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Notes and References June 3, 2001 How do you define “normal”? Average, boring, ordinary, customary? The dictionary defines normal as free from abnormality, conforming to an accepted standard. From a human, material standpoint conforming to the accepted norm gives us a moving standard. What is the spiritual definition of “normal”? 412:24 For the purpose of our class let’s define the word normal as your original perfection. Those words are from Mrs. Eddy’s sentence: Back to the story. Mordicai is a Jew, a fourth generation Benjamite to be exact. (Benjamin was one of the twelve sons of Israel). His archenemy is Haman a fourth generation Amalakite (bitter enemies of the Jews) is being honored as a Prince in the Persian Empire of King Xerxes (Ahasuerus in this story). The story is set in Shusun, the capital of Persia. Coincidentally, Esther (a virgin) becomes part of the King’s harem and very quickly is anointed as Queen of Persia replacing Vashti (presumably because this inexperienced virgin could bring pleasure to the King that Vashti could not.) This happens exactly when Haman is being honored. We are also told that Esther never revealed her identity as Mordicai’s adopted daughter or a Jew. The next night Ahasuerus is troubled and looks in the book of Chronicles to learn that Mordicai was the one who saved two of the King’s men from an attack on the palace and in turn decided to honor Mordicai. (Another coincidence with the obvious help of the new Queen.) When the evening come to honor Haman all the King’s invited guests come and bow to Haman, with the exception of Mordicai who refuses to bow before his enemy. Haman is furious and vows to kill Mordicai and all the Jews he leads. Little does he know that Mordicai has an influential daughter and she lets the king know that she and her family have been threatened. The King demands to know by who and she agrees to tell him at a feast the next night. Also, she wants Mordicai to be invited. Haman has set up a gallows to hang Mordicai. The feast occurs and Esther reveals to the King that it is Haman that has sworn to kill her family. The King allows Mordicai to hang Haman and puts Mordicai in power in his place. Under the new rule of Mordicai and Esther the ten sons of Haman are also killed as are 75,000 enemies of Mordicai. This allegory is short on historical fact but is the basis of the Purim festival and the tradition of the Jews whereby God will always save them from their persecutors. (This could help explain the Jews seeming lack of resistance against the Germans in WW II even thought hey vastly outnumbered their captors). So now back to the question. Who in the story is normal? Spiritually, none of them; humanly all of them. Mrs. Eddy’s explanation of hell in our textbook, 330:28 As manifested by mankind it stands for a lie, nothing claiming to be something, — for lust, dishonesty, selfishness, envy, hypocrisy, slander, hate, theft, adultery, murder, dementia, insanity, inanity, devil, hell, with all the etceteras that word includes. The story of Esther is filled with all of these “etceteras”. Given the persecution of the Jews and the political manipulations in a place of power all of these qualities can be rationalized and normal under the circumstance and very relevant today. But you have a choice. You can either conform to what society will accept and to that which is acceptable under the circumstances or you can reach an inspired level where you discover your natural tendency to good. It will cause you to exceed your ordinary capacity. Don’t be tempted to conform to the thinking of others no matter how attractive or threatening. Remember Mrs. Eddy’s words: Mis 308:32 Mis 308:23-25 (to ;) 104:13 |
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