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Methodical Study of the Pentateuch Kardecian   Portuguese  Spanish

Year 7 - N° 312 – May 19, 2013

ASTOLFO O. DE OLIVEIRA FILHO  
aoofilho@gmail.com
       
Londrina, 
Paraná (Brasil)  
 
 
Translation
Eleni Frangatos P. Moreira - eleni.moreira@uol.com.br
 

 
 

The Gospel According to Spiritism

Allan Kardec 

(Part 18)
 

We hereby continue the methodical study of "The Gospel According to Spiritism" by Allan Kardec, the third of the works of the Kardecian Pentateuch. The first edition was published in April, 1864. The answers to the questions suggested for discussion are at the end of the text below.

Questions for discussion

A. Are there several ways to practice charity?

B. How does Spiritism analyze charity?

C. What is the most important virtue for Spiritism?

D. How does God weigh your individual merit, resulting from the material charity you practiced in this life?

Reading text 

187. When charity finally becomes a current rule of conduct, all deeds and words shall be resumed to: "Do not do to others what you would not wish them to do to you". When this happens, everything that causes dissensions will vanish, as well as duels and wars. Wars are only duels among the nations. (Chapter XII, section 14, Francisco Xavier)

188. The duel, a reminiscence of the times of barbarism, when the right of the strongest was law, will also disappear as a result of a different and better concept of matter of honor, and according to the development of man's belief in afterlife. (Chapter XII, section 15, Augustine)

189. Nowadays, duels are rare. The extinction of such a use means a softening of manners. Another indication of the change of these manners is that, formerly, these strange combats were held in the middle of the street, before the mob, whereas today they are held in secret. Today, a man's death is something that causes commotion, but before no one took any notice of it. Spiritism shall erase the last vestiges of barbarism, instilling in men charity and fraternity. (Chapter XII, section 16)

190. The practice of charity without ostentation is a merit in double. It is both material and moral, since it preserves the feelings of the one who is being helped, thus allowing him to receive assistance without his self-esteem resenting it. (Chapter XIII, section 3)

191. "And Jesus was sitting before the gazophilacium, and beheld how the people cast money into it: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a poor widow, and she threw in two small coins totalizing a farthing. And He called unto Him His disciples and saith unto them, Verily, I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than all they, which have cast into the gazophilacium: for all they did cast is of their abundance: but she cast in all that she had, even all her living" (Mark,  Chapter XII, sections 41 and 44). Those, whose intentions are totally exempt from all personal interest, must accept that it is impossible to do all the good they wish; and they should also remember that the alms given by the poor, specially if he deprives himself of his needs, weigh more on God's scales than the gold given by the rich, because there is no personal sacrifice implied. (Chapter XIII, sections 5 and 6)

192. True charity makes man think of others before he thinks of himself. Charity becomes sublime when man seeks in his work, in his strength, intelligence and talents, the needed resources to put in practice his good intentions. God is most pleased with this type of sacrifice. Unfortunately, most of us dream of how to get rich quickly and with no effort, running after fantasies, such as to discover hidden treasures. (Chapter XIII, section 6)

193. If you sincerely wish to be useful to your neighbor, you will find thousands of ways of helping. If you look for them they will appear, in one way or another. There is no one, in full control of his faculties, that cannot help someone else. You can always offer consolation, minimize both physical and moral suffering or do something useful. Even if you lack money, you can always help through your work, time or resting hours, giving others a part of these. This is the alms of the poor, the widow's mite. (Chapter XIII, section 6)

194. "When thou makest a dinner or a supper, said Jesus, call not thy friends, call the poor, the lame" . These words sound absurd if taken literally, but they are sublime, if we consider their essence. The core of His thoughts is revealed in this sentence: "And thou shalt be blessed, for they cannot recompense thee". This means that one should not do good having in mind any kind of compensation, but only the pleasure of practicing it. (Chapter XIII, section 8)

195. However, this warning can also be considered in a literal sense. How many of us invite to our table only those who will honor us or will return our invitation? On the other hand, there are others who find satisfaction in receiving less fortunate friends and relatives. Well, how many amongst us have people like this in our family? Therefore, we can render a great service to them, without showing it. Those, who do not invite the blind and lame, still put in practice Jesus' teaching, if they do it with a good heart, with no ostentation, and know how to hide the good they are doing by means of sincere cordiality. (Chapter XIII, section 8)

