Commentary for Miracle Principles 49 – 50

Hearth of Mercy Text Reading Commentary 

February 9, 2021

Miracle Principles 49 and 50 

Principle 49 is a corollary to the first principle of miracles (no order of difficulty).  There is degree of misperception that is taken into account, and no account for the “order of magnitude of the miracle itself” (2:3).  

We give miracles selectively only because we our behavior is controlled by Christ – we direct them only to those who can benefit from them.  So the selection process does not contradict the indiscriminate nature of miracles being expressed.  

A “foolish consistency” is a reference to a quote from Emerson (see Footnote 167).  We often try to find solutions to problems within the limitations of the problem itself.  This is a key idea to the Course’s view on guidance-seeking and decision-making.  We often look at problems from the framework of the problem.  We need to accept that the Holy Spirit sees from a higher vantage point.  We are not bound by laws of a situation as we define it.   

In the final paragraph, Jesus emphasizes the power of our creative will.  When we deny God or the power of our will, this is not just inaction, it is “positive miscreation.”  This means that instead of establishing a “strong chain of Atonement” we can cause a chain of miscreation, where situations compound and worsen.  Our wills are strong, we need to accept the power of our will and accept correction where we miscreate.   

Principle 50  

This principle starts by telling us that earth reflects Heaven.  The “higher level of creation” is a place of truth and knowledge and only love, where miracles and forgiveness are unnecessary.  Here on earth, we depend on miracles, both giving and receiving them.  The expression of love then becomes a way to compare the elements of our thinking and behavior to that of the heavenly realm.  That which is discordant is rejected as false.   

Fear and love become the two measures of validating reality.  In the “higher level” there is no fear at all.  Here on earth, everything that does not reflect the love of Heaven is ultimately illusion: 

               Only perfect love really exists. 

               Therefore, if there is fear, 

               It produces a state which does not exist.  

Soon we will be told that “perfect love is the Atonement” (T-2.IX.12:6).  Only perfect love can correct lack of love.  It might help to think here of perfect love as the resurrection, since it was a demonstration of this perfect love.  “Believe this and you will be free” (50.2: 8).  

To stay out of fear, we need to remain miracle-minded.  Miracle-mindedness corrects the belief that truth can be denied.  The belief that we can operate from a fearful state and still achieve our goals for operating in this world is ultimately corrected by the recognition that this is fear.   

Paragraphs 3 and 4 are difficult, and I find it easier to read them in terms of the original wording, as Jesus was speaking directly to Bill and Helen: 

Experiencing fear, which is more characteristic of Bill, involves only the second error [that absence of truth can be effective]. However, these differences do not effect the power of the miracle at all, since only the (distinction between) truth or and error [first version: “only truth or error”] are its concern. 

You [Helen] are both more miracle-minded and less able to recognize fear because of your stronger but split identification. Bill, also characteristically, is less miracle-minded but better able to recognize fear, because his identification is more consistently right but weaker. 

Together, the conditions needed for consistent miracle-mindedness, the state in which fear has been abolished, can be particularly well worked out. In fact, it was already well-worked out before. 

Bill was keen at recognizing his fear, which has the benefit of teaching him that the absence of truth is not effective.  However, it is not enough to make Bill inclined to do miracles like Helen.  Helen is less apt to recognize her fear but remains miracle-minded (or ready).   

Suggested Practice: 

Write on a piece of paper of sticky note the following practice and return to it momentarily several times today: 

               Perfect love casts out fear. 

               Only perfect love really exists. 

               Believing this, I am set free. 

               My faith in this is God’s gift to me. 

               I gladly accept it now.