{"id":78,"date":"2019-04-01T22:02:53","date_gmt":"2019-04-01T22:02:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/religionoflight.org\/ns\/lightofgod\/?p=78"},"modified":"2019-04-01T22:02:53","modified_gmt":"2019-04-01T22:02:53","slug":"lectionary-readings-for-monday-april-1st-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/religionoflight.org\/ns\/lightofgod\/2019\/04\/01\/lectionary-readings-for-monday-april-1st-2019\/","title":{"rendered":"Lectionary Readings for Monday, April 1st, 2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Book of God’s Word Chapters XIX and XX<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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

1. Zarathustra called his fifty companions before him, saying: Because these people are
\ndelivered from the tyrant, they will become his enemies. A people long oppressed, love
\nvengeance. This would thwart the Ormazdian law. Take them, therefore, away from the
\ncity, dividing them into groups amongst yourselves, and I will send angels, capable of
\ninterpreting languages.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

2. I’hua’Mazda said: Behold, a God cometh not to accomplish at random. Nor cometh he
\nto one man only, in order to overthrow the evil of a whole world. Ye have been prepared
\nfor this work since the day of your birth. My angels have been with you, and ye are a part
\nof my army. Now this shall happen to you, after ye have divided these people, and
\nconducted them into the forests: ye shall begin to speak with new tongues, and these
\npeople will understand you. And ye shall build altars of worship to Ormazd, teaching
\nthese people songs and prayers and dancing, explaining to them the Ormazdian law.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Zarathustra said: Wait not for me to come, nor for the voice of I’hua’Mazda, but do ye
\nin faith as I have commanded, and the Voice will be with you.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

4. So, those who fled from the anarchy of the city, were led away, half a day’s journey,
\nand there encamped. And the companions of Zarathustra, who were styled Inquas, were
\nentranced, and comprehended the language of the people, and could talk with them
\nunderstandingly.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

5. So they built altars to Ormazd, and taught the people worship, and caused them to take
\nan oath not to kill any man or woman or child, nor beast, nor bird; nor any animal created
\nalive. And they bound them on the oath taken under the thigh, to eat only fruit and nuts
\nand roots and bread, according to the Ormazdian law. And they divided them into
\nfamilies of tens and families of hundreds, and of a thousand, giving them one rab’bah for
\neach, according to the Zarathustrian law.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

6. But Zarathustra returned into the city, and I’hua’Mazda clothed him about with fire, at
\nnight, and with clouds in the daylight, so that the people could behold his power, and no
\nman dare raise a hand against him.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

7. Then he commanded the people to gather together all the skulls on the walls, and the
\nscalps that were hung about the houses and on the poles; and they were taken away and
\nburned. And as for the soldiers, he disbanded them; and thus, the king was rendered
\nhelpless, left to stroll about, cursing.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

8. And Zarathustra advised the people to go out of the city and live; and they so went
\nforth by thousands, beginning new lives. After that, Zarathustra left the place; and at once
\nit was filled with drujas, and they went to the druks and inspired them to fire and plunder.
\nAnd it came to pass, in not many days, the great city of Tse’gow, with all its temples, and
\ntowers, and palaces, was reduced to a heap of ashes.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

9. Zarathustra went before the people, hundreds of thousands of them, speaking by the
\nvoice of I’hua’Mazda, saying: I hear certain ones saying: Whoever setteth value on earthly<\/span>
\nthings, above heavenly things, it is good for him to have fire and destruction. All things
\ncome of the Father, Ormazd, or by His permission. When He withdraweth His hand from
\na wicked city, evil spirits rush in.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

10. Ye have said: Who are evil spirits? Why doth not Ormazd destroy them? I say unto
\nyou, evil spirits are both yourselves and the dead. Whom ye have slain in passion,
\nstill live to torment you in spirit. Ye had their skulls hung on the gates and walls; your
\ntemples of science were portaled with the scalps of your enemies. The spirits of these
\npeople still live, though their bodies be dead, and they obsess you to deeds of wickedness.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

11. This is the Ormazdian law; when a man is dead, ye shall either burn the body, or bury
\nit in the ground, that the spirit be not troubled. But ye bound them in spirit; Tse’gow was
\nan eye-sore in the sight of them that were slain for its glory. They delighted to see it
\ndestroyed.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

12. More than ye have lost by the fire, these spirits have gained ten-fold; for now the
\nGods can deliver them in heaven. For which reasons, I declare unto you that it is a great
\ngood that Tse’gow is destroyed. The world is large; the lands are very wide. Kill no man,
\nnor woman, nor child. They are Ormazd’s.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

