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Advent Sunday
Intent: Seeking the Light
THE COLLECT
O Thou, the Heart of Silence, the Hidden Mystery, the inner God: the gods adore Thee, we adore Thee, seated within the Shrine of our hearts. We greet Thee, Thou creator of beings, Thou the One Self. We adore the holy Souls that come forth from Thee, that share Thy being, that are Thyself. O Thou that art hidden, yet everywhere manifest, we worship Thee in greeting each God-soul that cometh forth from Thee and liveth in us.
Amen.
THE LESSON
The lesson is taken from the the Book of Sophia:
Seek, all of you, after the Light, so that the power of your Soul that is in you may live. Do not desist from seeking by day and by night, until you find the purifying mysteries of the Light which refine the body of matter and make it a pure Light very refined. Do to all men who come to you and believe in you and listen to your words what is worthy of the mysteries of the Light, give the mysteries of the Light and do not hide them from them. For he who shall give life to a single soul and liberate it, besides the Light that is in his own soul, he shall receive other glory in return for the soul he has liberated.
THE GOSPEL
The gospel is taken from the Gospel according to St. Thomas:
Jesus said: Whoever finds the meaning of these words will not taste death. Let him who seeks, not cease seeking until he finds, and when he finds, he will be troubled, and when he has been troubled, he will marvel, and he will reign over the All. Jesus said: If those who lead you, say to you, “See, the Kingdom is in heaven”, then the birds of heaven will precede you. If they say to you, “See, it is in the sea”, then the fish will precede you. But the Kingdom is within you and it is without you. If you know yourselves, then you will be known and you will know that you are the sons of the Living Father. But if you do not know yourselves, then you are in poverty and you are poverty.
A Homily for Advent Sunday
presented by the Most Reverend Stephan A. Hoeller, bishop of the Ecclesia Gnostic