Today is the Feast of ‘Izzat, which means Might. Every 19 days Baha’is gather for a spiritual, administrative and social gathering.
In every age and cycle He hath, through the splendorous light shed by the Manifestations of His wondrous Essence, recreated all things, so that whatsoever reflecteth in the heavens and on the earth the signs of His glory may not be deprived of the outpourings of His mercy, nor despair of the showers of His favors. How all-encompassing are the wonders of His boundless grace! Behold how they have pervaded the whole of creation. Such is their virtue that not a single atom in the entire universe can be found which doth not declare the evidences of His might, which doth not glorify His holy Name, or is not expressive of the effulgent light of His unity.
~ Baha’u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u'llah, p. 61
TeacherJay Gleanings Feast, glory, virtues
With fixed and steady gaze, born of the unerring eye of God, scan for a while the horizon of divine knowledge, and contemplate those words of perfection which the Eternal hath revealed, that haply the mysteries of divine wisdom, hidden ere now beneath the veil of glory and treasured within the tabernacle of His grace, may be made manifest unto you. The denials and protestations of these leaders of religion have, in the main, been due to their lack of knowledge and understanding. Those words uttered by the Revealers of the beauty of the one true God, setting forth the signs that should herald the advent of the Manifestation to come, they never understood nor fathomed.
~ Bahá’u'lláh, The Kitab-i-Iqan, pp. 16-17
Today is the Feast of Kalimat, which means ‘words’.
TeacherJay Kitab-i-Iqan Feast, knowledge, manifestations, spiritual maturation
The sinner should, between himself and God, implore mercy from the Ocean of mercy, beg forgiveness from the Heaven of generosity
~ Baha’u'llah, Tablets of Baha’u'llah, Tablet of Bisharat (Glad-Tidings), p. 24
Today is the Feast of Rahmat, which mean mercy. Having mercy conjures many different images, but one very clear one is that of forgiveness of our sins when we have done something wrong. God has provide with a list of rules and guiding principles. They should not be that hard to follow, but yet they are, and we give in to our temptations. It is only through his mercy that we are able to go on.
TeacherJay Tablets of Baha'u'llah Feast, forgiveness, mercy, sin
The utterance of God is a lamp, whose light is these words: Ye are the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch.
~ Baha’u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 14
Today is the Feast of Núr, which means light. Using the imagery of light as an analogy for goodness, for understanding, and for grace is common to many different religions, as is the allusion of the light coming from a lamp. In this passage, we see Baha’u’llah using that light as something that casts out in all directions, to fall upon all in the same way, and reminding us that though we may have our differences, we all come from the same place.
TeacherJay Uncategorized Feast, unity
How wondrous is the unity of the Living, the Ever-Abiding God — a unity which is exalted above all limitations, that transcendeth the comprehension of all created things! He hath, from everlasting, dwelt in His inaccessible habitation of holiness and glory, and will unto everlasting continue to be enthroned upon the heights of His independent sovereignty and grandeur.
~ Baha’u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u'llah, p. 261
Today is the Feast of Azamat, which means grandeur in Arabic. I like this month because it reminds us to reflect on how perfect, how immeasurable and how grand is the glory of God.
TeacherJay Gleanings Feast, holiday, reflection, unity
Praise be unto God, incomparable in majesty, power and beauty, peerless in glory, might and grandeur; too high is He for human imaginations to comprehend Him or for any peer or equal to be ascribed unto Him
~ Baha’u'llah, Tablets of Baha’u'llah, p. 101 (Tablet of Ishraqat)
Today is the Feast of Jalál which is the Persian word for beauty. The quote above reminds me that God is the most high—the most majestic, the most powerful, and the most beautiful. In fact, the beauty of God is so magnificent that we cannot even comprehend it, nor even imagine it. That leaves me in awe.
TeacherJay Tablets of Baha'u'llah beauty, Feast
There is one God; mankind is one; the foundations of religion are one. Let us worship Him, and give praise for all His great Prophets and Messengers who have manifested His brightness and glory.
~ Abdu’l-Baha, Abdu’l-Baha in London, p. 20
Today is the Feast of Jalál which is the Persian word for glory. This quote from a talk that Abdu’l-Baha gave on Sunday, September 10th, 1911 at the City Temple in London reflects the Baha’i concept that all of the world’s religions are one. They are all founded on the same truths and the various Prophets and Messengers of God whom have come during the ages should be all be praised as they reflect the glory of God.
TeacherJay Abdu'l-Baha in London Feast, glory, manifestations, unity