Ep 794 - The Ideal Home and World Peace Part 7
The Ideal Home and World Peace - December 28, 2022
PDF Printable Text and Images + Testimony Kouki Tamura
Key Points
In addition to being the Messiah, Savior, and Lord of the Second Coming, True Parents have taught and exemplified the way of true love despite extreme persecution and hardship.
Our task is to proclaim and testify through our lives that True Parents are truly the Messiah, Savior, and the Lord of the Second Advent.
The biblical parable of the prodigal son shows how much greater the power of love is than the power of principles because his father forgave and loved his son rather than judging and accusing him for his wrongs.
Because the power of love exceeds that of the Principle, God’s providence of total salvation is possible, not allowing anyone to languish in hell forever.
As followers of the Principle, we, too, should forgive and embrace those who have wronged us.
In our homes and churches, while we need a thorough education in the Principle, we need to practice love and forgiveness beyond the principle.
We should look for phrases in the Word that move and motivate us and note them and meditate about them throughout the day.
Our souls gain strength when we learn the taste of True Parents' words.
The Word should be sweeter than honey for us.
To give thanks in all circumstances means to live with the Word always in our heart.
If we always embrace the Word and meditate on keywords, we overflow with gratitude, feel happy and forgive wrongs with compassion.
Living with the Word always brings us spiritual power, and we identify the faults of others as our own. We see their faults and fallen nature and ours as sources of God’s sorrow and ultimately experience that sorrow. We deal with them publicly by sharing them with God.
We should think that the problems and issues in our family are God’s sorrow, and we should involve him in them because he is our parent. Then much wisdom comes about how to resolve the issues.
The wishes and hopes of God and True Parents are that all of our blessed families live according to the word, become families of hyojeong and model families whose example itself testifies to True Parents.
True Parents blessed us not just for our families but to bring about world peace through our blessed families.
Transcripts from November 3, 2021 to the present, personal notes from November 11, 2020 until November 2, 2021 and slides from August 29, 2021 to the present are available at MD.Hoondok.com as PDF files.♦
Here Australian weather is very hot. We cannot survive without air conditioning. But I hear from New York that it is very cold there, right?
Today I’d like to talk about “The Ideal Home and World Peace” from True Mother’s Anthology, Book 2.
<This speech was given at the 2nd International Convention of the Women's Federation for World Peace, held on August 23, 1995, at Hotel Lotte World, Seoul, Korea > God sent my husband, the Reverend Sun Myung Moon, as the Messiah. His entire life is dedicated to fulfilling God's Will, the ideal of creation. Due to people’s lack of understanding about his mission, however, he has been treated as a criminal around the world without having committed any crime. Being close to him and seeing him every day, my heart aches to witness how difficult and unfair is the way of the saint. Even under all kinds of suffering and persecution, he never wavered from walking the path. At the same time, spiritually he has been in a bloody and furious battle with Satan. Satan is launching an all-out offensive on my husband in order to defend the sovereignty of false love he has held over humanity since the Fall. Both spiritually and physically my husband and I are carrying out our mission as the True Parents. Upon this victorious foundation Satan can no longer accuse us.
Dear women leaders! The Second World Culture and Sports Festival is the culmination of all my husband's activities. He has dedicated his life to realizing the united world of love. The Women's Federation for World Peace, the Family Federation for World Peace, the Religious Federation for World Peace, the Federation for World Peace, the Youth Federation for World Peace and the Collegiate Federation for World Peace are all organizations established to bring about the world of peace. The conferences and events that are being held by these organizations, as well as by the International Cultural Foundation and the World Media Association, will awaken people's original minds, lead history toward a good direction and bring hope for humankind's future.
God sent our True Father, the Reverend Sun Myung Moon, as the Messiah. His entire life is dedicated to fulfilling God's Will, the ideal of creation. Due to people’s lack of understanding about his mission, however, he has been treated as a criminal around the world without having committed any crime.
Being close to him and seeing him every day, True Mother's heart aches to witness how difficult and unfair is the way of the saint. Even under all kinds of suffering and persecution, he never wavered from walking the path.
True Mother directly testified to who True Father is. She said her heart aches to witness how difficult and unfair is the way of the saint. She directly testified about True Father.
The great thing about True Parents is that they went beyond being the Messiah, Savior, and Lord of the Second Coming, by teaching the way of true love and exemplifying it through practice all while undergoing countless persecutions and hardships.
Our task remains that as long as we proclaim and boast about God and True Parents, we must also testify through our lives that True Parents are truly the Messiah, Savior, and the Lord of the Second Advent.
