Commentary on ACIM Lesson 198

©2010 Rev. David Seacord

Only my condemnation injures me.

In our true nature as God created us, we are invulnerable... being spirit not flesh and knowing we are spirit, nothing that happens to the flesh can actually touch the true 'us'. But forget our true nature, and we experience ourselves as at the mercy of the world. Everything is a two-edged sword, and as we cut, we are also cut back. The only way this is undone is to return to true awareness of self, where no illusion of separate selfhood remains. Here we can and do receive the Grace of God unhampered by egoic filters and illusions. Thus we are willing to be guided to act in reestablishing harmony both within and without. It is this that allows for the undoing of the seeming effects of our unconscious actions. And now free to love again, love flows out of us naturally to all around us willing to receive, and as they receive, we receive 'the gift we gave'. Thus love heals all.

Love recognizes the truth of another with deep wisdom and guides us in the way to love them. It teaches us to forgive quickly, lest we become entangled in the illusions of judging, which can only being us pain, for all judging separates us for the one we judge, who is our brother, and who is there in front of us to give us the gift of practicing NOT judging even when it seems justified.

In practicing forgiveness it is important to understand is it only ourselves we are forgiving, even though it may seem otherwise. For forgiveness ends separation, and returns us to unity with peace. Our personal peace is the bedrock on which forgiveness rests. Therefore, let us practice walking in the light of God, seeing all things as they are seen by Him, and allowing Him to use us and all others to accomplish the great work of awakening our sleeping brothers to the joy of Life. This is the will of God, that we all be Happy, and that we all know each other as one family, with Him as Our Father/Mother and Creator. This is the only path for humanity that allows us to return to Heaven, while upon this earth. It is our great privilege to give this gift to our brothers in God's name, whether spoken or not. Our actions speak our hearts more clearly than a thousand affirmations. Let God live in you, God then lives wherever you are.

Namaste,

David

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Lesson 198

Only my condemnation injures me.

Injury is impossible. And yet illusion makes illusion. If you can condemn, you can be injured. For you have believed that you can injure, and the right you have established for yourself can be now used against you, till you lay it down as valueless, unwanted and unreal. Then does illusion cease to have effects, and those it seemed to have will be undone. Then are you free, for freedom is your gift, and you can now receive the gift you gave.

Condemn and you are made a prisoner. Forgive and you are freed. Such is the law that rules perception. It is not a law that knowledge understands, for freedom is a part of knowledge. To condemn is thus impossible in truth. What seems to be its influence and its effects have not occurred at all. Yet must we deal with them a while as if they had. Illusion makes illusion. Except one. Forgiveness is illusion that is answer to the rest.

Forgiveness sweeps all other dreams away, and though it is itself a dream, it breeds no others. All illusions save this one must multiply a thousandfold. But this is where illusions end. Forgiveness is the end of dreams, because it is a dream of waking. It is not itself the truth. Yet does it point to where the truth must be, and gives direction with the certainty of God Himself. It is a dream in which the Son of God awakens to his Self and to his Father, knowing They are One.

Forgiveness is the only road that leads out of disaster, past all suffering, and finally away from death. How could there be another way, when this one is the plan of God Himself? And why would you oppose it, quarrel with it, seek to find a thousand ways in which it must be wrong; a thousand other possibilities?

Is it not wiser to be glad you hold the answer to your problems in your hand? Is it not more intelligent to thank the One Who gives salvation, and accept His gift with gratitude? And is it not a kindness to yourself to hear His Voice and learn the simple lessons He would teach, instead of trying to dismiss His words, and substitute your own in place of His?

His words will work. His words will save. His words contain all hope, all blessing and all joy that ever can be found upon this earth. His words are born in God, and come to you with Heaven's love upon them. Those who hear His words have heard the song of Heaven. For these are the words in which all merge as one at last. And as this one will fade away, the Word of God will come to take its place, for it will be remembered then and loved.

This world has many seeming separate haunts where mercy has no meaning, and attack appears as justified. Yet all are one; a place where death is offered to God's Son and to his Father. You may think They have accepted. But if you will look again upon the place where you beheld Their blood, you will perceive a miracle instead. How foolish to believe that They could die! How foolish to believe you can attack! How mad to think that you could be condemned, and that the holy Son of God can die!

The stillness of your Self remains unmoved, untouched by thoughts like these, and unaware of any condemnation which could need forgiveness. Dreams of any kind are strange and alien to the truth. And what but truth could have a Thought which builds a bridge to it that brings illusions to the other side?

Today we practice letting freedom come to make its home with you. The truth bestows these words upon your mind, that you may find the key to light and let the darkness end:

Only my condemnation injures me.
Only my own forgiveness sets me free.

Do not forget today that there can be no form of suffering that fails to hide an unforgiving thought. Nor can there be a form of pain forgiveness cannot heal.

Accept the one illusion which proclaims there is no condemnation in God's Son, and Heaven is remembered instantly; the world forgotten, all its weird beliefs forgotten with it, as the face of Christ appears unveiled at last in this one dream. This is the gift the Holy Spirit holds for you from God your Father. Let today be celebrated both on earth and in your holy home as well. Be kind to Both, as you forgive the trespasses you thought Them guilty of, and see your innocence shining upon you from the face of Christ.

Now is there silence all around the world. Now is there stillness where before there was a frantic rush of thoughts that made no sense. Now is there tranquil light across the face of earth, made quiet in a dreamless sleep. And now the Word of God alone remains upon it. Only that can be perceived an instant longer. Then are symbols done, and everything you ever thought you made completely vanished from the mind that God forever knows to be His only Son.

There is no condemnation in him. He is perfect in his holiness. He needs no thoughts of mercy. Who could give him gifts when everything is his? And who could dream of offering forgiveness to the Son of Sinlessness Itself, so like to Him Whose Son he is, that to behold the Son is to perceive no more, and only know the Father? In this vision of the Son, so brief that not an instant stands between this single sight and timelessness itself, you see the vision of yourself, and then you disappear forever into God.

Today we come still nearer to the end of everything that yet would stand between this vision and our sight. And we are glad that we have come this far, and recognize that He Who brought us here will not forsake us now. For He would give to us the gift that God has given us through Him today. Now is the time for your deliverance. The time has come. The time has come today.