13. Neither shall ye build large cities; they are a curse on the face of the earth. Neither
\nshall ye live alone, for such become bound to self; but dwell in families of tens and
\nhundreds and thousands. Hath not the Father given you an example in the I’hins? They
\nkill not, nor take that which is another’s; nor are given to lust, nor war, nor
\nquarrelsomeness.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

14. The Voice said: Where is the king’s wife, Hi’ti’us? Where is Ha’Sing, the prince? And
\nthe princesses, Pentu, and Zoo, and He’in, and Zabee? The multitude answered: They are
\ngone!
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

15. After that the Voice said: I say unto you, they were gone, but they are returning.
\nPresently they will be here. They shall speak before you. And sure enough, presently the
\nking’s wife and son and daughters, came. Hi’ti’us said: Behold, Tse’gow of Oas is burned.
\nWho hath seen the king? He’in and Zabee, the princesses, were very young girls, and
\nthey cried for their father. He had slain himself, cutting his bowels across with his sword.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

16. I’hua’Mazda spake through Zarathustra, saying: Come thou, Hi’ti’us, and stand on the
\nrocks so that all can see, and bring thy children. She came and stood beside Zarathustra.
\nAnd now the Voice said: Let these bear witness whether the dead do not live in spirit?
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

17. Hi’ti’us said: With my own eyes have I seen the spirits of the dead; with my own
\nears, heard them talk. My children shall hold up their hands if these things be true.
\nThe children held up their hands. Again Hi’ti’us said: Where is my husband, the king?
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

18. Whilst they were yet standing on the rocks, lo and behold, the ghost of the king rose
\nup before all the people, and He’in and Zabee cried out: Here is my father! Then spake
\nI’hua’Mazda, saying to the soul of the king: Knowest thou that thou art dead? The soul of
\nthe king spake loud, so that all could hear him; he said: No, I am not dead, but I have
\ndone a foolish thing, I cut my bowels across.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

19. Then Hi’ti’us said: I fear, indeed, the king is dead, and this is his spirit. He looks
\nstrangely! I’hua’Mazda said: There is no cut. Thy belly is unharmed. But the spirit
\npersisted, saying: I thrust my hands in the hole, and yet thou sayest, there is no wound!
\nThou art mad! I remember thee; it was thou who broughtst back these phantom enemies
\nto torment me!<\/span>
\n
\n<\/span>20. I’hua’Mazda said: What enemies seest thou? The spirit answered: All I ever slew;
\na thousand or more! Away, ye torments! Ye mockers! I will thrust you through.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

21. The soul of the king then stamped and raved, for he saw the spirits of the dead;
\nbut the audience saw them not, though they saw him, for he was in sar’gis form.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

22. I’hua’Mazda said: I say unto thee, O king, thou art dead, and risen from the dead.
\nCouldst thou but awake to this fact, thou wouldst be risen in spirit. Neither canst thou be
\ndelivered till these, thy enemies, are also delivered. Then answered the spirit of the king,
\nsaying: I banish thee from the city of Tse’gow! Nor shalt thou ever return, under penalty
\nof death!
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

23. I’hua’Mazda said: I tell thee, O king, the city of Tse’gow is destroyed. Verily is
\nthere not one house standing in all the place! The soul of the king answered, saying:
\nThou tormentest me! Thou madman! Thou assertest lies in the face of facts!
\nBegone, wretch! O that my belly were not cut across; I would at thee with vengeance!
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

24. I’hua’Mazda withdrew the sar’gis, and the king could not be seen; nevertheless, his
\nspirit continued cursing and raging all the same. The queen, Hi’ti’us, comprehended the
\nmatter fully, and her heart was heavy with sorrow.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

25. I’hua’Mazda said to her: Remember the faith of thy forefathers, the I’hins. Be thou
\nstrong in the Ormazdian law, and these sorrows will pass away. Nor is there anything in
\nheaven or earth can satisfy the soul that is short before the law. To her that can say, I live
\nthe all highest, happiness hath a sure foundation.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

26. And, whosoever perceiving the dead are in torments, let them pray for them, singing
\nanthems unto the Father. Intercede ye with the All Light, to bestow them with peace.
\nThink not that because of your prayers the All Light runneth with haoma, to feed the
\nspirits of the dead. But this I declare unto you, that, by peace and joy in your devotions to
\nthe Father, the spirits are thus reclaimed to virtue and exaltation.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