This is the age of love, the age of attendance, and the age of showing. From now on, how great True Parents are will be revealed through the lives of blessed families whom True Parents have blessed. So we are left with the task of living a life that shows in our personal lives, our family lives, and our missions.
We need to show we are really true disciples of our True Parents. If we really show (this), there is no need to witness. So many people will come and join our movement. Even though we know God, True Parents and the Divine Principle and are blessed, without showing an exemplary lifestyle, no one will come. The main issue is how we can show a personal and family model.
LIVING DIVINE PRINCIPLE: The Human Fall 14 - The Power of Love, the Power of the Principle and God’s Commandment
• Without God’s love, there is no way to establish the true four position foundation, which is the purpose for which we were created; hence, love is truly the source and wellspring of our life and happiness.
• Although God created human beings based on the Principle, He governs us through love. Accordingly, in order for love to fulfill its proper role, its power must be stronger than the power of the Principle.
• If the power of love were weaker than the power of the Principle, human beings would pursue the Principle more than the love of God. For this reason, Jesus tried to raise his disciples with the truth, but it was his love that saved them.
The Power of Love is Greater than the Power of the Principle
The power of love is greater than the power of the Principle.
Through the parable of the prodigal son in the Bible, we can understand how much the power of love is greater than the power of principles.
Let’s study again that Bible content regarding the Prodigal Son.
Lessons can be Learned Through a Story of a Returning Prodigal Son
(Luke15:11-24):
11. Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons.
12. The younger one said to his father, “Father, give me my share of the estate.” So he divided his property between them.
13. Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.
14. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.
15. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.
16. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17. When he came to his senses, he said, “How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!
18. I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
19. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.”
20. So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21. The son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.”
22. But the father said to his servants, “Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
23. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate.
24. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” So they began to celebrate.
This is really an amazing story.
The Power of Love is Greater than the Power of the Principle
1. If the power of the Principle (were) stronger than the power of love, the prodigal son who had returned would have been either accused or judged. But (he) received forgiveness and love (instead) because the power of love is stronger.
2. The reason why God’s providence is possible lies in this power of love. God has been doing such a tearful providence of restoration through this power of love to save all humankind, not letting a single person who already has fallen go to hell for good and perish.
I love this Bible verse. I Peter 3:9 God is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but for everyone to come to repentance. We are all prodigal sons and daughters, right? We left God. We are descendants of Adam and Eve. We are prodigal sons and daughters. But what is God’s wish? Everybody needs to come back. God waits and waits. He is really patient with us. The Bible said not wanting anyone to perish but wanting everyone to repentance.
“If you believe in Jesus, you can go to the Kingdom of Heaven, but if you don’t believe in him, you need to go to hell.” God is not that kind of God. Those who believe in that kind of principle does not know that God is the parent of all humankind. That is why God’s salvation is not just for chosen guys. It is total salvation. No one (is to) perish. Nobody (will be) left in hell. It is amazing.
This bible verse is talking about God’s salvation as salvation for all. God doesn’t want anyone to perish but for everyone to come to repentance. Why (could) the father accept (his) prodigal son? Because (the son) repented. He said, “I am the sinner of sinners ... against you.” He repentend. How could he go back to his father? Because of repentance.
In order to go back to our father, we need to repent. Without repentance how can we go back to God’s bosom? This is very important. God can embrace and forgive us anytime, but (there is) only one condition: we need to repent.
Jesus’ first words were, “Repent. The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” John the Baptist said the same thing. If we truly repent, (we can be) forgiven for whatever we committed. When we have repentance, we need to have sincerity. It cannot just be conditional. With real repentance we never go back. We always go forward.
3. Therefore as a follower of the Divine Principle, we should forgive those who have done big harm to us when they come to seek for forgiveness, standing in God’s position with the power of love, (rather) than judge (them) according to the Principle and rules, so that we can gradually establish a brighter world of God in the future.
However we must always keep in our minds that there is creation through the principle and dominion through love. Therefore we ourselves who have been following the path of re-creation should have such a mindset both in our home and in the church that there’s creation through the principle and dominion through love. In order for each family to be established well, there must be forgiveness and love flowing (beyond a) thorough education in the principle and the commandment. Likewise, in order for each church to be established well there must be forgiveness and love flowing (beyond a) thorough education in the principle and rules.
We should not establish such families or churches without forgiveness and love, only emphasizing the principle and laws.
However, the Principle is also very important. Principle and love need to be combined. Without the Principle forgiveness does not make any sense. We need to educate in the Principle: what is wrong, what is good. That is why, first of all, we need to set up a very good principle standard; we need to teach the Principle. And then we need to love.
