For those who could not attend here is the sermon:
My Lords, Ladies, Citizens of Eldpoint and Guests from afar
We are gathered here today to honor the lives on both sides of the current Linlea conflict that have been lost, and to think of our own placement in the realms. Just, what happens when we die.
The common belief, as told is your soul goes to the river and is judged by the Lady. But then what? There are two paths. One path is we are brought back here, to live again, to do better. The other is our souls pass on to the other realms.
Rather we go to one of the realms after the river, or the Lady brings us back here to live again we cannot help but think as of why. While there may not be a solid reason that has no debate as to why some souls are brought back and some pass on to other realms, what we can look at is the opportunities we have in our current state, our current bodies.
While the Lady says we need to do what we must, to ensure the safety of the realms this simple sentence is plagued with vagueness. Who decides what makes the realms safe? Is it an overarching feel of not letting chaos and suffering take over?
Or, is it more personal and more tied into the All Mothers stance of ”Thou shalt care and provide for all those in thine community and beyond who pursue the righting of grudges.”.
The question I raise today, and for you to think on is this: In our life we have a lot of choices, which benefit us more than others? Are the little things more important than the big things? Is just being a good person, good enough?
Going to look at the tenets,
The Grey Lady states Exact penance upon the sinful with judgement clear and unclouded by emotion. Which can also tie into the All Mothers stance of Thou shalt record all grudges issued against their personage or community, and share the book amongst one’s faithful, so that all who deserve vengeance shall not be forgotten.
If a thief steals from you, you are technically within your right to exact penance for this sin, as well as record the grudge. These two tenets go hand in hand, but are from Life and Death, two entirely separate divines. So, what does this mean? To me, it means we need to look at how our actions effect our friends, family and community. To love your family and put them above all other mortals, to protect your community, to strike down the sinful who wish to harm you, your family, your friends with unrelenting, unclouded and unmerciful swiftness.
These tenets are not just about soul stealers, necromancers or bad forces, it is about mundane mortals. The mages, the divine, the mundane we all must adhere to the same tenets and laws as everyone else. These tenets are not just polite suggestions; they are codes of behavior we must all obey. This point is further proven when looking at the All Mothers tenet of Thou shalt worship as much in action as prayer, and settle all grudges which arise in one’s community and personally.
Think on that. Worship as much in action, as in prayer. Your actions matter just as much, if not more than the words you say. It is simple to turn an eye to a murderer, or to justify their actions and pray they go on the right path. It is more difficult to stand up to evil, and attempt to stop it. Now, we must all fear evil men. But there is another kind of evil which we must fear most, and that is the indifference of good men. Both the All Mother and Grey lady command us to stop evil, to stop those who wish to upset the balance of the realms. I am simply saying, these big commands can start here in the community, with us. Do not turn a blind eye to the hungry, feed them. Do not walk away from the homeless, shelter them. Do not be indifferent to the sufferings of your fellow mortals, bound together as a community, as friends and begin to fight the evil among us living day to day. Combat the indifference in us to not want to make a change, combat the temptation to not want to defend everything you love.
For the blood of the wicked shall flow into the river of judgement and no one is spared from this. Now, go out, and do good among all. May the lady spare her judgement and may the All Mother share her divine glory upon you all.