196. "Love one another and do unto others what we wish they would do unto us." Every religion and moral are contained in these two principles. If they were practiced in this world, we would all be happy with no hatred, no resentments. I go even further: no poverty, because the remaining, the superfluous, of each rich man's table would feed many poor. You would not see, along the dark streets, where I lived during my last incarnation, women dragging miserable children, lacking everything.  (Chapter XIII, section 9, Sister Rosalie)

197. Those who are rich, think about this! Help, to the best of your capacity, all those who are less fortunate. Give, so that one day God may compensate you for the good you have done. And, when you leave this world, a procession of grateful Spirits will reception you when entering a happier world. (Chapter XIII, section 9, Sister Rosalie) 

Answers to the proposed questions 

A. Are there several ways to practice charity?  

Yes. There are a thousand ways to practice charity. We may be charitable by means of our thoughts, words and deeds. Through our thoughts, by praying for the poor, who have been abandoned and died in such conditions that they could not even see the light. A sincere prayer that comes from our heart, gives them some relief. Through our words, by offering our daily neighbor good advice. To those, who despair and privation hardened their hearts, leading them not to blaspheme against God, by saying: "I was like you. I suffered and felt miserable, but I believed in Spiritism and look how happy I am now". And to those who are old and say: "It is useless, I am at the end of my life and will die as I have lived". Then you say: "God is just to all of us, remember the last minute workers". To the children, who are already under the bad influence of their companions, and who go through life giving in to evil temptations, you must say: "God is looking at you, my children" and never get tired of repeating these loving words to them. One day, these words will germinate in their minds and, instead of becoming vagabonds, they will become good men. This is charity too. 

Charity links the one helping to the one who is being helped. Charity can disguise itself in so many ways. It is possible to be charitable to relatives and friends, being charitable to all, mutually forgiving all weakness, being careful not to hurt anyone's self-respect. We, who are Spiritists, can practice our doctrine and behave towards the ones that do not think like us, inducing those who are less enlightened, without shocking them, nor going against their personal convictions, but lovingly inviting them to our meetings, where they can listen to us and where the Protecting Spirits will know how to make them believe in Spiritism by discovering a way to their hearts. (The Gospel According to Spiritism, Chapter XIII, sections 9, 10 and 14.) 

B. How does Spiritism analyze charity?  

The Spiritual Benefactors teach us that charity offers contentment of the heart, as well as the purest and sweetest delight, which neither regret nor indifference can disturb. All of us can always give something to our neighbor in need. Whatever our social class is, we can always share something. Whatever God has given us, a part which He gave us, we can always share it with our neighbor in need, because if we were in his place, we would like others to share with us. Our treasures on this earth will be diminished, however, our treasures in heaven will be added. "There reap the hundredfold which ye planted in benefits in this world", said the Spirit of John in a message conveyed in the city of Bordeaux in 1861.  (Ibid, Chapter XIII, sections 11 and 16.)  

C. What is the most important virtue for Spiritism?  

Charity is the fundamental virtue upon which all earthly virtues are based. Without charity there would be no other virtues. Without this virtue there would be no hope of a better life, no interest in a moral guideline, no faith, since faith is no more than the pure light, which brightens a charitable soul. Charity is, in all worlds, the eternal anchor of salvation, the purest emanation which comes directly from the Creator. It is His own virtue given by Him to all creatures. (Ibid, Chapter XIII, sections 12 and 13.) 

D. How does God weigh your individual merit, resulting from the material charity you practiced in this life?  

Considering the often heard statement "I am poor, so I cannot offer any charity", a Protecting Spirit told the following story. Two men had just died. God had determined: While these two men live, their good deeds will be kept in two different bags, so that when they die, these bags shall be weighed. So, when they were dying, God had the bags brought to Him. One of them was huge and full of coins. The other bag was small and so empty one could count the coins in it. "This one is mine" said one of the men. "I recognize it, I was very rich and gave a lot". "This one is mine" said the other man. "I was always very poor, oh, I almost had nothing to share". But what a surprise! When put on the scale, the huge bag weighed very little, and the other bag was very heavy. Then, God spoke to the rich man: "You gave a lot, but you did it as a means of ostentation and for your name to be mentioned in all the temples of pride and, sharing with others did not deprive you of anything. Step to your left and be happy that the alms you gave were counted and considered, however small". Then, God spoke to the poor man: "You gave very little, my friend, but each coin on this scale represents some sacrifice. You did not give alms, however you practiced charity, and moreover you practiced charity naturally, without even thinking of whether it would be put into your account. You were charitable, you did not judge your neighbor, on the contrary, you found excuses for all his deeds, so step to your right and go and receive your compensation". (Ibid, Chapter XIII, section 15.) 

 

 


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