Abide In Me: How Jesus Models Secure Attachment with God

Abide In Me - Episode 42

Podcast Host: John Clark EcholsMusic Credit: Solomon KealShow Your Support: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/X2NREDETDV6WC YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@abide_in_me Substack: ⁠⁠@clarkechols⁠⁠ RESOURCES USED IN THE SERIES Dr. Sue Johnson, “Love Sense” www.youtube.com/@DrSueJohnson Emanuel Swedenborg, www.swedenborg.com Solomon Keal “Affection for Truth” www.solomonkeal.net Rumi: Hidden Music, Translated by Azima Melita Kolin and Maryam Mafi, Thorsons, Hammersmith, London. Lewis, C. S. The Screwtape Letters: With Screwtape Proposes a Toast. New York: HarperOne, 2001. Person To Person: The Gospel of Mark, Paul V, Vickers. Swedenborg Foundation, West Chester, PA 1998 Maurice Nicoll, Psychological Commentaries on the Teaching of G.I. Gurdjieff and P.D. Ouspensky, Vincent Stuart, London, 1957 Richard Rohr, Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life, John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken, New Jersey, 2011 Lao Tsu, Tao Te Ching. Translated by Gia-Fu Feng and Janet English, Vintage Books, A Division of Random House, NY 1972 Helen Keller, The World I Live In, Hodder And Stoughton, London, Copyright 1904, 1908, By The Century Co. SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF A SECURELY ATTACHED PERSON Has an active experience of self-worthHas unconditional regard for others’ worthIs silent when typically one is verbal (not defensive, explaining, or justifying) Looks for and affirms others’ goodnessIs affirming and optimistic (non-complaining) Is conscious of, can identify and express the emotion being felt Has a mindfulness practice Remains in the present during conflict with another person Rests in the non-duality of mercy and justice Has clarity regarding selfishness and selfcare Considers oneself on a journey, in process, unfinished, on the way Has a sense of being part of, and connected to, all living beings Lives from a sense of abundance (rather than fear of scarcity)

Abide In Me - Episode 41

Very early in the morning the leading priests, the elders, and the teachers of religious law—the entire high council—met to discuss their next step. They bound Jesus, led him away, andtook him to Pilate, the Roman governor.   Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?”   Jesus replied, “You have said it.”   Then the leading priests kept accusing him of many crimes, and Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer them? What about all these charges they are bringing against you?” But Jesus said nothing, much to Pilate’s surprise.   Now it was the governor’s custom each year during the Passover celebration to release one prisoner—anyone thepeople requested. One of the prisoners at that time was Barabbas, a revolutionary who had committed murder in an uprising. The crowd went to Pilate and asked him to release a prisoner as usual.   “Would you like me to release to you this ‘King of the Jews’?” Pilate asked. (For he realized by now that the leading priests had arrested Jesus out of envy.) But at this point the leadingpriests stirred up the crowd to demand the release of Barabbas instead of Jesus. Pilate asked them, “Then what should I do with this man you call the king of the Jews?”   They shouted back, “Crucify him!”   “Why?” Pilate demanded. “What crime has he committed?”   But the mob roared even louder, “Crucify him!”   So to pacify the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip, then turned him over to the Roman soldiers to be crucified.   The soldiers took Jesus into the courtyard of the governor’s headquarters (called the Praetorium) and called out the entire regiment. They dressed him in a purple robe, and they wove thorn branches into a crown and put it on his head. Then they saluted him and taunted, “Hail! King of the Jews!” And they struck him on the head with a reed stick, spit on him, and dropped to their knees in mock worship. When they were finally tired of mocking him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him again. Then they led him away to be crucified.   A passerby named Simon, who was from Cyrene, was coming in from the countryside just then, and the soldiers forced him to carry Jesus’ cross. (Simon was the father of Alexander and Rufus.) And they brought Jesus to a place called Golgotha (which means “Place of the Skull”). They offered him wine drugged with myrrh, but he refused it.   Then the soldiers nailed him to the cross. They divided his clothes and threw dice to decide who would get each piece. It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him. A signannounced the charge against him. It read, “The King of the Jews.” Two revolutionaries were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.   The people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery. “Ha! Look at you now!” they yelled at him. “You said you were going to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days. Well then, save yourself and come down from the cross!”    CREDITS Dr.Sue Johnson, “Love Sense” www.youtube.com/@DrSueJohnson [http://www.youtube.com/@DrSueJohnson]   EmanuelSwedenborg, www.swedenborg.com [http://www.swedenborg.com]   JohnClark Echols, www.clarkechols.com [http://www.clarkechols.com]   SolomonKeal “Affection for Truth” www.solomonkeal.net [http://www.solomonkeal.net]   Podcast Host: John ClarkEchols Music Credit: Solomon Keal   Show Your Support:https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/X2NREDETDV6WC   YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@abide_in_me   Substack: ⁠⁠@clarkechols⁠⁠ I invite you to continue to listen to the next episode. Be well.

