Category: Article

The Great Invocation, The Sword of God

Wendy Boyd

The Master Jesus said “I come not to bring peace but a sword”. This is both an arresting and at the same time rather a challenging statement not least because the sense of expectancy associated with His reappearance rests mainly on the idea that it is most definitely peace that He will bring. In fact, many assume that it is His divine task to bring peace, to end world problems and because of this humanity is exempt from all responsibility. Equally there is a tendency to imagine His reappearance will manifest in the form He took before as Jesus of Nazareth. Whilst the appearance He will take is as yet unknown, it does seem reasonable that the first signs of this event will be of an awakening in human consciousness— that is, He will become present first in consciousness itself. As the human heart and mind discovers, experiences and increasingly expresses the Christ principle through right action and right human relationships He will reappear. One way in which this can be seen to be happening is through the thousands who have passed through the first initiation, the ‘birth of Christ in the cave of the heart’. Therefore the sword that He brings is worthy of examination for it has several implications both as symbol and energy.

Humanity’s Responsibility in an Age of Anticipation

Catherine Crews

The Great Invocation is the world prayer known as Christ’s Mantram. It is the essence of Humanity’s appeal for divine assistance and the promise of God’s response. It is particularly potent in this time of great suffering as the earth and everything in it move through the evolutionary processes facing us.

The first three stanzas of this Invocation are contained in the fourth, for the divine Purpose and Plan are implemented by Light and Love and Will. And through these, implemented by Humanity, is the restoration of all things and the founding of the Kingdom of God on Earth.

This paper considers the fourth stanza as it addresses Humanity’s responsibility in working out the divine Plan.

From the center which we call the race of men
Let the Plan of Love and Light work out
And may it seal the door where evil dwells

Let Light and Love and Power restore the Plan on Earth

This fourth stanza of the Great Invocation speaks directly to Humanity’s responsibility, especially compelling as we make our way through this difficult time in anticipation of the reappearance of the Christ and the restoration of God’s plan on Earth. This time is described in the Gospel of Matthew as a time of “great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until now” (Matthew 24:21). From the teachings of the Ageless Wisdom we know there are cosmic signs that mark this time of transition. One is the simultaneous functioning of the 6th and 7th Rays, two rays of great potency with their conflicting energies nearly equally balanced. The 6th Ray of Idealism and Devotion, slowly moving out of expression, led to separations, nationalism and sectarianism, expressing the tendency of the mind to divide. The 7th ray of Ceremonial Order and Magic, now moving into expression, is bringing fusion and synthesis, for its energy blends spirit and matter. The 6th ray taught the meaning of individual sacrifice, philanthropy and kindness. The 7th ray will teach the concept of divine service, sacrifice within the group and to the group. Events such as these are rare and are said to usher in “a peculiarly significant period of divine activity, when old things pass entirely away, yet the ancient landmarks are restored.”¹