The Brown Book Commentaries

―The sun shines for everyone.‖ ~ Latin Saying (Sol lucet omnibus)
While it is true that the Sun shines upon everyone, it is not necessarily true that the Sun shines
for everyone – for the Sun only shines for those who are actively & purposefully using its energies
to empower the same things the Sun empowers – namely, Life itself … the Growth innate to all
things living … the Oneness upon which its rays cast their warmth… and the Love we can give
that furthers them both.
“And you will be called Prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to
prepare His ways; to rekindle awareness in the forgiveness of their sins.” ~ Jesus (Luke 1:76-77)
Note first & foremost that this prophecy was not given by Jesus, nor was it even given about
Jesus. Rather, these words were uttered here by Zechariah for his son (John the Baptist) shortly
after his birth. That having been said, this prophecy does reflect the words uttered by Jesus in
Luke 4 – the only time in the Bible we see him reading from the Old Testament scrolls directly –
saying, ―The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the
poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind; to let
the oppressed go free, and to proclaim the year of the Lord‘s favor‖ (Luke 4:18-19 – quoting from
Isaiah 61) … Note as well, far more importantly, that this prophecy reflects well Jesus‘ ministry as
a whole … Note also that John‘s purpose was to prepare God’s ways (a la ―make the way straight‖
from Isaiah II, Jesus‘ favorite Old Testament scroll – see Isaiah 40:3) … And finally, note that the
call was not to the direct forgiveness of sins, but rather to the rekindling of others‘ awareness of
their ability to forgive others their sins – and thereby cleanse their own as well.
―Everything that can be thought can be thought clearly. Everything that can be said can be
said clearly.‖ ~ Ludwig Wittgenstein
It is not the less one thinks, but rather the more concisely one thinks, that brings one‘s thinking
clarity … Similarly, it is not the less one speaks, but rather the more concisely one speaks, that
makes one‘s speaking more lucid. Case in point, it is possible to go on & on & on about the
intricacies of human psychology and the depths of human sociology – how anti-social behavior
ultimately comes from a lack of self-esteem, how only irrational (i.e. ―unmerited‖) acts of Kindness
are potent enough to pierce the veil of said ―meanness‖ and allow the anti-social person to return to
the Respect-full fold, how all interactive discord comes ultimately from hubris born in fear, and thus
how only flagrant acts of nurturing – given especially to the very sources of that discord – can hope
to bring any real Peace to life and its relationships. These Truths are actually much more intricate
than that – and yet we need not delve so deeply to explain the same; we need not explain with
complexity the Truths every sentient
being already knows. Indeed, the simpler
the better – whether in word or deed –
and in this case the simpler is quite
simply: Be Kind When Least Inclined.
―Tonight, the essence of night … Asking and what the asking desires; Generosity and that
which is Given; something spoken back and forth with GOD.‖ ~ Rumi
Indeed (in-deed), Rumi is correct here once again. For the true Essence of Night is not a
darkness that shrouds the Truth from sight, but is rather a Darkness that allows us to rely more fully
on our other senses; a Darkness that allows us to feel the Truth rather than merely seeing a much
smaller portion thereof. And this is the Answer that encompasses both the asking and what the
asking desires – this is the Intimacy that enfolds both generosity and that which is given – this is the
Oneness that has us turning within to speak back and forth with The Divine; listening to Its Wisdom
that resides within our Heart; answering that Wisdom by putting Its Call into motion in our lives.
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