The meaning and value of the blessing Who

The meaning and value of the blessing

Who is God?

One God and the oneness of God “Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One. ” Deut. 6: 4 Monotheism led to monogamy “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. ” Genesis 1: 24

The dual characteristics of God “God created man in his likeness. . . male and female He created them. ” Genesis 1: 27 Within God the dual characteristics are harmonized into oneness There is not a “Father God” and a ”Mother God” Fatherly aspect of God; the Motherly aspect of God

God is Love “God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. ” 1 John 4: 16

Why did God create the universe and us? WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF LIFE?

Why did God create man? n The most essential aspect of God is heart. Heart is the impulse to love an object and is the fountain and motivator of love. It is the nature of heart to seek an object to love. God, whose essence is heart, feels joy when he can love an object that he created. DP, Level 4 n What kind of object? One in his image and likeness – male and female

How can we become ‘like God’, ? “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. ” Ephesians 5: 1

What is God like? n Heart n n Intellect, emotion, will Logos Reason and law n Justice, ethics - relationships of ordered love n Four Great Realms of Heart n n Creativity To become like God, God gave human beings the Three Great Blessings

The three great blessings And God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it. ” Genesis 1: 28 God Heart Logos Creativity Fruitful Multiply Dominion Human

First blessing - be fruitful The ability to create and complete our character We create our character through our thoughts, words and deeds God “Be complete as your heavenly Father is complete. ” Matthew 5: 48 Sensitivity to the Heart of God Meditation Concentration Fulfill potential Mind Body Subject Object The physical desires should express spiritual values ☀ Bodily functions ☀ Eat ☀ Sleep ☀ Sexual desire True Person Joy Virtuous Keep promises Don’t drink, smoke Unity of mind and body Words and deeds are one

What does one have to do to fulfill the first blessing? ESTABLISH A FOUNDATION OF FAITH AND A FOUNDATION OF SUBSTANCE

Adam and Eve should have kept their sexual purity God Vertical Word The commandment was to protect Adam and Eve Developed their spiritual life Followed their conscience Archangel Adam Foundation of Faith Eve Creation

Adam and Eve should have reached maturity Lord of Creation Proper order in the created world God Word Horizontal Foundation of Substance

Blessing in divine marriage I am the son of God. A unique expression of masculinity of God Love Life Lineage God I am the daughter of God. A unique expression of femininity of God Mature. W oman Mature Man Children When husband wife are united in marriage, they are no longer seen as something earthly, but as the image of God Himself. St John Chrysostom

Second blessing - multiply The ability to create a family Four Great Realms of Heart God Family is the basis of society Husband True Love Child The love of God and the love of man are not two loves, but aspects of the same unifying love. St Maximus the Confessor Family Society Nation World Joy Wife “If we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. ” I John 4: 12 Family is the school of love

God’s love - Expressed and experienced through the family Love, life and lineage By having children man can feel the vertical love that God feels toward man. Husband Father Man Son Brother God True Love Children Child’s love Sibling love Conjugal love Parental love Woman Wife Mother Daughter Sister

What is marriage? n A divine and socially recognized eternal union of a man and woman for love n companionship n mutual support n procreation n upbringing of children n

Why do we marry? n n It is so that we may resemble God’s image. Because men and women are projections of God’s divine characteristics, their destiny is to form a union as one body and return to oneness with God’s original character. So the purpose of marriage is to bring into oneness the realm of heart of one man, representing the world of masculinity, and one woman, representing the world of femininity, so that they may perfect the love between a man and a woman. Father, 21. 8. 2004

Why is marriage important? n It is because it is the path by which we seek true love. It is because it is the path for creating life. It is because it is the path on which the lineage of a man and woman are co-mingled. Father, 21. 8. 2004

When you marry you get. . . n God’s blessing on the relationship God’s permission and wholehearted support for the relationship n Potential to experience God in every aspect of the relationship leading to complete oneness n Your parent’s and family’s and community’s blessing and support n A stronger guarantee of success n

What is the meaning of sex? n When a husband wife embrace each other in true love, it is the equivalent of the universe becoming one body. This is the original image of creation brought into substantial reality in the context of God’s ideal. Father, 21. 8. 2004

