{"id":1340,"date":"2020-05-25T21:02:15","date_gmt":"2020-05-25T21:02:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/religionoflight.org\/ns\/lightofgod\/?p=1340"},"modified":"2020-05-25T21:02:15","modified_gmt":"2020-05-25T21:02:15","slug":"lectionary-readings-for-tuesday-may-26th-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/religionoflight.org\/ns\/lightofgod\/2020\/05\/25\/lectionary-readings-for-tuesday-may-26th-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"Lectionary Readings for Tuesday, May 26th, 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"

Book of Wars Against Jehovih Chapter 43, Chapter 44<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Chapter 43<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Sudga, after assuming a heaven unto himself, moved it over the Nua Mountains and
\ncalled it Hridat, in which place he had eight thousand million angel slaves, after the same
\nmanner as Te-in’s. Sudga’s capital city, Sowachissa, his highest heavenly seat, was
\nmodeled after the fashion of Sanc-tu, De’yus’heavenly place in Hored, at the time of its
\ngreatest magnificence.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

2. The capital house of Sudga was made of precious stones and gems, the work of
\nthousands of millions of angels for many years. And when Hored was pillaged, prior to
\nDe’yus’being cast into hell, millions of its most precious ornaments were stolen and
\nbrought to Hridat. The streets of Hridat were paved with precious stones; and an arena
\nsurrounded the palace on every side, set with crystals of every shade and color, and of
\nevery conceivable manner of workmanship. On the borders of the arena stood five
\nhundred million sentinels, arrayed in gorgeousness such as only Gods had looked upon.
\nInside the line of sentinels were one million pillars of fire, kept brilliant day and night, by
\nthe toil of five hundred million slaves. Inside the line of the pillars of fire were one
\nmillion marshals, so arrayed in splendor one could scarce look upon them. These were
\nwatch and watch, with two other groups of one million each, and they stood watch eight
\nhours each.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

3. None but the vice-Gods and the high marshals could cross the arena to the palace,
\nwalking, but must crawl on their bellies; and for every length crawled, they must kiss the
\npavement and recite an anthem of praise to Sudga, who now took both names, Sudga and
\nDyaus. Neither must any one repeat the same anthem twice, but it must be a new anthem
\nfor each and every length of the person. For a tall person, a thousand lengths were
\nrequired, from the line of marshals to the palace, a thousand anthems. So that only the
\nfew, as compared to the millions, ever laid eyes on the throne of Sudga. And after they so
\nbeheld him on the throne, for they were only permitted to gaze but once on him, and that
\nat a great distance, and amidst such a sea of fire they scarce could see him, then they must
\nre-crawl back again to the place of beginning, again reciting another thousand anthems.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Which made Sudga almost inaccessible, and permitted only such as were favored to
\neven look upon him, which with the ignorant is a great power.<\/span>
\n
\n<\/span>5. When Ahura came to the capital and sent word to Sudga who he was, praying
\naudience, Sudga gave orders to admit him, commanding Ahura to walk upright into his
\npresence, along with the vice-Gods. Accordingly, in this manner Ahura came before
\nSudga, and saluted in L<\/span>OVE AND <\/span>E<\/span>STEEM<\/span>, answered by Sudga in F<\/span>RIENDSHIP OF <\/span>O<\/span>LD<\/span>. The
\nlatter at once commanded privacy, and so all others withdrew, and Ahura and Sudga went
\nup and sat on the throne.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

6. Sudga said: Because thou hast come to see me I am overflowing with joy. Because
\nI know thou hast come to admonish me for my philosophy and the manner of
\nmy dominions, I respect thee. Because thou didst once try to found a kingdom of
\nthine own, and failed, I sympathize with thee; but because thou wentest back on
\nthyself and accepted Jehovih, and so was rescued from thy peril, I commiserate thee.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

7. Ahura said: To hear thy gifted tongue once more is my great joy. To know that no
\nmisfortune was in store for thee and thy kingdom would give me great delight. Because I
\nlove thee, and the people of thy mighty, heavenly kingdom, I have come to admonish thee
\nand plead for Jehovih’s sake. As for myself, I have found that to cast all my cares on Him,
\nand then turn in and work hard for others, these two things give me the greatest
\nhappiness.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