Abide In Me - Episode 40

And immediately, even as Jesus said this, Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived with a crowd of men armed with swords and clubs. They had been sent by the leading priests, theteachers of religious law, and the elders. The traitor, Judas, had given them a prearranged signal: “You will know which one to arrest when I greet him with a kiss. Then you can take him away under guard.” As soon as they arrived, Judas walked up to Jesus. “Rabbi!” he exclaimed, and gave him the kiss. Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him. But one of the men with Jesus pulled out his sword and struck the high priest’s slave, slashing off his ear. Jesus asked them, “Am I some dangerous revolutionary, that you come with swords and clubs to arrest me? Why didn’t you arrest me in the Temple? I was there among you teaching every day. But these things are happening to fulfill what the Scriptures say about me.” Then all his disciples deserted him and ran away. One young man following behind was clothed only in a long linen shirt. When the mob tried to grab him, he slipped out of his shirtand ran away naked. They took Jesus to the high priest’s home where the leading priests, the elders, and the teachers of religious law had gathered. Meanwhile, Peter followed him at a distance andwent right into the high priest’s courtyard. There he sat with the guards, warming himself by the fire. Inside, the leading priests and the entire high council were trying to find evidence against Jesus, so they could put him to death. But they couldn’t find any. Many false witnesses spoke against him, but they contradicted each other. Finally, somemen stood up and gave this false testimony: “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this Temple made with human hands, and in three days I will build another, made without human hands.’” But even then they didn’t get their stories straight! Then the high priest stood up before the others and asked Jesus, “Well, aren’t you going to answer these charges? What do you have to say for yourself?” But Jesus was silent andmade no reply. Then the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” Jesus said, “I am. And you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds ofheaven.” Then the high priest tore his clothing to show his horror and said, “Why do we need other witnesses? You have all heard his blasphemy. What is your verdict?” “Guilty!” they all cried. “He deserves to die!” Then some of them began to spit at him, and they blindfolded him and beat him with their fists. “Prophesy to us,” they jeered. And the guards slapped him as they took him away. Meanwhile, Peter was in the courtyard below. One of the servant girls who worked for the high priest came by and noticed Peter warming himself at the fire. She looked at himclosely and said, “You were one of those with Jesus of Nazareth.” But Peter denied it. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said, and he went out into the entryway. Just then, a rooster crowed. When the servant girl saw him standing there, she began telling the others, “This man is definitely one of them!” But Peter denied it again. A little later some of the other bystanders confronted Peter and said, “You must be one of them, because you are a Galilean.”   CREDITS Dr.Sue Johnson, “Love Sense” www.youtube.com/@DrSueJohnson [http://www.youtube.com/@DrSueJohnson]   EmanuelSwedenborg, www.swedenborg.com [http://www.swedenborg.com]   JohnClark Echols, www.clarkechols.com [http://www.clarkechols.com]   SolomonKeal “Affection for Truth” www.solomonkeal.net [http://www.solomonkeal.net]   Podcast Host: John ClarkEchols Music Credit: Solomon Keal   Show Your Support:https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/X2NREDETDV6WC   YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@abide_in_me   Substack: ⁠⁠@clarkechols⁠⁠ I invite you to continue to listen to the next episode. Be well.