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Third blessing: take dominion Right of dominion over the creation God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it. Harmony with nature God Genesis 2: 15 The creation waits for the revealing of the sons of God. Romans 8: 19 Microcosm Stewards Natural World Person Joy Lords of Creation Inherit God’s creativity Good Environ-ment Whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. Genesis 2: 19

Purpose of life – three blessings Multiply Be ‘Fruitful’ God Mind True Love Mature Person Have Dominion God Husband Body True Love Wife Child Person God True Love Family Society Nation One World Family Good Environment Things

In practice. . . n Mature person Mind – body unity n Trustworthy and virtuous n n Rounded person n n Relate freely in every direction Creative person Responsible job n Owner n

The human fall and change of lineage

What went wrong?

The story of Adam and Eve

What happened at the fall? n Eve was traumatized by her relationship with Lucifer n n Adam was damaged by his relationship with Eve n n n Sexually, emotionally, psychologically damaged Sense of worthlessness and being needy Hurt, vulnerable, wanting to be loved Inherited the archangelic nature Weak and hard to respect Influenced by malign spiritual forces

All people affected by the fall Original sin is transmitted through the physical body. EDP, 392 Lucifer Evil elements Adam Eve Evil elements Children Descendants “Original Sin” Original damage Original trauma

What happened at the fall? n All the relationships of the Four Great Realms of Heart were corrupted and distorted n n n Man – woman Husband – wife Parents – children Sibling – sibling Restoration is putting all these relationships right

Fallen sexuality n n Men have inherited the fallen archangelic nature to want to control and possess and have sexual relationships with women for their own pleasure and gratification. Lust, not love n Droit du seigneur – ‘lord’s right’ n Sexual harassment and worse Women have inherited the tendency to be seduced by powerful men and to be seductive

Loss of the three blessings. . . n People struggle to attain mind-body unity n n People struggle to achieve good relations n n Alcoholism, laziness, lying, identity crisis Divorce, conflict, loneliness, ‘bad sex’ People struggle to manage the ‘world’ n Finances, tidiness, pollution

What is restoration? n n n Restoration occurs when you find yourself in a similar position to Adam, Eve, the archangel, Cain or Abel, or one of your ancestors etc. And you have to face the same temptation to make the same mistake that they did and continue the pattern of fallen history But you choose not to do so and instead of acting out of your fallen nature you act according to your original nature and follow your conscience. You break the cycle of abuse and pattern of fallen history

To purify the lineage of fallen nature in each relationship n Adam – Eve – Lucifer n n n Abraham – Sarah - Pharaoh n n Lucifer – Adam n n n Cain and Abel Esau and Jacob Joseph and his brothers Parent – child n n Husband wife n n Noah and Ham Abraham and Isaac Rebecca and Jacob Isaac and Rebecca Sister – sister n n Sarah and Hagar Rachel and Leah

An example of restoration and purification of the lineage

Restoring the relationship between Archangel and Eve n Men have inherited the archangelic nature to want to control and possess and have sexual relationships with women for their own pleasure and gratification. Lust, not love Droit du seigneur – ‘lord’s right’ n Sexual harassment and worse n n Women have inherited the tendency to be seduced by a powerful men and to be seductive

Abraham, Sarah and Pharaoh Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there. Genesis 12: 10

What is going on here? Satan Eve Adam Humanity Creation

How did Sarah restore the position of Eve? Sarah Pharaoh Abraham Lot Genesis 12: 10 -20 Wealth Gradual incremental purification of the lineage

Restoring the value of a human being God Isaac Abraham Central person Genesis 22: 1 -19 The Binding of Isaac After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here am I. ” He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and offer him as a burnt offering. So Abraham rose early in the morning. . . ” Genesis 22: 1 -2

Why did God test Abraham? n n n n Test and miracle same word in Hebrew Test – do what is impossible. Break barriers. Break habits of thinking Abraham had passed 9 tests Sacrificing Isaac contrary to everything Why did God ask him to do it? Why was Abraham willing to do it? Why did Isaac go along with it? The core of one’s being lies not in the self but in commitment to the Creator

But. . . n n n Abraham was chosen to be a role model n “For I have chosen him so that he will instruct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just. ” Kierkegaard, - “teleological suspension of the ethical” n Willingness to let the I-Thou love of God overrule the universal principles that bind humans to one another. This is the logic of the religious fanatic, the inquisitor, the suicide bomber God does not ask us to be unethical Another way of looking at it. . .