Of course, we can forgive and embrace, but the condition is repentance. Those who are arrogant cannot repent. We need to know the rules. Without repentance how can we go to the Kingdom of Heaven? To True Parents? We need to have certain rules. The Principle is very important. Of course, love is much greater than the Principle. We need to know the Principle and set up a principled standard very clearly, and then love that guy more than the principle.
This is Father’s guidance: The power of love is much greater than the power of the Principle.
TODAY’S YOUTH MINISTRY: Treat my Sorrow and Pain as That of God and True Parents
The Meaning of Giving Thanks (for) Everything
1. The Bible teaches that the Word tastes like honey. When I ask you what words moved you after hearing or reading them, many people answer, “I don’t know.” When I ask if you have heard or read the Word and found something in it that will motivate your life, you answer, “I don’t know.” There are many people who answer irresponsibly like this regardless of their spiritual life. True Parents gave us the Word as the food of life. Is it okay to ignore True Parents' Word? Our souls gain strength when we learn the taste of True Parents' words at the growth stage of our faith. In the Bible, to give thanks in all circumstances means to live with the Word always in your heart. Then the strength to give thanks will come out and my heart will always be happy.
After hearing or reading the Words, what Words moved you? And did you hear or read the Word and find something in it that will motivate your life? We must not read the Word irresponsibly regardless of our spiritual life.
True Parents gave us the Word as the food of life. Is it okay to ignore True Parents' Word? Our souls gain strength when we learn the taste of True Parents' words at the growth stage of our faith.
If you look at Psalm 119, verse 103 of the Bible, it says, "How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" As the Bible says, the word must be sweeter than honey.
I have experienced this so much. I may struggle about something, but when I read Father’s word or the Bible, when I hear God’s word, this can solve so many serious issues. It can be incredibly joyful! I have often experienced that God’s word is sweeter than honey. Do you feel that? That is why anyone who knows the taste of God’s word has no choice but to study God’s word. It is so powerful, so joyful, so happy! His life becomes a life of appreciation. Why? Because God’s word is the solution. It is his love. He shows the way, the direction and (reveals) all kinds of secrets through the word.
In the Bible, to give thanks in all circumstances means to live with the Word always in your heart. Then the strength to give thanks will come out and my heart will always be happy.
If we meditate on God’s word and always live with God’s word, then I am telling you, what kind of phenomena appear? We can give thanks in any circumstances. We need to keep God’s word in our heart. Then we are grateful for everything; we can digest anything.
Treat my Sorrow and Pain as That of God and True Parents
2. If I always live with the Word, I am overflowing with gratitude. And when gratitude overflows, my heart is always happy. Even if others curse at me or persecute me, I only feel sorry for them. I go further and forgive all their faults thinking that their faults are also in my heart. I think that they are not the only one with such fallen nature, I also have it. We can hate others as much as we want. When God sees this false heart and fallen nature that everyone has, He treats it as his own sorrow. Therefore, do not think of your sorrow only as your own sorrow, but think of it as True Parents' sorrow. Whose sadness is your family's sorrow? It is the sorrow of True Parents. Can we boast of the circumstances and sufferings of our family? No one can boast of the circumstances and suffering of our family.
If I always embrace the Word and meditate on keywords, I overflow with gratitude. When I am overflowing with gratitude, my heart is always happy. As long as the word remains alive in my heart, I feel pity for the other person even if he curses at me or persecutes me.
Living with the Word always brings me spiritual power. It gives the power to forgive all of the other person's mistakes. And I think the other person's fault is also in my heart. It makes me think that he is not the only one who has such fallen nature, and that I also have it.
If we do not embrace the Word, we too can hate others at any time. However, if we live with the Word in our hearts, we come to think that not only ourselves but also the fallen nature and false hearts of others are God's sorrow.
Therefore, we should think of our sorrow not only as our own, but as True Parents' sorrow. My own problems, my spouse’s problems, my children's problems, my siblings' problems, Cain's and Abel's problems, etc. are not just my own sorrow, but True Parents' sorrow.
Everybody in your family has problems, right? In your relationships, right? For example, if you are struggling with your spouse, your children, your parents, your relatives or your own brothers and sisters, then you need to think about what we have learned here. Do not think this is (only) your family’s problems, your children’s problem. (Rather) you need to treat it as God’s sorrow. “I am having a problem with my spouse,” then you need to think, “This is God’s sorrow.” If it is not easy to deal with your children, then you need to think that this (also) is God’s sorrow, his pain.
Treat your own family issue as God’s sorrow. Then it becomes more public. Then you can understand God’s heart more. If you only think of it as your own problem, there is no solution. But when you worry about your children, you need to think that God is worried about your children. If you worry about your spouse’s fallen nature problem, you need to think that God has the same kind of issue with him and is worried about him.
