Hon. James McCallion, 32° KCCH
Venerable Master, Director of Education
In July, during the 7th Moon Cycle, we focus on the medicine of Clan Mother “Loving the Truth,” who loves all things, and instructs us on the wisdom of compassion.
It is here that we are taught that “every action of physical life is as sacred as our spiritual growth, and that when we behave as if all acts are sacred, there is no judgement (Sams).”
To love all things embodies unconditional love, and just as the light of Grandfather Sun provides warmth and life-giving sustenance indiscriminately, so should we bestow this intent upon our fellow man. We see this complimented in the 8th verse of the Tao Te Ching; “The supreme good is like water, which nourishes all things without trying to.” Like Wu-Wei, it offers without needing replenishment. In Norse Shamanism, it is the Urðarbrunnr, the well or water source that gives eternal life to the forever green Yggdrasil, the Norse “Tree of Life.”
“Norse Sun, Illuminating Grandfather”
I’ve found an interesting parallel between these and the lessons of the 18th Degree Knight of Rose Croix.
According to Robert G. Davis, 33rd GC, “the 18th degree completes the second Quest, the quest to strengthen, purify and direct the spark of the divine which we are progressively discovering in ourselves. The final step in this quest is to truly understand the basis of our relationship with others… and that is found with the Law of Love.”
As Masons, it is deeply impressed upon us, the inherent duty of charity, but what is charity? Derived from the Latin “Caritas,” it was defined by St. Thomas Aquinas as “the friendship of man for God,” which “unites us to God.” This tends to be the underlying theme in his great work Summa Theologiae, a comprehensive work into the nature of God, ethics, and human reason.
Caritas is where we get words like Character (the essence of self), Charisma (the persuasion of self), and Charity (the acknowledgement of self in others).
While it’s been a topic of debate for centuries by religious scholars, I believe there is a higher love, one that encapsulates the wisdom of compassion, and exemplifies the wells and waters of perpetual and infinite spiritual nourishment.
Charity
“I know what it’s like to be you.” I know what it is like to be hungry, so if you are hungry, I will feed you. I know if I were hungry, I’d want you to feed me. “I give you food because I know what it is like to be you.”
Agape
“I feed you because I AM you.”
Agape can be defined as the unconditional God Love, or God’s perfect Love. It is the act of contributing to the betterment of your brothers and sisters in this World through the spirit of your identification with the Godhead. The brother or sister, or animal, or even flower that you bestow some sort of charity upon, you are sharing identity in the Unity of God.
While Charity may be the acknowledgement of self in others, Agape is the acknowledgement of God in another (Namaste). You think that recognizing God in yourself is hard? Try recognizing God in someone else with whom you are at odds. This is Agape
I ask that in the month of July, you meditate on how you can work towards loving the truth, by loving all things through the eyes of the Godhead and employing agape.
On a sidenote, I am happy to announce that the Academy of Reflection will host our first meditation session in July. Be sure to attend July’s stated meeting and RSVP with me for this event. More info can be found at OCScottishRite.org/introduction-to-the-academy-of-reflection.
Aho,
Hon. James McCallion, 32° KCCH
Venerable Master, Director of Education