8. Sudga said: Can a brave man justly cast his cares upon another? Was not thyself given
\nto thyself for thyself? If so, thou desirest none to work for thee? If so, how hast thou a
\nright to work for others? If thou prevent them working out their own destiny, wrongest
\nnot thou them? Moreover, thou sayest: To cast thy cares on Jehovih, and to work hard for
\nothers, these two give thee the greatest happiness: Wherefore, art thou not selfish to work
\nfor thine own happiness? For is not this what I am doing for myself in mine own way.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

9. Ahura said: Grant all thy arguments, O Sudga, where shall we find the measure of
\nrighteous works but in the sum of great results? For you or I to be happy, that is little; for
\na million angels to be happy, that is little. But when we put two kingdoms alongside, and
\nthey be the same size, and have the same number of inhabitants, is it not just that we
\nweigh them in their whole measure to find which of the two kingdoms hath the greatest
\nnumber of happy souls? Would not this be a better method of arriving at the highest
\nphilosophy?
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

10. Sudga said: Yea, that would be higher than logic, higher than reason. That would be
\nthe foundation of a sound theory.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

11. Ahura said: And have we not found, both in heaven and earth, that all kingdoms that
\nare overthrown have the cause of their fall in the unhappiness and disaffection of the
\nignorant. As soon as the masses begin to be in unrest, the rulers apply vigorous measures
\nto repress them, but it is only adding fuel to the fire; it deadeneth it awhile, but only to
\nhave it burst forth more violently afterward.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

12. Sudga said: Thou reasonest well, O Ahura; go on. Ahura said: How, then, shall we
\ndetermine the happiness of two kingdoms, in order to determine which hath the greater
\nhappiness? Are not revolts evidence of unhappiness? Hear me, then, O Sudga; where, in
\nall the Jehovihian heavens, hath there ever been a revolt? And on the earth, where have
\nthe Jehovihians, the Faithists, rebelled against their rulers? Behold, in the far-off etherean
\nheavens, the Nirvanian fields, hath never been any God or Chief environed in tortures. As
\nfor my own kingdom, my people will not rebel against me, nor need I fortify myself
\nagainst disaster.<\/span>
\n
\n<\/span>13. Sudga said: Thou art wise, O Ahura. The only way to judge a kingdom’s happiness is
\nby the peace and contentment and civility of its people toward one another, and by
\nthe confidence betwixt the ruler and the ruled. He who hath to guard himself liveth on
\nthe eve of destruction of his kingdom and himself. And yet, O Ahura, remember this:
\nthe Jehovihians of heaven and earth are high raised ere they become such; any one can
\nbe a ruler for them, for they know righteousness. But I have to deal with druks and
\ndrujas. How, then, canst thou compare my kingdoms with the Nirvanian kingdoms?
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

14. Ahura said: Alas, O Sudga, I fear my arguments are void before thee. Thou showest
\nme that the line betwixt selfishness and unselfishness is finer than a spider’s web. Even
\nGods cannot distinguish it. And yet, behold, there was a time when I said: I will be a
\nmighty God, and bow not to the Unknown that brought me into being. For this I labored
\nlong and hard; the responsibility of my kingdom finally encroached upon my happiness.
\nLong after that I put away all responsibility, and made myself a servant to Jehovih. Then a
\nnew happiness came upon me, even when I had nothing that was mine in heaven and
\nearth. This is also unknowable to me; it is within my members as a new tree of delight.
\nThis it is that I would tell thee of, but I cannot find it. It flieth not away; it baffleth words,
\neven as a description of the Great Spirit is void because of His wondrous majesty. Such is
\nthe joy of His service that even Gods and angels cannot describe it. With its growth we
\nlook famine in the face and weep not; we see falling ji’ay and fear not; with the ebb and
\nflow of the tide of Jehovih’s works we float as one with Him, with a comprehensive joy.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

15. Sudga said: To hear thy voice is joy to me; to not hear thee is great sorrow. Behold, I
\nwill consider thy words of wisdom. In thy far-off place I will come in remembrance and
\nlove to thee.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

16. Thus ended the interview, and Sudga signaled his vice-Gods and high marshal to
\ncome; whereat he saluted Ahura in the sign of C<\/span>RAFT<\/span>, and Ahura answered him in the
\nsign, T<\/span>IME<\/span>.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