Treat your issues as God’s issues because he is our God, our parent. We are his children. Do not think this is your own issue and problem. You need to accept that this is really God’s issue. He is really concerned. Why don’t you involve God in it? This is God’s problem, God’s issue, God’s sorrow. Then you are nested(?) in God’s heart. You understand True Parents’ heart. Then your issue (is) connected vertically.
Why can’t you share your issues? Because you want to solve the problem by yourself. Just worry, worry, worry horizontally. You don’t invite God. When you have some problem, why don’t you invite God? Why don’t you treat this as God’s issue? Because you are children of God, your issue should be God’s issue. Then much wisdom comes.
Who can we appeal to for our own family's circumstances and suffering?
For example, you have many issues with your wife, your husband, your teenagers, your children, your parents, your brothers and sisters. It is not easy to appeal to anyone. You worry and struggle. “How can I appeal? How can I confess? Where should I confess? Where should I appeal?”
No one should be proud of the circumstances and suffering of our family. Therefore, consider the sorrow of your family as the sorrow of God and True Parents ... and treat and deal with it publicly. Publicly means to invite God. (Don’t treat it as) your own private family issue. Invite God.
Then, you can experience the sorrow of God and True Parents. When you invite your children and your children come back, how can you fix your family and children issues? You worry and (shed) tears. Don’t just (keep this) as your own worry. God is also shedding tears (about this). God is also worried about this. If you create(?) in such a way, you can experience the sorrow of God and True Parents and you will also find a way to solve the problem.
When you invite God centering on your own issue, he will show you wisdom about how to solve the problem. You cannot solve the problem because you don’t invite God. You don’t treat the issue as God’s own issue.
The Purpose of True Parents’ Blessing
3. True Parents are very worried after blessing us. In fact, God and True Parents want to place great hope on our blessed families, especially international blessed families. How happy would True Parents be if our blessed families lived according to the Word and served as models for the people around them? However, the lives of most of our blessed families are not like that. This is the sorrow of True Parents. True Parents are filled with the wish to show off our blessed family to the world and the people. If we know the wishes and hopes of God and True Parents, all of our blessed families should become families of filial piety. What remains now is the practice of our blessed families becoming children and families of filial piety. What happens when all of our blessed families are able to bear fruits that we can show off as model families? The world peace that God and True Parents have longed for will surely come. The reason True Parents blessed us is not just for our family, but to bring about world peace through our blessed families.
In truth, God and True Parents have great hopes for our blessed families, especially international blessed families, but on the other hand, they are also very worried about them.
How happy would True Parents be if our blessed families lived according to the Word and served as models for the people around them? However, the lives of most of our blessed families are not like that. This is the sorrow of our True Parents. True Parents are filled with the wish to show off our blessed family to the world and the people but in reality, they know and worry that there are many problems.
If we know the wishes and hopes of God and True Parents, all of our blessed families should become families of hyojeong. What remains now is the practice of our blessed families becoming children and families of filial piety.
Secular people should not boast that only True Parents are great. Being the families that True Parents blessed, we must become exemplary families that the world must see and be unable to help but recognize True Parents as the Messiah. This is the age of love. The age of love is the age of showing and boasting.
What happens when all of our blessed families are able to bear fruit that we can show off as model families? The world peace that God and True Parents have longed for will surely, definitely come.
The reason True Parents blessed us is not just for our family, but to bring about world peace through our blessed families.
Today we received very important guidance from True Parents.
Today I talked about “Treat my Sorrow and Pain (like that of) God and True Parents.”
(Testimony Kouki Tamura, Bay Area YCLC Program, YCLC Director)♦
NOTE: This text and the PowerPoint slides from this speech are available as a link at the top of this text. Transcripts from November 3, 2021 to the present, personal notes from November 11, 2020 until November 2, 2021 and slides from August 29, 2021 to the present are available at MD.Hoondok.com as PDF files. Books of the transcripts and notes are available as PDFs at MDBooks.Hoondok.com.
This lightly edited transcript may contain errors and omissions. Indecipherable, inaudible or uncertain words and guesses are tagged with a “(?)” and indecipherable phrases, with an ellipsis “...”. First, second and third person pronouns have been left as spoken if the meaning is clear, and other apparently Korean English expressions have been preserved if understandable. Some repeated phrases have been eliminated.
Audio only is available at anchor.morndev.com, spotify.morndev.com & audio.morndev.com. Notes or transcripts of Dr. Yong’s Morning Devotion speeches from November 11, 2020 through March 29, 2022 are available as six paperback books at cost at Lulu.com/Shop -- search for Dr. Chung Sik Yong -- and as PDF downloads free of charge at MDBooks.Hoondok.com.♦