A challenge to the ancient family n The family in the ancient world n Domestic religion n Head of family had absolute authority n n n Power of life and death over wife and children Roman law – patria potestas Both were property n n Ancestor worship Child sacrifice Authority inherited by first born Biblical tradition rejects all of the above which are pagan

The Biblical worldview. . . n Biblical world n n n God asking Abraham to renounce ownership of Isaac n n Worship God of all humanity – not ancestors Father AND mother have equal authority Every person is a child of God Parents are guardians not owners The individual has divine, unique, eternal value Children are not the property of their parents Children belong to God Parents do not have the right to sacrifice children God is asking Isaac to acknowledge that he belongs to God

What is change of lineage? Where is the change of blood lineage done? On the individual level, man has to go beyond the boundary of life and death. The individual has to go through life and death situations for the sake of God and the future dignity of man. (True Father, 1970) Abraham and Isaac went through a life and death situation for the sake of God and the future dignity of man

Abraham and Isaac restore true dignity of a human being n n This event established that every human being is a child of God So a man cannot own his wife or his children or another human being A wife is a daughter of God and the feminine expression of God and should be treated with love and respect and be cherished and worshipped A husband is a son of God and masculine expression of God and should be treated with love and respect and cherished and worshipped

What is changing? n Change of ownership n n From belonging to Satan to belonging to God Change of identity n From child of Satan to child of God Change of lineage n Change of sovereignty n Different metaphors to try to describe and explain an invisible reality

Father on such changes. . . n Now you have come to the position where Father will change your lineage in God's sight. Now you will become God's property, and Satan will have no way to claim you. You can be placed in the storehouse of God. Even if Satan were to kidnap you and put you in prison, you can have complete confidence that no one can really touch you: "Satan, you have no power over me because the True Parents have changed my lineage. I no longer belong to you. I belong to God. ” Father, 20 February 1977

Links in the change of lineage n Abraham and Isaac n n Circumcision on the 8 th day n n Every human being belongs to God Every boy is dedicated to God and made a member of the covenant Eight day dedication ceremony n Blessed parents dedicate their children to God and promise to take care of them on God’s behalf

Change of lineage on national level

God woos the Hebrews “You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed hearken to my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. Exodus 19: 4 -6

People respond So Moses came and called the elders of the people and set before them all these words that the LORD had commanded him. All the people answered together and said, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do. ”

Making the Covenant Moses rose early in the morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel. And he sent young men of the people of Israel, who offered burnt offerings and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen to the LORD. And Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he threw against the altar. Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it in the hearing of the people. And they said, "All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient. " And Moses took the blood and threw it on the people and said, "Behold the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words. " Exodus 24: 4 -8

Becoming the people of God

Change of lineage n n Change of identity from being slaves of Pharaoh to the people of God Change from Satan’s way of life to God’s way of life Moving from slavery to freedom From being obedient to being responsible

What is Satan’s way of life? n n n n n False sense of identity Things are purpose of life Bad language Workaholic or fun-loving Disrespecting parents Violence and murder Promiscuity Stealing Lying Envy

The Ten Commandments challenge Satan’s tradition and establish the minimum for living a righteous life

The Ten Words �I am the Lord your God. You shall have no other gods before Me. �You shall not make idols. �You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain. �Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. �Honour your father and your mother. �You shall not murder. �You shall not commit adultery. �You shall not steal. �You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. �You shall not covet.

