Each New Year many people set out their hopes and plans for the coming twelve months; they become New Year Resolutions. By the end of January these 'good intentions' have normally be broken and by early spring most have been forgotten completely. We chide ourselves and vow to try harder next year. Perhaps it would be better if we were to ask ourselves questions that remind us of our intentions and allow us to monitor progress as well as adapt to any changes in our personal circumstances.
In the Gospel of Thomas, Jesus asks a lot of questions which forced his listeners to move beyond the words to a deeper understanding: "he who has ears to hear, let him hear".
Could these queries be our challenge in the coming year?
#104: "What sin have I committed?"
Jesus queries the instruction from the disciples "come and let us pray today and let us fast ". This indicates that they were still in the rules-game dictated by their religion. We are used to work within rules; organized religion is very good at controlling us through rules so that when we break them we are labelled sinners to be condemned. Jesus retort is cutting: "what therefore is the sin that have I committed or in what way have I been overcome?" He then counters with the only reason to consider such actions is "when the bridegroom comes forth from the bridal chamber" then that's the time of despair. We are separated from our Beloved. We feel a sense of loss. We long to overcome this despair.
#105: "He who knows the Father and the Mother, will he be called the son of a harlot?"
When we reject our mortal mothers and fathers and accept our spiritual parents then we may be dismissed by society. We are perceived to be out-of-wedlock: bastards. It's only in recent times that the stigma associated with this label has disappeared, but in those times such individuals would be cast out of society. They had to fend for themselves.
#89: "Why do you wash the outside of the cup? Do you not understand that he who made the inside also made the outside ?"
We are both an outside and an inside not only physically but also spiritually. It's in this abstract inner space where there is room for our Beloved: our Real Self, the One, the All, resides within this space. But it may be dimly lit, cluttered, or frightening which causes us to be attracted to the external, to be distracted, to be stimulated. When this happens we forget this precious habitation.
#78: "Why do you come forth to the country? . to see a man clothed in soft garments?"
This provides another reminder that the externals whether clothing, position, or power, does not give access to 'knowing the truth'
#72: "Tell my brothers to divide my father's possessions with me..."
Jesus responds that he is not one to judge such things. He turns to his disciples in obvious frustration and queries: " Is it that I am a divider?". Surely they knew by now through his teachings that Jesus seeks only Unity; not divisions whether they are external (Christians, Jews, Muslims) or internal (go, doubt, confusion).
#43: "Who are you that you should say these things to us?"
This seems to be in the early days of Jesus ministry when the disciples question Jesus on his role as a spiritual teacher. Jesus replies that they still did not understand him nor the authenticity of his teaching. Even in those days the Jews were 'cherry-picking' what they were comfortable with and rejecting that which was difficult, inconvenient, and uncomfortable. Many still do so today. They seek teachings that promise a 'happy' life or material and perhaps spiritual riches but avoid the 'work' associated with such disciplines.
#18: Have you therefore discerned the beginning in order that you seek after the end.
This is Jesus's response when the discilples ask what their 'end' will be. Most of us only know what we could call a 'beginning' when we experience an 'end'. But Jesus reminds us that a beginning is also an end --- it's a Moment; the Now. When we can understand that every moment --- yes, every single moment --- is precious then we will dwell in the eternal ("not taste death")
#13: "Make a comparison to me and tell me whom I resemble?"
Jesus asks that the disciples who they think his is and while their responses are relatively unimportant it gives us Thomas's 'signature': his awareness of the significance of Jesus and his teaching. No matter then if each us think of Jesus as Messiah, Christ, Son of God, Guru, Friend, etc. unless and until we drink from that 'living well' we cannot know the true meaning of his Teachings.
#11: "On the day you were One, you created the two; but when , being two what will you do?"
Jesus confronts those in the 'world' (dead) and those who live in the 'eternal' (live); only the latter dwell in the light. Our natures are to such that we can fall from our own One-ness into duality thereby creating divisions: the two. What can we do when we're divided? How deep is our despair from the loss of our 'completeness'?
Naturally, you are encouraged to contemplate Jesus's questions in the Logia to discover your own answers. Write on a card or in your diary for use when your mind becomes reflective.
Alternatively, choose any one of these queries that resonates inwardly at this time as a beginning, adding and extending it to meet your own personal circumstances: