Jesus said “Be perfect.” Then “Be merciful.” But in the Gospel of Mary, he says “Be in harmony.” So which is it? A monk under a fig tree has some thoughts—and a scroll that smells like incense and rebellion.
Might I suggest handing that Roman a copy of the Virgin Monk Boy Overcoming Christian Nationalism meme card instead? Nonviolence and enlightenment in one heretical pamphlet. Then go sit under the tree like Mary did—where the real resurrection was witnessed.
But as another wizard on Substack wrote this morning, be authentic. Be true. If one has righteous anger, it is good as long as it is authentic. No one is talking about hate for anyone. But, even Jesus was righteously angry about the money changers in the temple, while simultaneously being authentic. When one is authentic, there is harmony. 🌸
Reading your Book of Hours for Thursday morning at 3am... Recently I noticed that my best blog entries seem to happen right around 3AM, especially 3:20. At that time I'm trying to turn the regrets and ruminations into blessings. Sometimes it works, sometimes not, but it usually generates a couple of good thoughts!
Your writing fascinates me and gives me a lot to think about. Keep it coming! "Be in harmony" calls to me like the sweetest of songs in a world seemingly intent on the opposite. <3
I'm a bit puzzled, I get the harmony and mercy but perfection being part of the harmony - I think I've been triggered! Who on earth or in heaven can be or wants to be perfect? Perfection is not just inhuman it is also inpan (a word I've had to make up to mirror inhuman but to encompass the whole of living things from gut bacteria to blue whales). Imperfection is in the root of life, it is the mechanism through which life changes and adapts to environments and circumstances. The myth of perfection was probably invented by the Romans who didn't know better, lovable (if I really really try)civic imperialists that they were.
This reflection brings something vital. That old idea of perfection often feels like a relic from an empire that mistook marble for meaning.
But in the Gospel of Mary, and the Jesus glimpsed in these quieter texts, perfection isn’t about flawlessness. The word often translated as "perfect" is teleios. It speaks more to wholeness, ripeness, the kind of inward maturity that includes the bruises rather than polishing them away.
Harmony isn’t sterile symmetry. Mercy isn’t just forgiveness. And perfection, in this older sense, might be the moment when what already is becomes fully itself.
The blue whale and the gut microbe are already in tune. No edits required.
Imperfection isn't the enemy. It's the pulse of becoming.
Phew, I can sign up for teleios, that makes sense. I really should have learnt Greek all those years ago instead of taking the Greek free option for Ancient History 'A' level. Thanks Alek for your reply, much appreciated.
Ancient Greek and even Latin can be so useful sometimes, perhaps in ways we can't imagine when we're school kids. I know it probably would've helped me with my field biology degrees if I'd stayed in one school long enough to take classes in them, at least Ancient Greek 101 and Latin CI...all those scientific names. :)
A being striving for enlightenment reaches toward God for perfection & yet also reaches toward her earthly brothers & sisters to give mercy. There is harmony in the balancing of these 2 loves.
and.. I send a link on your other post so beautiful you wrote
about intimacy. SO refreshing.
There is a song called “ The kiss” and a very special live performance which has - well Father in it. as she intended. and Mother. you can feel a holy space there
it is magic. because she in real life
asked if Father Mother could
come into this performance
and it is and still lives in it
i send in other post you wrote on intimacy
Also are you Ok. You said went to hospital. We will all send you a gentle jolt if you need one
Focus mushroom coffee prepping me for my 2pm ACIM class - perfect merciful harmony. Itz raining or I’d go sit under a tree first & i can save that for after class. Even if itz raining harder & a roman walks by. Kinda fun not knowing how I’ll react & very enjoyable the way you teased those three together. 💝
Okay, but now I want a WWJD bracelet that just says “Be in harmony,” preferably scribbled in crayon by a drunk uncle monk. Honestly, I came for theology and left with a koan, a parable, and what might’ve been a backhanded compliment from Jesus. I’m not even mad.
Also: “don’t pick sides; harmonize” is probably the most passive-aggressive advice I’ve ever received; my therapist would nod in quiet approval. Genuinely love the vibe of “hey, don’t be perfect; just chill and maybe don’t throw rocks at Romans today.” Spiritual goals.
P.S. I did punch the next Roman I saw, but only emotionally. That counts, right?
You’ve just been spiritually mugged by a sandal-wearing mystic who smells faintly of incense and unresolved parental issues.
That bracelet? Already exists. It’s made of leftover communion wine corks and spells “Be in Harmony” in glitter glue, blessed by a monk with a head injury and a side hustle in interpretive dance. We’ll mail you one if you promise not to punch any more Romans, even emotionally. They’re going through enough already. Empire collapse is exhausting.
And yes, “don’t pick sides; harmonize” is aggressively passive-aggressive. That’s the point. It’s the kind of advice that makes your inner child blink twice and your therapist raise a single knowing eyebrow.
But you got it. You really got it.
A koan. A parable. And a spiritual slap that somehow feels like a hug.
Jesus wasn’t trying to compliment you. He was trying to wake you up. Gently. Like a cat does with one paw and claws slightly out.
Stay weird. Stay merciful.
And maybe just offer the next Roman a snack and a nap instead of an existential gut punch.
Sometimes God wants us to ponder, yet more importantly to do.
With most, including myself, forgiveness for evil perpetrators is difficult. I pray, then obey because as Mother Angelica said, “How very much You love me!. . .When I think of that love. I feel a sudden surge of courage to face the future. Even death becomes merely the beautiful moment when the One who lives and the one who is loved meet face to face.”
I really want to punch a Roman right now. I better go sit under a tree for a while. Namaste 🙏
Might I suggest handing that Roman a copy of the Virgin Monk Boy Overcoming Christian Nationalism meme card instead? Nonviolence and enlightenment in one heretical pamphlet. Then go sit under the tree like Mary did—where the real resurrection was witnessed.
Namaste, but make it defiant.
But as another wizard on Substack wrote this morning, be authentic. Be true. If one has righteous anger, it is good as long as it is authentic. No one is talking about hate for anyone. But, even Jesus was righteously angry about the money changers in the temple, while simultaneously being authentic. When one is authentic, there is harmony. 🌸
Reading your Book of Hours for Thursday morning at 3am... Recently I noticed that my best blog entries seem to happen right around 3AM, especially 3:20. At that time I'm trying to turn the regrets and ruminations into blessings. Sometimes it works, sometimes not, but it usually generates a couple of good thoughts!
Your writing fascinates me and gives me a lot to think about. Keep it coming! "Be in harmony" calls to me like the sweetest of songs in a world seemingly intent on the opposite. <3
This resonates deeply with what the Spirit has been teaching me. Thank you for putting it into words.
Dear Alek,
I write to say thank you. Your work is beyond bright and lightening bolt clean for me it is water from a Mountain
I feel as that drunk uncle well auntie
and no where near a shining example of pearls and beams ,
but sometimes I have held one in my hand or stood in a waterfall
and one such moment
has been written , and it is so lovely with what you speak about.
And it is from
Music.
I still learn from it and also
realize daily I have so so much more to go
From Music ( given before a large body of work began)
“ All Harmony
Has a Heart
It Sings Us Home
It Is Easy
To Upstage
This Being
🌱
“There is only one life.
That life is God’s life.
That life is perfect.
That life is my life now.”
🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
I'm a bit puzzled, I get the harmony and mercy but perfection being part of the harmony - I think I've been triggered! Who on earth or in heaven can be or wants to be perfect? Perfection is not just inhuman it is also inpan (a word I've had to make up to mirror inhuman but to encompass the whole of living things from gut bacteria to blue whales). Imperfection is in the root of life, it is the mechanism through which life changes and adapts to environments and circumstances. The myth of perfection was probably invented by the Romans who didn't know better, lovable (if I really really try)civic imperialists that they were.
This reflection brings something vital. That old idea of perfection often feels like a relic from an empire that mistook marble for meaning.
But in the Gospel of Mary, and the Jesus glimpsed in these quieter texts, perfection isn’t about flawlessness. The word often translated as "perfect" is teleios. It speaks more to wholeness, ripeness, the kind of inward maturity that includes the bruises rather than polishing them away.
Harmony isn’t sterile symmetry. Mercy isn’t just forgiveness. And perfection, in this older sense, might be the moment when what already is becomes fully itself.
The blue whale and the gut microbe are already in tune. No edits required.
Imperfection isn't the enemy. It's the pulse of becoming.
This answer feels likes it's own teaching within the teaching. I'm shook by both. Thank you.
To err is human
Phew, I can sign up for teleios, that makes sense. I really should have learnt Greek all those years ago instead of taking the Greek free option for Ancient History 'A' level. Thanks Alek for your reply, much appreciated.
Ancient Greek and even Latin can be so useful sometimes, perhaps in ways we can't imagine when we're school kids. I know it probably would've helped me with my field biology degrees if I'd stayed in one school long enough to take classes in them, at least Ancient Greek 101 and Latin CI...all those scientific names. :)
A being striving for enlightenment reaches toward God for perfection & yet also reaches toward her earthly brothers & sisters to give mercy. There is harmony in the balancing of these 2 loves.
Elton John had a very pretty song called “Harmony.” 🎶
and.. I send a link on your other post so beautiful you wrote
about intimacy. SO refreshing.
There is a song called “ The kiss” and a very special live performance which has - well Father in it. as she intended. and Mother. you can feel a holy space there
it is magic. because she in real life
asked if Father Mother could
come into this performance
and it is and still lives in it
i send in other post you wrote on intimacy
Also are you Ok. You said went to hospital. We will all send you a gentle jolt if you need one
Focus mushroom coffee prepping me for my 2pm ACIM class - perfect merciful harmony. Itz raining or I’d go sit under a tree first & i can save that for after class. Even if itz raining harder & a roman walks by. Kinda fun not knowing how I’ll react & very enjoyable the way you teased those three together. 💝
Nailed it again, Aleks! Beautiful!
☮️
Okay, but now I want a WWJD bracelet that just says “Be in harmony,” preferably scribbled in crayon by a drunk uncle monk. Honestly, I came for theology and left with a koan, a parable, and what might’ve been a backhanded compliment from Jesus. I’m not even mad.
Also: “don’t pick sides; harmonize” is probably the most passive-aggressive advice I’ve ever received; my therapist would nod in quiet approval. Genuinely love the vibe of “hey, don’t be perfect; just chill and maybe don’t throw rocks at Romans today.” Spiritual goals.
P.S. I did punch the next Roman I saw, but only emotionally. That counts, right?
Ah, dear traveler of the subtle sass-path,
You’ve just been spiritually mugged by a sandal-wearing mystic who smells faintly of incense and unresolved parental issues.
That bracelet? Already exists. It’s made of leftover communion wine corks and spells “Be in Harmony” in glitter glue, blessed by a monk with a head injury and a side hustle in interpretive dance. We’ll mail you one if you promise not to punch any more Romans, even emotionally. They’re going through enough already. Empire collapse is exhausting.
And yes, “don’t pick sides; harmonize” is aggressively passive-aggressive. That’s the point. It’s the kind of advice that makes your inner child blink twice and your therapist raise a single knowing eyebrow.
But you got it. You really got it.
A koan. A parable. And a spiritual slap that somehow feels like a hug.
Jesus wasn’t trying to compliment you. He was trying to wake you up. Gently. Like a cat does with one paw and claws slightly out.
Stay weird. Stay merciful.
And maybe just offer the next Roman a snack and a nap instead of an existential gut punch.
Oh, I get it.
Sometimes God wants us to ponder, yet more importantly to do.
With most, including myself, forgiveness for evil perpetrators is difficult. I pray, then obey because as Mother Angelica said, “How very much You love me!. . .When I think of that love. I feel a sudden surge of courage to face the future. Even death becomes merely the beautiful moment when the One who lives and the one who is loved meet face to face.”