Abide In Me - Episode 39

It was now two days before Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The leading priests and the teachers of religious law were still looking for an opportunity to capture Jesus secretly and kill him. “But not during the Passover celebration,” they agreed, “or the people may riot.” Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy. While he was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfumemade from essence of nard. She broke open the jar and poured the perfume over his head. Some of those at the table were indignant. “Why waste such expensive perfume?” they asked. “It could have been sold for a year’s wages and the money given to the poor!” So they scolded her harshly. But Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. Why criticise her for doing such a good thing to me? You will always have the poor among you, and you can help them whenever you want to. Butyou will not always have me. She has done what she could and has anointed my body for burial ahead of time. I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.” Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests to arrange to betray Jesus to them. They were delighted when they heard why he had come, and they promised to give him money. So he began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus. On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go to prepare the Passover meal for you?” So Jesus sent two of them into Jerusalem with these instructions: “As you go into the city, a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you. Follow him. At the house he enters, say to the owner, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?’ He will take you upstairs to a large room that is already set up. That is where you should prepare our meal.” So the two disciples went into the city and found everything just as Jesus had said, and they prepared the Passover meal there. In the evening Jesus arrived with the Twelve. As they were at the table eating, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, one of you eating with me here will betray me.” Greatly distressed, each one asked in turn, “Am I the one?” He replied, “It is one of you twelve who is eating from this bowl with me. For the Son of Man must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for the one who betrays him. It would be far better for that man if he had never been born!” As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take it, for this is my body.” And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. And he said to them, “This is my blood, which confirms the covenant betweenGod and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice for many. I tell you the truth, I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new in the Kingdom of God.” Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives. On the way, Jesus told them, “All of you will desert me. For the Scriptures say, ‘God will strike the Shepherd, CREDITS Dr.Sue Johnson, “Love Sense” www.youtube.com/@DrSueJohnson [http://www.youtube.com/@DrSueJohnson]   EmanuelSwedenborg, www.swedenborg.com [http://www.swedenborg.com]   JohnClark Echols, www.clarkechols.com [http://www.clarkechols.com]   SolomonKeal “Affection for Truth” www.solomonkeal.net [http://www.solomonkeal.net]   Podcast Host: John ClarkEchols Music Credit: Solomon Keal   Show Your Support:https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/X2NREDETDV6WC   YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@abide_in_me   Substack: ⁠⁠@clarkechols⁠⁠   I invite you to continue tolisten to the next episode. Be well.

Abide In Me - Episode 38

Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins. Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.”   As Jesus was leaving the Temple that day, one of his disciples said, “Teacher, look at these magnificent buildings! Look at the impressive stones in the walls.”   Jesus replied, “Yes, look at these great buildings. But they will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!”   Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives across the valley from the Temple. Peter, James, John, and Andrew came to him privately and asked him, “Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will show us that these things are about to be fulfilled?”.... “I say to you what I say to everyone: Watch!”  Mark 12:41-13:37 Goodwill is not essentially measured by the excellence of one's role or of the gift itself, but by the fullness of feeling that led to it. Therefore a manual laborer who gives a single coin can be making a donation with more abundant goodwill than a ranking official who gives or wills an extensive collection of valuables. This fits the following statement: 'Jesus saw rich people placing their donations in the treasury. He also saw a poor widow throwing in two mites. He said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow threw in more than all the others"' (Luke 21:1-3). Swedenborg, True Christianity §459 When people are [overly worried] about the morrow and are not content with their lot, they do not trust in God but in themselves, and have solely worldly and earthly matters in view, not heavenly ones. These people are ruled completely by anxiety over the future, and even by the desire to possess all things and exercise control over all other people. That desire is kindled, and then inevitably grows greater and greater, till at length it is beyond all measure. They grieve if they do not realize the objects of their desires, and they are distressed at the loss of them. Nor can they find consolation, for in times of loss they are angry with the Divine. They reject Him together with all belief, and curse themselves. This is what those concerned for the morrow are like.   Those who trust in the Divine are altogether different. Though concerned about the morrow, yet are they unconcerned, in that they are not anxious when they give thought to the morrow. They remain even-tempered whether or not they realize their desired outcomes, and they do not grieve over loss. They are content with their lot. If they become wealthy they do not become infatuated with wealth; if they are promoted to important positions they do not consider themselves worthier than others. If they become poor they are not made miserable either; if lowly in status they do not feel downcast. They know that all things are moving towards an everlasting state of happiness, and that no matter what happens at any time to them, it contributes to that state. All because they trust in the Divine.  From Swedenborg, Secrets of Heaven §8478 CREDITS Dr. Sue Johnson, “Love Sense”  www.youtube.com/@DrSueJohnson [http://www.youtube.com/@DrSueJohnson]  Emanuel Swedenborg, www.swedenborg.com [http://www.swedenborg.com] John Clark Echols, www.clarkechols.com [http://www.clarkechols.com] Solomon Keal “Affection for Truth” www.solomonkeal.net [http://www.solomonkeal.net] Maurice Nicoll, Psychological Commentaries on the Teaching of G.I. Gurdjieff and P.D. Ouspensky, Vincent Stuart, London, 1957 Podcast Host: John Clark Echols Music Credit: Solomon Keal Show Your Support: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/X2NREDETDV6WC YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@abide_in_me Substack: ⁠⁠@clarkechols⁠⁠ I invite you to continue to listen to the next episode. Be well.