What is the process of the change of lineage in Christianity? Change of lineage is change of identity Being adopted into the family of God Becoming, feeling and knowing that one is a child of God

Christianity and change of lineage n Only Christianity has placed importance on the lineage and laid down the conversion of lineage as its main ideology. Sun Myung Moon, CSG, 1274 n The precious blood of Jesus and the ritual of the Last Supper all symbolise the providence of becoming the children of God through the conversion of lineage. Sun Myung Moon CSG, 1272

The way back n n n The parable of the prodigal son “My son who was lost if found again” From ignorance of who one is to knowledge that one is a child of God

Though human beings have been reduced to the position of orphans who have lost their parents through the Fall, the fundamental relationship of parent and child endowed by Heaven remains intact. Human beings, through the Fall, have become ignorant beings who live in a vegetative state, unable to recognize their own Father even though He is right there within and beside them. Therefore, all human beings belong to the fallen lineage regardless of who they may be, and they must without exception be born again through the conversion of lineage. This is the only way to be restored into the originally-intended blood relationship bequeathed to us by God. Metaphor - Blood is thicker than water

The way back n Recognition of sin n n Repentance n n To feel sorry and return to God, change of mind Atonement n n Missing the mark or target, go astray An act, not a state of being Breaking divine law Damages self, the other and relationship Rectify wrong doing to best of ability Conditions of lesser indemnity Forgiveness Reconciliation

Sacraments n n An outward and visible sign of an inward and invisible grace Human beings are sacramental beings n n n Invisible realities expressed through outward signs Rituals are creative Words can be performative utterance Sacraments change a person Condition of lesser indemnity EDP, 177

Baptism n Sacrament through which a person is made Christ’s n n Change of ownership, lineage, identity Water - outward sign n n n n Life giving, cleansing Flood judgment Church is the Ark Crossing Red Sea Slavery to freedom Death to life Buried with Christ Resurrected with Christ

Gifts of Baptism n Sign of the Cross n n Receive a ‘Christian name’ n n n Union with Christ Metaphor of the vine Child of God n n New identity God knows us personally Member of Christ n n Jesus’ victorious life New birth into God’s family Brothers and sisters in Christ Inheritor of God’s Kingdom Forgiveness of original sin By making the indemnity condition of baptism by water, we can be spiritually born anew through Jesus and the Holy Spirit. EDP, 177

Last Supper n n n "Take and eat; this is my body. " “Drink of it, all of you, this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. ” “Do this is remembrance of me”

Sacrament of Eucharist n Outward sign n n Inward grace n n Body and blood of Christ Com-panion of Christ n n n Bread and wine Share bread with Christ & fellow Christians I am sharing in the life of Christ Drink from a common cup n n n “I am the vine, you are the branches” Christ’s blood, Christ’s life, flows through my veins Christ lives in me By taking a piece of bread and a cup of wine at the sacrament of Holy Communion, we receive the precious grace of partaking in Jesus’ body and blood. EDP, 177

Sacrament of marriage Sanctification of the union of a man and a woman for a Christian life together and for procreation n The spouses confer the sacrament on each other n A blessing they give to each other n They are each other’s ‘messiah’ n n Sacrament to restore the chastity lost at the fall

Conditions for marriage n n Both spouses are Christians They have a shared spiritual life Freely entered in to No forced or arranged marriages

Service - Preface In the presence of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we have come together to witness the marriage of N and N, to pray for God's blessing on them, to share their joy and to celebrate their love. Marriage is a gift of God in creation through which husband wife may know the grace of God. It is given that as man and woman grow together in love and trust, they shall be united with one another in heart, body and mind, as Christ is united with his bride, the Church.

Freely entered into N, will you take N to be your husband? Will you love him, comfort him, honour and protect him, and, forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?

Vows I, N , take you, N , to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward; for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part; according to God's holy law. In the presence of God I make this vow. A pledge of unconditional love

Exchange of rings Heavenly Father, by your blessing let these rings be to N and N a symbol of unending love and faithfulness, to remind them of the vow and covenant which they have made this day through Jesus Christ our Lord. N, I give you this ring as a sign of our marriage. With my body I worship you, all that I am I give to you, and all that I have I share with you, within the love of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Purpose of marriage Place for conjugal love, mutual support and comfort n Proper place for sexual intercourse n For procreation and raising of children n When husband wife are united in marriage, they are no longer seen as something earthly, but as the image of God Himself.

