new church life: september/october 2015
By looking beyond the literal meaning to find the Lord in the spiritual
level of the Word, we can come to know Him, to love Him and to be changed
by Him. In the Writings for the New Church an angel gives this advice: “From
now on enter into the mysteries of the Word which have so far been hidden: for
each one of its truths is a mirror in which we see the Lord.” (True Christianity
508)
Amen.
Some Passages from the Writings
The Lord is now to appear in the Word. (True Christian Religion 777)
A person who leads a life in accordance with the commandments is joined to the
Lord. For the commandments teach about life and also impart life, thereby opening
the way to heaven and opening one’s eyes to see the Lord. (Arcana Coelestia 8767)
The Lord is indeed One who sees a person and establishes His presence with him,
enabling the person to see Him; thus no one sees the Lord from himself but from
the Lord present with him. (Ibid. 9297)
The Word is Divine Truth from the Lord, which deals in its highest sense with the
Lord alone. All this being so, those who receive enlightenment when they read the
Word see the Lord; they do so because of the faith and the love they have. (Ibid.
9411)
From now on enter into the mysteries of the Word which have so far been hidden:
for each one of its truths is a mirror in which we see the Lord. (True Christian
Religion 508)
“And they saw the God of Israel” means the Lord’s coming and presence in the
Word. . . . Those who read the Word and at the same time look to the Lord,
acknowledging that all truth and all good come from Him, and none whatever from
themselves, receive enlightenment; they see truth and perceive good from the Word.
(Secrets of Heaven 9405)
Who does not see God before him when he prays, in whatever direction his face is
turned? (Divine Love and Wisdom 129)
As the Lord is constantly before the faces of the angels, so it is said in the world of
those who believe in the Lord and love Him that they have God before their eyes
and their face, and that they look to God, and see God. (Heaven and Hell 143)
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. (Matthew 5:8)
No one can see God’s face except by virtue of having innocence. (Arcana Coelestia
5608)
452