In Jesus’ day, people thought ‘salvation’ was being freed from Roman occupancy and returning the government to a righteous Jewish king (messiah) that would be selected by God. This religious governmental structure was called “the kingdom of God.”
“Now when [Jesus] was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”
~ Luke 17:20, 21
When today’s lesson says, “My salvation comes from me,” it means the same thing that Jesus meant when he said, “the kingdom of God is within you.” However, there is a lot more within you than the little self. “My salvation comes from me” does not mean that the little self saves itself. It cannot. Nor does it mean that absolutely nothing is required of the little self.
It may be helpful to look at it this way: There is no clear dividing line between the little self and truth. The little self’s mental chatter is like the foam on a wave. The personal sense of self is like a wave. Internal wisdom is like the part of the ocean that can be reached by the light of the sun. The source is like the depth of the ocean that is beyond the sun’s reach. Although on the one hand there are degrees of difference between these aspects of the ocean, they are all ocean.
In this figurative example, you are the ocean. If you are the ocean, then you are the mental chatter, the individual sense of self, internal wisdom and the source. So when we say that your salvation comes from you, all these parts of you can participate in your salvation.
• The part of the mind that engages in mental chatter can contemplate the workbook lesson or practice inquiry instead of chattering meaninglessly
• The sense of self can rest in awareness instead of resting in mental chatter
• Inner wisdom can provide guidance
• The source can awaken us entirely
As you see, “my salvation comes from me,” but it doesn’t come from one part of me in a vacuum. All parts of me cooperate in salvation. From the perspective of the little self, I have a part in my awakening and God (grace, the universe) has a part in my awakening too. So as yesterday’s lesson emphasized, I do my part and trust that God (the deeper parts of the ocean) will do its part.
Awakening is a focus for the whole of me, or all of me, as one joined will.