27. These things will I show unto you yet this night; be steadfast and hopeful in Faith,
\nand, when the evening hath come, I will again call up the spirits of the dead before you.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

1. Because of the destruction of Tse’gow, there were hundreds of thousands of people
\nrendered homeless and destitute, and groups were surging about in all places, crying out
\nfor food, or for some needful thing. I’hua’Mazda said to Zarathustra, the All Pure: The illfortune of mortals is the good fortune of the righteous Gods; but the good fortune of
\nmortals is the glory of the evil Gods. Think not that because Tse’gow is burned, and
\nthe people hungry, the Voice of the Father is out of place. Now is the time they will give
\near. By the loss of earthly treasures, the soul seeketh for that which will endure forever.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Go thou, therefore, O Zarathustra, and I will go with thee; and criers shall be sent out,
\ncalling the people to the valley of Tsoak’ya this night.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

3. So it came about, when night set in, Zarathustra came before the people, and there were
\ntens of thousands of them. I’hua’Mazda spake to them, explaining the Ormazdian law.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

4. When he was done speaking, he took Hi’ti’us, the king’s widow; her children, and forty
\nothers, and made a crescent of them; and he stood betwixt the horns thereof. And to his
\nleft and right were many of his companions. Thus prepared, Zarathustra sang a song, such
\nas the I’hins had taught him in his youth.<\/span>
\n
\n<\/span>5. And the drujas were ushered into the crescent, taking on sar’gis, the king amongst the
\nnumber. And the spirit of the king was softened, for they sang peace to his soul and joy
\nforever; and presently, he awoke from his craziness, and remembered he was dead; and he
\nrejoiced in Zarathustra, and applauded him before all the people. And likewise the spirits
\nof darkness who were with him did in the same manner.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

6. Zarathustra said: Behold, I have not come in a dark age. Ye shall not worship any man
\nborn of woman, nor call him sacred. One only, Who is Ormazd, the Creator, is Master
\nover all the world. Hear ye now my voice unto Him!
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

7. Zarathustra stretched his arms upward, full of energy, and I’hua’Mazda spake through
\nhim, saying: Light of Light, O Father, hear Thou Thy Son! With thy Almighty hand bless
\nThou these faithful sufferers! Hardly had these words been spoken, when there fell from
\nthe air above, fish and fruit and grains and roots, and all things good to eat, more than
\nsufficient to feed the famished people for three days; and there were more than thirty
\nthousand of them.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

8. And all this while the sar’gis of the king looked on, and beheld what had been done;
\nand he cried out with a loud voice: Blessed art Thou, O Ormazd! O that I had known
\nThee! O that I had sought to find Thee! Hi’ti’us, my wife! And my blessed babes! Swear
\nye to the king, ye will proclaim the I’hua’Mazdian law, forever! Swear it! Give me joy!
\nSwear! swear! swear!
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

9. Then Hi’ti’us and the children held up their hands as directed by I’hua’Mazda, swearing
\na solemn oath to maintain the love of Ormazd and the Zarathustrian law, forever.
\nAfter these, there came thousands and thousands of others, who also swore in the same
\nway. I’hua’Mazda then took away the sar’gis, and the spirits could not be seen by mortals.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Book of God’s Word Chapters XIX and XX Chapter XIX 1. Zarathustra called his fifty companions before him, saying: Because these people are delivered from the tyrant, they will become his enemies. A people long oppressed, love vengeance. This would thwart the Ormazdian law. Take them, therefore, away from the city, dividing them into groups … [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":[46,40,39,34,36,35,38,33,41,31,32,47,37,48,44,45,43,42],"class_list":{"0":"entry","1":"post","2":"publish","3":"author-lightofgod","4":"post-78","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-religiono-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":"https:\/\/religionoflight.org\/ns\/lightofgod\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/78","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/religionoflight.org\/ns\/lightofgod\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/religionoflight.org\/ns\/lightofgod\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religionoflight.org\/ns\/lightofgod\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religionoflight.org\/ns\/lightofgod\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=78"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/religionoflight.org\/ns\/lightofgod\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/78\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":79,"href":"https:\/\/religionoflight.org\/ns\/lightofgod\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/78\/revisions\/79"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/religionoflight.org\/ns\/lightofgod\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=78"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religionoflight.org\/ns\/lightofgod\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=78"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religionoflight.org\/ns\/lightofgod\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=78"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}