AT THE approach of the CHRISTMAS season all humanity feels in varying degrees the great Cosmic urge to give freely and selflessly, whether they have a definite religious belief or not. This takes possession of them even though the indwelling Christ within may as yet not have come to the birth. This impulsion to give is really an act of reverence and worship, though they may as yet only worship “the unknown God.”

The response to this urge varies with the unfoldment of each soul, from an act of blind instinct, to a conscious recognition and the response of pure understanding. This latter group of awakened souls, having become aware of the presence of the Christ, or Selfless Love within their hearts, are especially eager to kneel before Him in homage, bringing for His use gifts of great worth. And so, with care and love, the wise and noble qualities of their Soul come laden with the frankincense of purified fragrant thoughts, myrrh to preserve all experience and knowledge, and the pure gold of service to humanity.

As the Christed Soul gratefully meditates upon his privilege of Holy Communion with the Loving One within, there arises within his heart a great longing to place at His Feet the one supreme gift—that of the entrance of another Soul into His Great Love.

No sooner does he earnestly resolve to make this Christmas one of such real Inner giving than he finds opened before him opportunities to give the greatest gift one man can give another?

Instead of buying for a friend such materialistic gifts as clothing, jewelry, trinkets, etc., he will carefully and thoughtfully choose some book adapted to the dear one’s present state of consciousness, to open before him the first door to the Path Within. For his children he will earnestly try to give to the day its true meaning without dampening in any way their innocent joys of Santa Claus. Along with their other toys he will lovingly include some spiritual message in the form of a fairy tale illustrating the laws and principles of Truth, or some other book suitable to his age and inclinations leading the child inwards to his God-Self.

Whenever suitable opportunities or openings are made for it, he will offer words of love, encouragement, and inspiration to all with whom he comes in contact. In fact, as his love for God and humanity grows his desire to cooperate in bringing the One to the other will expand beyond the confines of friends and family. As a means of reaching unknown but hungering Souls he may place as loving gifts in Libraries and Institutions suitable books, magazine subscriptions and other messengers of the Spirit.

In this way he will introduce the Leaven of the Kingdom into his community and will receive not only the great reward of unfolding and strengthening his own Inner Christ Power, but will also experience that joy which passes all understanding—the joy of feeling himself possessed and used by the Loving One Within all, to bless and enrich humanity.

1. That Great Master should be the educator of the world of humanity.

2. His teachings should be universal and confer illumination upon mankind.

3. His knowledge should be innate and spontaneous, not acquired.

4. He should answer the questions of all sages, solve the difficult problems of humanity, and be able to withstand all the persecutions and sufferings heaped upon him.

5. He should be a Joy-bringer and the Herald of the Kingdom of Happiness.

6. His knowledge should be infinite and His wisdom all-comprehensive.

7. The penetration of His Word and the potency of His influence should be so great as to humble His worst enemies.

8. Sorrows and tribulations will not vex Him. His courage and conviction must be God-like. Day unto day He must become firmer and more zealous.

9.He should be the establisher of universal civilization, the unifier of religions, the standard-bearer of universal peace, and the embodiment of all the highest and noblest virtues of the world of humanity. —Abdu’l-Baha.