the soul of a good man, in a new incarnation, animate the body of a scoundrel? "No; because a spirit cannot degenerate." - Can the soul of a bad man become tile soul of a good man? "Yes, if he have repented; and, in that case, his new incarnation in the reward of his efforts at amendment." The line of march of all spirits is always progressive, never retrograde. They raise themselves gradually In the hierarchy of existence they never descend from the rank at which they have once arrived. In the course of their different corporeal existences they may descend In rank as men, but not as spirits. Thus the soul of one who has been at the pinnacle of earthly power may, in a subsequent incarnation, animate the humblest day-laborer, and vice. versa ; for the elevation of ranks among men Is often In the inverse ratio of that of the moral sentiments. Herod was a king, and Jesus, a carpenter. 195. Might not the certainty of being able' to improve oneself in a future' existence' lead some persons to persist in evil courses, through knowing that they will always be' able' to amend at some later period? "He who could make such a calculation would have no real belief in anything; and such an one would not he any more restrained by the idea of incurring eternal punishment, because his reason would reject that idea, which leads to every sort of unbelief. An imperfect spirit, it is true, might reason in that way during his corporeal life; but when he is freed from his material body, he thinks very differently; for he soon perceives that he has made a great mistake in his calculations, and this perception causes him to carry an opposite sentiment into his next incarnation. It is thus that progress is accomplished; and it is thus also that you have upon the earth some men who are farther advanced than others, because some possess experience that the others have not yet acquired, but that will be gradually acquired by them. It depends upon each spirit to hasten his own advancement or to retard it indefinitely." The man who has an unsatisfactory position desires to change it as soon as possible. He who is convinced that the tribulations of the present life are the consequences of his own imperfections will seek to insure for himself a new existence of a less painful character and this conviction will draw him away from the Wrong road much more effectually than the threat of eternal flames, which he does not believe in. 196. As spirits can only be ameliorated by undergoing the tribulations of corporeal existence, it would seem to follow that the material life is a sort of sieve or strainer, by which the beings of the spirit-world are obliged to pass in order to arrive at perfection ? "Yes; that is the case. They improve themselves under the trials of corporeal life by avoiding evil, and by practicing what is good. But it is only through many successive incarnations or purifications that they succeed, after a lapse of time which is longer or shorter according to the amount of effort put forth by them, ill reaching the goal towards which they tend." - Is it the' body that influences the spirit for its amelioration or is it the spirit that influence's the body? "Your spirit is everything; your body is a garment that rots, and nothing more." A material image of the various degrees of purification of the soul is furnished by the juice of the grape. It contains the liquid called spirit or alcohol, but weakened by the presence of various foreign elements which change its nature, so that it is only brought to a state of absolute purity after several distillations, at each of which it is cleared of some portion of its impurity. The still represents

the corporeal body into which the spirit enters for its purification the foreign elements represent the imperfections from which the perispirit is gradually freed, in proportion as the spirit approaches the state of relative perfection.

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It is also suited to the study to learn from the book Genesis, I: 31 to 35 - XI: 24 to 28.

Genesis, XI: 24 to 28.

********* CXONSIDERATION, 2: We all have our own cross to carry, which is harsh and hardy difficult to carry in this world of Tests and Atonements 20. Jesus is rightly correct in recommending that each one should carry his own cross, taking on account there is a multitude of people, who to be accommodated themselves they explore their neighbor and do like to live on account of someone else, they think only in taking advantage for themselves. Jesus was poor and he did not have where to lay or incline his own head 21, St. Paul learnt with Jesus and followed on Jesus without prejudicing anyone for he said: I work so as not to be of burden to anyone, 22; therefore, no daring to think in following Jesus to be a professional of faith; because Jesus in saying: follow me: it was for the person to spiritualize oneself, to learn the way of goodness, to show us our spiritual condition and prepare us for the life to come; Kingdom of Heaven, Kingdom of Excelse Moral. Spiritism also does not make professionals to earn money, but to bring a doctrine of goodness, which prepares us for the coming life, in explanations which are as Jesus so has spoken to each one according to their work 23, that we should be aware of that future in the beyond, even now in this world, because our spirit has a continuation of life in the beyond, being verily truth, that what our spirit might have of merit on disincarnating itself it takes with itself such merits to the beyond, and from there on returning in account to reincarnate brings with itself its own merits which always accompanies him and that nobody can steal from him, for they are merits pertaining to the spirit or the person. It was not without reason that Jesus explained the torments in the beyond of the rich miser suffering the consequences of his badly living 24. It was not without reason that Jesus related the history of the prodigal son 25. It was not without reason that Jesus related the history of the man who said: I already know what to do: I am going to build bigger barns and say to my soul rest and enjoy your goods 26. It was not without reason that Jesus taught that: what one does to the little ones does it to Jesus 27. It is not without reason that Spiritism says: without charity there is no salvation 28. well, may God be with us as formerly, today and forever.

********* ********* Considering that we have just ended the year 2012 which was previewed as to be ended out, I have found an essay teaching us of our real world, so here it is appended: Signs of the times a remembrance from Dr. Barry, in Allans Kardec book: Gnesis, Chapter, XVIII: 9.

1 Study made by Martinho at lhe Centro Esprita Joana dArc, S. J. De Meriti, RJ. Rio de janeiro on 01/ 01/ 2013. 2 thow shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, (Matthew, XXII: 34-40 - the gospel according to Spiritism, 15:4.) 3 Man shall not live by bread alone, (Matthew, IV: 4.) 4 My Kingdom is not f this world, (John, XVIII: 36.) 5 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? ( Mark, VIII: 36) 6 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you, (Matthew, VI: 33.) 7 My doctrine is not mine, but His that sent me. (John: 7: 16- 29.) 8 Prove all things, hold fast that which is good, (I Thessalonians, V: 21.)

9 I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.(John, XVI: 28.) 10 But now, O Lord, thow art our Father; we are the clay, and Thow our potter; and we all are the work of Thy hand. (Isaiah, XXIX: 16. - 64:8.) 11 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want, (Psalm, XXIII.) 12 For in Him we live, and move, and have our being, (Acts, XVII: 28.) 13 God is the supreme intelligence first cause of all things, (Spirits Book, chap I.: Question, 1 14 In my fathers House Are many mansions, (John, XIV: 2.) 15 In Him we live, and have our beings, (Acts, XVII: 28.) 16 - Behold the fowls of the air; for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Matthew, VI: 25-32.) 17 For he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.(Matthew, V: 45.) 18 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love, (I John, IV: 8.) 19 I and my father are one.(John, X: 30.) 20 Worlds of Tests and atonements, (The Gospel according to Spiritism, (III: 13-15.) 21 The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man hath not where to lay his head, (Matthew, VIII: 19 & 20) 22 For ye remember, brethren, our labor and travail; for laboring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God. (I Thessalonians, II: 9.) 23 He shall reward every man according to his works, (Matthew, XVI: 27.) 24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame, (Luke, XVI: 19-23.) 25 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my fathers have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! (Luke, XV: 11-32.) 26 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thow hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry, (Luke, XII: 17-21.) 27 Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. (Matthew, XXV: 40.) 28 Without charity there is no salvation, is enclosed the destiny of mankind, both on Earth and in Heaven. (The Gospel according to Spiritism, (XV: 10.)