17. And then Ahura, betwixt the vice-Gods, led by the high marshal, departed, passed
\nbeyond the arena, where the vice-Gods and high marshal gave him into the charge of the
\nmarshal hosts, who conducted him beyond the line of sentinels, where Ahura joined his
\nown attendants and went with them into his otevan, and set sail for Agho’aden,
\nOsiris’heavenly place, which had been over Parsi’e, but was now moved over Arabin’ya.
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>Chapter 44<\/span>
\n<\/span>1. At this time Osiris’heavenly kingdom numbered thirteen thousand million angels, good
\nand bad. And it was the largest heavenly kingdom ever established on the earth.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

2. It was built after the manner of Sudga’s; that is to say, modeled after Sanc-tu, in Hored,
\nbut more magnificent than Sudga’s kingdom, and far larger. The arena-way was five
\nthousand lengths of a man across; so that approaching visitors to the throne must crawl
\ntwo thousand lengths in order to approach the throne. And they also had to repeat an
\nanthem of praise, or a prayer, for every length crawled, going and coming. And they were,
\nlike at Sudga’s, permitted to approach only to within a long distance from Osiris; whilst
\nthe array of lights around him were so dazzling that scarcely any could look upon him.
\nAnd they that thus approached were so reverential that their minds magnified Osiris’
\nglorious appearance so much, they verily believed they had looked into the Creator’s face,<\/span>
\nand saw, of a truth, man was of his image and likeness. And thousands, and even
\nmillions, that thus crawled to look upon him, afterward went about in heaven preaching
\nOsiris as the veritable All Highest Creator of heaven and earth.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Osiris made his Godhead to consist of three persons: first, himself, as T<\/span>HE <\/span>F<\/span>OUNTAIN OF
\nTHE <\/span>U<\/span>NIVERSE<\/span>, whose name was U<\/span>NSPEAKABLE<\/span>; second, B<\/span>AAL<\/span>, H<\/span>IS <\/span>O<\/span>NLY <\/span>B<\/span>EGOTTEN <\/span>S<\/span>ON<\/span>, into
\nwhose keeping he had assigned the earth and all mortals thereon; and, third, A<\/span>SHTAROTH<\/span>,
\nH<\/span>IS <\/span>V<\/span>IRGIN <\/span>D<\/span>AUGHTER<\/span>, into whose keeping he had assigned life and death, or rather the
\npower of begetting and the power to cause death with mortals.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Osiris was the most cunning of all the self-Gods; for thus he appropriated the triangle
\nof the Faithists; thus appropriated the names and powers of the Lord God, the false (now
\nin hell), for only through Baal and Ashtaroth could any mortal or spirit ever attain to
\napproach the arena of the throne in Agho’aden. And here again, they had to pass the high
\nsentinel, Egupt, before they were entitled to the right to crawl on their bellies over the
\nsacred pavement, the way to the heavenly palace.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

5. Only the vice-Gods of Osiris and his chief marshal could walk upright to the capital
\npalace, and they with heads bowed low. And when Osiris was informed of Ahura’s
\ncoming he sent word that he should come upright, with head erect, but veiled from head
\nto foot. To this Ahura gladly consented; and, being thus veiled by Egupt and handed over
\nto the vice-Gods and the chief marshal, he walked upright till he came to the high arch of
\nthe palace; here they halted, and Ahura saluted on the sign O<\/span>LD <\/span>T<\/span>IME <\/span>L<\/span>OVE<\/span>, and Osiris
\nanswered in the sign J<\/span>OY IN <\/span>H<\/span>EAVEN<\/span>. Whereupon Ahura left the vice-Gods and walked
\nnear the throne, and Osiris came down, and they embraced in each other’s arms, not
\nhaving seen each other for more than a thousand years.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

6. Osiris signaled the vice-Gods and chief marshal to fall back, and they did so, and they
\nascended the throne and sat thereon, privately.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

7. Osiris said: This is a great joy! To meet one’s loves, is not this greater, after all, than
\nall the pomp and glory of the Gods? Ahura said: True; but who is wise enough to live
\nto enjoy so cheap a glory? We run afar off; we build up mighty kingdoms, and our
\nplaces are replete with great magnificence; in search after what? Whilst that which
\ndoth cost nothing, love, the greatest good of all in heaven and earth, we leave out in
\nthe cold. More delight have I to again look upon thy buoyant face, and hear the music
\nof thy voice, than I ever had in my heavenly kingdom of seven thousand million angels.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

