For a long time I was not aware of something really important: Awakening was the main point of the teachings of Jesus. A follower of Jesus not aware of his central teaching? Wow. Thankfully, I became aware of this truth through the teaching of my friend and mentor, Ron Martoia.
More recently, it was reconfirmed in a strong sense by something I read. “Wake up!” was the message that greeted me on the back cover of Anthony de Mello’s amazing book, Awareness. As I progressed through the book, it became more and more clear that most of the Church still have not fully seen what Jesus pointed to.
De Mello explained it carefully and thoroughly. As I now read the gospels, it is clear that there is a deeper meaning to most of the things Jesus did and taught.
It all starts early in the gospel story where Jesus commands us to ‘repent’ and ‘believe the message’. The Greek word for repent or repentance is metanoia (μετάνοια). It is often translated as repentance, but it literally means to ‘change your mind.’ Meta – higher or beyond, noia – mind.
We need awareness. Without it we cannot see or enter the kingdom of God… Which was Jesus’ term for this heightened state of being or consciousness — right here and now.
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