Marriage and family n Marriage lays the foundation for the family which is a "home" or "domestic" church headed by married priests—the parents.

Marriage blessing of True Parents THE FIVE STEPS

History of Restoration Unchartered territory Perfection Oneness with God Messiah (saviour) Adam Eve ‘comes down’ to meet fallen people Fall Restoration History Adam Eve

History of Restoration Go together with True Parents Perfection Cheon Il Guk TF TM True Parents Adam Eve Fall Receive the Blessing (conditionally) Restoration History Adam Eve

Through the blessing ceremony, the elements of baptism, communion, marriage, and even ordination, are brought together . . .

For the first generation n Marriage Blessing received after n Restoring foundation of faith n n n Restoring foundation of substance n n Living a consistent spiritual life Separating from Satan 3, 7, 21, 40 day conditions Fundraising and tithing Overcoming fallen nature Living and working together with brothers and sisters Witnessing to find three spiritual children Foundation to receive the messiah through the blessing n n 7 days fast Indemnity fund - £ 30 for four years

New Age – New Metaphor Restoration as “Grafting”

Our lineage

Father’s words on grafting n At what point can you be totally grafted into the lineage of heaven? The moment that you receive the Blessing from the True Parents is the great moment when your bonds to your satanic lineage are severed and you become part of the heavenly lineage. Most marriages in the world are not God-centred, but in the Unification Church our greatest pride is that in the name of the True Parents couples can enter into the heavenly, Godcentred lineage. At that moment they become direct heirs of God. Through the Blessing the process of the fall can be totally reversed. Father, 18 April 1977

Grafting

Engrafted into God’s lineage Satan God True Mother True Father Adam Eve Rebirth Sinless Children Sinful Children “Unless one is born anew, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. ” John 3: 3

The steps. . . n Engagement ceremony n Matching

Matching in Korea

The steps. . . n Holy wine ceremony n Based on what happened at Sinai and Eucharist Change of lineage from Satan’s lineage to God’s lineage n n Change of identity – “I am a child of God” Forgiveness and removal of original sin Conditional Not really at the right level to receive it n If waited till we were ready would be too old to have children n So have much to do to make it substantial n

Holy wine ceremony n n n Attendant representing True Parents passes cup to woman She drinks half Passes it to man He drinks half Passes it back

The wedding

Sprinkling with holy water

Vows

The World Peace Blessing Vows Do you promise to observe Heavenly Law as an original man and woman; and should you fail, do you promise to take the responsibility for doing so? Do you, as an ideal husband wife, promise to establish a family that will bring joy to God eternally?

The World Peace Blessing Vows Do you promise to inherit heavenly tradition and, as the eternal parents of goodness, raise up your children to be examples of this standard before the family and the world? Do you promise to be the centre of love before the society, nation, world and universe based upon the ideal family?

Exchange of rings

Blessing prayer

Cheers of mansei

Ordination n Your destination is the eternal dwelling place of the True Parents. Mother and I are not going to be the only True Parents. My goal is to make all of you true parents. It is the greatest honour that I can give to you. In your own area and lineage each of you is to become the true parents. Father, 18 th April 1977

And finally. . . Chastening stick ceremony n 40 day separation during which a couple prepares themselves to consummate their relationship n 3 day ceremony during which the couple restore the mistake of Adam and Eve by reversing what went wrong n

For second generation n Marriage blessing that Adam and Eve should have received and fulfilled n n No original sin – no barrier to experience God Should receive it after n Making a foundation of faith n n Making a foundation of substance n n n Living a consistent spiritual life Mind body unity Mature character Establishing the First blessing n God consciousness

Preparation n n Confession Interview 21 days workshop 7 days fast Matching etiquette story n n n n Vertical and horizontal Whole and individual Joining of lineages and families Initiative comes from the young person All six people should be happy Engagement ceremony Blessing fee

Invest in your blessing. . .

Useful resources https: //bfedeu. org/second-generation/ n http: //www. tparents. org/Library/Unification/ Books/GB-2 g. Bless-140121. pdf n