Arcana Coelestia # 32
32. Love and faith are first called “great luminaries” and afterwards love is called a “greater luminary” and faith a “lesser luminary;” and it is said of love that it shall “rule by day” and of faith that it shall “rule by night.” As these are arcana which are hidden, especially in this end of days, it is permitted of the Lord’s Divine mercy to explain them. The reason why these arcana are more especially concealed in this end of days is that now is the consummation of the age, when there is scarcely any love, and consequently scarcely any faith, as the Lord Himself foretold in the Evangelists in these words:
The sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken (Matthew 24:29).
By the “sun” is here meant love, which is darkened; by the “moon” faith, which does not give light; and by the “stars” the knowledges of faith, which fall from heaven, and which are the “virtues and powers of the heavens.”
[2] The Most Ancient Church acknowledged no other faith than love itself. The celestial angels also do not know what faith is except that which is of love. The universal heaven is a heaven of love, for there is no other life in the heavens than the life of love. From this is derived all heavenly happiness, which is so great that nothing of it admits of description, nor can ever be conceived by any human idea. Those who are under the influence of love, love the Lord from the heart, but yet know, declare, and perceive, that all love, and consequently all life-which is of love alone-and thus all happiness, come solely from the Lord, and that they have not the least of love, of life, or of happiness, from themselves. That it is the Lord from whom all love comes, was also represented by the great luminary or “sun” at His transfiguration, for it is written:
His face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light (Matthew 17:2).
Inmost things are signified by the face, and the things that proceed from them, by the raiment. Thus the Lord’s Divine was signified by the “sun” or love; and His Human by the “light” or wisdom proceeding from love.
Matthew 17
1
After six days, Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John his brother, and brought them up into a high mountain by themselves.
2
He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his garments became as white as the light.
3
Behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them talking with him.
4
Peter answered, and said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you want, let's make three tents here: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."
5
While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them. Behold, a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him."
6
When the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces, and were very afraid.
7
Jesus came and touched them and said, "Get up, and don't be afraid."
8
Lifting up their eyes, they saw no one, except Jesus alone.
9
As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, "Don't tell anyone what you saw, until the Son of Man has risen from the dead."
10
His disciples asked him, saying, "Then why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?"
11
Jesus answered them, "Elijah indeed comes first, and will restore all things,
12
but I tell you that Elijah has come already, and they didn't recognize him, but did to him whatever they wanted to. Even so the Son of Man will also suffer by them."
13
Then the disciples understood that he spoke to them of John the Baptizer.
14
When they came to the multitude, a man came to him, kneeling down to him, saying,
15
"Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is epileptic, and suffers grievously; for he often falls into the fire, and often into the water.
16
So I brought him to your disciples, and they could not cure him."
17
Jesus answered, "Faithless and perverse generation! How long will I be with you? How long will I bear with you? Bring him here to me."
18
Jesus rebuked him, the demon went out of him, and the boy was cured from that hour.
19
Then the disciples came to Jesus privately, and said, "Why weren't we able to cast it out?"
20
He said to them, "Because of your unbelief. For most certainly I tell you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will Move; and nothing will be impossible for you.
21
But this kind doesn't go out except by prayer and fasting."
22
While they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is about to be delivered up into the hands of men,
23
and they will kill him, and the third day he will be raised up." They were exceedingly sorry.
24
When they had come to Capernaum, those who collected the didrachma coins came to Peter, and said, "Doesn't your teacher pay the didrachma?"
25
He said, "Yes." When he came into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth receive toll or tribute? From their children, or from strangers?"
26
Peter said to him, "From strangers." Jesus said to him, "Therefore the children are exempt.
27
But, lest we cause them to stumble, go to the sea, cast a hook, and take up the first fish that comes up. When you have opened its mouth, you will find a stater coin. Take that, and give it to them for me and you."