8. Osiris said: Is it not so with all Gods, and with mortal kings and queens? They boast of
\nthe extent and power of their countless millions; and yet they have not more to love them
\nthan would match in numbers their fingers’ends, whom they can take into their arms
\nin the fullness of reciprocity. What, then, are pomp and glory? Are not kings and queens
\nof earth but watch-dogs, to guard the stinking flesh and bones of other mortals? And
\nare not the Gods equally base in their dirty trade of ruling over foul-smelling drujas?
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

9. Ahura said: It is so. But whence is this great desire to rule over others; to lead them; to
\nbe applauded; and to revel in the toil of millions? Would it not be wise for the Gods who
\nunderstand this, to resign their mighty kingdoms and go along with their loves to feast in
\nthe great expanse of the universe.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

10. Osiris said: True, O Ahura. But who hath power to do this? Certainly not the Gods.
\nAnd is it not so with mortals? For thousands of years, have they not been told: Except ye
\ngive up your earthly kingdoms, and give up your riches, ye cannot rise in heaven. But,<\/span>
\nbehold, the rich man cannot give up his riches; the king cannot give up his kingdom.
\nThey are weak indeed! As well expect an unhatched bird to fly, as for such souls to be but
\nslaves in our dominions. This do I perceive also, of mine own kingdom, I cannot give it
\nup; because, forsooth, I cannot get the desire to give it up, although my judgment saith it
\nwould be the highest, best thing for me.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

11. Ahura said: Are not great possessions like unto dissipation? I have seen mortals
\nwho admit <\/span>THE HIGHEST, BEST THING TO DO IS TO LIVE THE HIGHEST, BEST ONE KNOWETH, <\/span>and
\nstraightway go off and pollute the body by eating flesh and drinking wine. They also
\nknow the right way, but to attain to the desire to put in practice what one knoweth to be
\nthe highest, they have not reached.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

12. Osiris said: Yea, all this is dissipation. And if a man give away what he hath, is not
\nthat also dissipation? Can it be true, O Ahura, that even as we manipulate mortals, to
\ndrive them to war or to make them play peace, to make them destroy their kingdoms and
\nbuild up others by our angel armies, which they know not of, that we ourselves are ruled
\nover by the Gods in the etherean heavens?
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

13. Ahura said: It seemeth to me thus, Osiris, that is to say: That the etherean Gods above
\nus rule us, but not in the same way, but by their absence from us when we do unjustly,
\nand by their presence when we do righteously. We rule over mortals by direct action
\nupon them, shaping their destinies by our heavenly wills, and they are often cognizant
\nof our angel servants being with them. But when we cannot appropriate a mortal to
\ndo our wills, we withdraw our angels and suffer him to fall into the hands of drujas.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

14. Ahura continued: Not that the Gods above us, O Osiris, send evils upon us; but that
\nwe foster evils within our own kingdoms which take root, like thorns and nettles in a
\nneglected field, and they grow and environ us. Even this I have seen in thy heavens in the
\nfar future. It will come upon thee, O Osiris, and with all thy wisdom and strength thou
\nwilt meet the same fate as De’yus, and be cast into hell.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

15. Osiris said: Were I to judge by all the self-Gods who have been before me, I should
\nassent unto thy wise judgment. But hear thou me, O Ahura, for mine is not like any other
\nheavenly kingdom, nor formed for mine own glory only. This, then, is that that I will
\naccomplish:
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

16. I will cast out sin from amongst mortals, and all manner of wickedness; and I
\nwill give them a heavenly kingdom on earth. They shall war no more, nor deal
\nunjustly with one another; nor have suffering, nor immature deaths, nor famines,
\nnor sickness, but peace and love, and righteousness, and good works and nobleness.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

17. For I will go down to them in person in time to come; and I will take with me angels
\nhigh raised, and appoint them unto mortals, and give them corporeal bodies for their
\npleasure, and they shall be the teachers of man on the earth. And man shall put away all
\nselfishness and deceit, and lust, and lying; and the races of man shall be taught how to
\nbeget offspring in purity and wisdom.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

18. And in that day I will take back the drujas of heaven and engraft them on mortals and
\nre-raise them up with understanding. Wherefore, O Ahura, though I fortify myself in all
\nthis, am I not laboring in the right way?
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

