Corresponding Text Section

Chapter 26: Divine Justice

2. The Divine’s Masterpiece and Its Frame

Is it not evident that the world the body’s eyes look upon is one whose foundation is fear? Perhaps you think you find a promise of satisfaction there. Perhaps you hope to attain some peace and happiness in the world as you perceive it. Yet it must be evident that the outcome does not change. Despair always results despite your hopes and fancies. And there is no exception, nor will there ever be. The only value that the world can hold is that you learn it gives you no results that you would want to keep, for only thus will you be willing to relinquish it entirely, and have it gone forever.

Is it not strange that you should still cherish some hope of satisfaction from the world you look upon? In no respect, at any time or place, has anything but fear and guilt been your reward for investing yourself in this world. How long is needed for you to realize that the chance of change in this regard is hardly worth delaying a different change that might result in better outcome? For one thing is sure: the way you perceive, and have until now always perceived, gives no support on which to base your future hopes, and no suggestions of success at all. To place your hopes where no hope is must make you hopeless. Yet is this hopelessness your choice while you would seek for hope where none is ever found.

Is it not also true that you have found some real Hope apart from this world? Some glimmering, wavering sense, as yet dimly perceived, that Hopefulness is warranted on grounds that are not in this world? And yet your wish that such grounds for real Hope may still lie here prevents you still from giving up the hopeless and unrewarding task you set yourself. Can it make sense to hold the fixed belief that there is reason to uphold pursuit of what has always failed, on grounds that it will suddenly succeed, and bring what it has never brought before?

Your past has failed. Be glad that it is gone from within your mind where it darkened the Hope that is truly there. Mistake not form for content, for form at best is merely a means for content. And a frame is merely a means to hold a picture up so that it can be observed. A frame that hides a picture has no purpose. It cannot be a frame if the frame is all that you observe. Without the picture is the frame without its meaning. Its purpose is to highlight the picture, and not itself. Who hangs an empty frame upon a wall, and stands before it, deep in reverence, as if a masterpiece were there to behold?

Yet it is this you do if you perceive your sisters and brothers as bodies. The Masterpiece that the Divine created that has been set within the body’s frame is all there is to see. The body holds it for a while without obscuring it in any way for those who see. But what the Divine has created needs no frame, for what It has created It supports, and frames within Itself. Its Masterpiece It offers you to see. Would you rather look upon the frame instead of seeing this, and in so doing perceive the picture not at all?

The Holy Spirit is the Frame the Divine set around the Part of Itself that you have looked upon as separate. This Frame is joined to Its Creator, One with It and with the Creator’s Masterpiece. Spirit’s Purpose is to highlight the Masterpiece within It, and you will not attempt to make the frame into the picture when you choose to see this Frame in Its Place. The Frame that the Divine has given Its Masterpiece serves only Its Purpose, and not yours apart from Its. It is only your separate purpose that obscures the picture for you, and cherishes the frame instead. The Divine has set Its Masterpiece within a Frame that will endure forever, while the one you made must crumble into dust. But think you not that the picture is destroyed in any way because your frame passes away. What the Divine creates is safe from all corruption, unchanged and perfect in Eternity.

Accept the Divine’s Frame instead of yours and you will see the Masterpiece within. Behold Its Loveliness, and remember the Mind that thought It, not in a frame of flesh and bones but in a Frame as lovely as Itself. Spirit’s Holiness lights up the Innocence the frame of darkness sought to hide, and shines a gentle Light across the Masterpiece which reflects the Light that shines from It to Its Creator. Think not this Masterpiece’s Face was ever darkened because you looked upon it in a frame of death. The Divine kept It safe that you would behold It, and see the Holiness that It has given It. Within what you thought was darkness see the Awakener from the dark, and recognize your sisters and brothers as their Creator’s Mind shows them to you.

They will step forth from darkness as you behold them, and you will perceive the dark no more. The darkness touched them not in Reality, nor did it touch you who brought them forth from darkness through your seeing. Their Innocence also reflects yours. Their Gentleness becomes your Strength, and both you and they will gladly see within, and behold the Holiness that must be there because of what you saw in them. They are the Frame in which your holiness is set, and what the Divine has given them must be given you. However much your brothers or sisters overlook the Masterpiece in themselves, and look upon only a frame of darkness, it is still your only function here to behold in them what is truly there, even if they do not yet see It. And in your seeing is the Vision shared that beholds Divine Essence instead of looking upon death.

How could the Creator of Heaven not be glad when you appreciate Its Masterpiece? What can It do but offer thanks to you who love Its Children as It does? It will make known to you Its Love as you share Its Praise of what It loves. The Divine cherishes Its Creation as the perfect Creator that It is. And so Its Joy is made complete when any Part of It joins in Its Praise, to share Its Joy. Your sisters and brothers in the holy relationship are Its perfect Gift to you. And It is glad and thankful when you thank Its perfect Children for being what they are, and what you must be as well. All of the Divine’s Thanks and Gladness shine on you who would complete Its Joy, along with It.

And thus is your Joy completed. Not one hint of darkness can be experienced by those who will to make their Creator’s Happiness complete, and theirs along with Its. The Gratitude of the Divine Itself is freely offered to everyone who shares Its Purpose. It is Its Will that Its Children be One with It. And it is yours as well. Forgive your sisters and brothers and you must join yourself with them, and with their Creator. You need no forgiveness from your Creator, for the wholly innocent have never sinned. Share, then, the Spirit that It has given you, that you may see Its Children as One, and thank their Creator, as It thanks you. And know that all Its Praise is also given to you. For what you give Its Children is Its, and giving it, you learn to understand Its Gift to you. And in your giving to your sisters and brothers you give the Holy Spirit what It offers unto the Creator and Its Children alike.

Nothing has power in you except the Divine’s Will, and your will who simply extend Its Will. It was for this you were created, and your sisters and brothers with you, and One with you. You are the same, as the Divine Itself is One and not divided in Its Will. And you must have one Purpose, since It gave the same Purpose to all of Its Children. Its Will is brought together as you join in will, that you be made complete by offering Completion to your sisters and brothers. Look not in them upon the mistakes and imperfection they look upon, but give them honor that you may esteem yourself and them. To each of you is given the Power of awakening, that Release from darkness into Light be yours to share. For only thus will you see as One what never has been separate nor apart from all your Creator’s Love.