T. 19. IV. B. 8 – 10. Jesus: “Forgive me your illusions of separation, and release me from punishment for what I have not done! So will you learn the freedom that I taught, by teaching freedom to your brother, and so releasing me.
I am within your holy relationship, yet you would imprison me behind the obstacles you raise to freedom, and thereby bar my way to you. Yet it is not possible to keep away One Who is there already! And in Him it is possible indeed, that our communion, in which we are joined already, will be the focus of the new perception. That new perception will bring light to all the world, as you realize it resides in you!
Your little part in this is but to give the Holy Spirit the whole idea of sacrifice! You must accept the peace He gives instead, without the limits that the ego would impose to hold its extension back. For the ego would but limit your awareness of it.
What the Holy Spirit gives must be extended if you would have its limitless power, and use it for the Son of God’s release. It is not this you should want to be rid of, and having it, you cannot limit it.
If peace is homeless, so are you and so am I! And He Who is our home is homeless with us. Is this your wish? Would you forever be a wanderer in search of peace? Would you invest your hope of peace and happiness in what must fail?
Faith in the eternal is always justified, for the eternal is forever kind, infinite in its patience and wholly loving. It will accept you wholly, and give you peace. Yet it can unite only with what already is at peace in you, immortal as itself.
The body can bring you neither peace nor turmoil; neither joy nor pain. It is a means, and not an end. It has no purpose of itself, but only what is given to it. The body will seem to be whatever is the means for reaching the goal that you assign to it. Only the mind can set a purpose, and only the mind can see the means for its accomplishment, and justify its use.
Peace and guilt are both conditions of the mind, to be attained. And these conditions are the home of the emotion that calls them forth. Each is therefore compatible with whichever you value most, love or fear.”
>>> Earlier, this Jesus tells us he is best identified as one with the Holy Spirit, not as a historical individual. The name “Jesus” here is another symbol for the Holy Spirit, higher Mind or “Christ.” He has not separated himself from you or me, nor has he died, cross or no cross! He communicates to us from within the wholeness we have never really left. “Forgiving him” means giving up all thought of him, or your brother, as a separate, special person.