19. Ahura said: It seemeth to me a dangerous proceeding. I would compare thy plan to
\nthat of a teacher who took his pupil into a place of vice to teach him virtue. How can a
\nheavenly kingdom exist amongst mortals, save with celibates? And they cannot people<\/span>
\nthe world. Is there any other way but by the delight of the lowest passion that man can be
\nborn into life? What belongeth to the flesh is of the flesh; the spirit repudiateth the earth.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

20. Osiris said: It hath been so said; but I will cast the higher love down into the lower.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

21. Ahura said: Why, so thou canst; but, alas, will it remain down, and forever grovel on
\nthe earth? I have seen a sweet maiden wed to a vicious husband, and she lifted him not
\nup, but he pulled her down. Will not it be so with the higher love, when thou weddest it to
\nthe passions? Behold the manner of the oracles! We appoint high-raised angels to answer
\nthe questions of mortals, to lead them to virtue and wisdom; but, alas, mortals come not
\nto the oracles to learn these things, but to learn wickedness, and war, and earthly gain.
\nWill it not be so with thy kingdom founded on earth? Instead of helping mortals up,
\nmortals will pull down the angels to answer them in their most sinful desires and
\ncuriosity.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

22. Osiris said: Thou hast great reason on thy side, and facts withal to sustain thee. Yet
\nforget not, O Ahura, I shall have a temple built of stone on the earth, and a chamber
\nwhere I can come and command the kingdom through the mortal king.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

23. Ahura said: Behold, my mission is fruitless. I have now visited my three loves,
\nTe-in, and Sudga, and thee. And I cannot turn one, even a jot or tittle. In this I have
\ngreat sorrow; for I fear the time may come when great darkness will be upon you all.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

24. Osiris said: I will consider thy wise words, O Ahura. And though thou now goest
\nfrom me, my love will follow thee.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

25. Hereupon Osiris signaled the chief marshal and the vice-Gods, and they came.
\nThen Osiris and Ahura embraced each other and parted, both saluting in the sign,
\nL<\/span>OVE <\/span>F<\/span>OREVER<\/span>. Ahura retired even as he came, but backward, the vice-Gods on either
\nside and the marshal leading the way. After they crossed the arena, Ahura
\nwas delivered to Egupt, and the chief marshal and the vice-Gods returned to Osiris.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

26. Egupt passed Ahura on to his own attendants, who conducted him to his fireship wherein they embarked and set sail for his own heavenly place, Vara-pishanaha<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Book of Wars Against Jehovih Chapter 43, Chapter 44 Chapter 43 1. Sudga, after assuming a heaven unto himself, moved it over the Nua Mountains and called it Hridat, in which place he had eight thousand million angel slaves, after the same manner as Te-in’s. Sudga’s capital city, Sowachissa, his highest heavenly seat, was modeled … [Read more…]<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[46,40,39,34,36,35,38,33,41,31,32,47,50,48,44,45,43,42],"class_list":{"0":"entry","1":"post","2":"publish","3":"author-lightofgod","4":"post-1340","6":"format-standard","7":"category-lectionary-readings","8":"post_tag-calendar","9":"post_tag-daily-readings","10":"post_tag-eloih","11":"post_tag-faithism","12":"post_tag-faithist-church","13":"post_tag-faithists","14":"post_tag-jehovih","15":"post_tag-kosmon-era","16":"post_tag-lectionary-readings","17":"post_tag-oahspe","18":"post_tag-oahspe-bible","19":"post_tag-observances","20":"post_tag-religion-of-light","21":"post_tag-sabbath","22":"post_tag-united-covenant","23":"post_tag-united-covenant-of-light","24":"post_tag-yeshua","25":"post_tag-yoshu"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/religionoflight.org\/ns\/lightofgod\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1340","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/religionoflight.org\/ns\/lightofgod\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/religionoflight.org\/ns\/lightofgod\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/religionoflight.org\/ns\/lightofgod\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/religionoflight.org\/ns\/lightofgod\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1340"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/religionoflight.org\/ns\/lightofgod\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1340\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1341,"href":"http:\/\/religionoflight.org\/ns\/lightofgod\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1340\/revisions\/1341"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/religionoflight.org\/ns\/lightofgod\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1340"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/religionoflight.org\/ns\/lightofgod\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1340"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/religionoflight.org\/ns\/lightofgod\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1340"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}