T. 20. II. 3 – 6. Jesus: “In any exchange with your brother, forget not that it is your savior to whom the gift is offered. Offer him thorns and you are crucified. Offer him lilies, symbol of innocence, and it is yourself you set free from condemnation.
I have great need for lilies, for the Son of God has not entirely forgiven me! And how can I offer him the complete forgiveness he needs, when he still offers any thorns to me? For he who offers thorns to anyone is against me still, and who is whole without his brother?
Be you his friend for me, that I may be forgiven wholly, and that you may look upon the Son of God as whole! But look you first upon the altar in your chosen home, and see what you have laid upon it to offer me! If it be thorns whose sharp points gleam in a blood-red light, then the body is your chosen home, and it is but separation that you offer me! And yet the thorns of which I speak are just not real.
Look you still closer at them now, keeping to the Holy Spirit’s purpose for your sight, and you will see your altar is no longer what it was before you accepted your new purpose. You look still with the body’s eyes, and they see many thorns. Yet you have asked for and received another sight, that of the Holy Spirit.
Those who accept the Holy Spirit’s purpose as their own share also in His vision. And what enables Him to see His purpose shining forth from every altar, now is yours as well as His. He sees no strangers; only dearly loved and loving friends. He sees no thorns but only lilies, gleaming in the gentle glow of peace that shines on everything He looks upon and loves.
This Easter, you look with different eyes upon your brother than before. So you have forgiven me! And yet I cannot use your gift of lilies while you see them not as for yourself. Nor can you use what I have given unless you share in it.”