What is the best
way of
researching and
studying the
teachings and
parables of
Jesus?
I believe the
first step must
be to carry out
a profound and
systematic study
of the core
works of
Spiritism. That
will give us a
clear a coherent
view on the
passages of the
Gospel, with a
renewed
assessment of we
know about
Christ, his
message and his
followers. It is
also important
to study the
complimentary
works written by
well-respected
mediums such as
Francisco
Cândido Xavier
and Divaldo
Franco,
especially the
works dictated
by Emmanuel.
Finally, it is
important to
understand the
historic context
in which Christ
lived: the
habits of Jewish
society at the
time and those
of the days of
the Old
Testament.
How did you
become
interested in
the study and
research of the
texts of the New
Testament?
Since I was a
small child I
was interested
in that type of
study. I
remember being
particularly
interested in
the talks of our
fellow Spiritist
Simão Pedro when
I still lived in
Patrocínio, when
he talked about
and explained
the New
Testament. I
wanted to know
more. In 2013, I
became really
engaged in the
Spiritist
Movement. Around
that time,
Harold Dutra
Dias published
his new
translation of
the New
Testament. I saw
some of the
talks by him and
other Spiritists
and I have
become more and
more interested
in finding out
more about the
Gospel.
Is there
anything in the
stories and
references of
the evangelists
beyond what we
can read?
Yes, firstly
because it is
part of the
Semitic language
and the rabbi
traditions of
the time to use
symbols and
intuition to
pass on
information and
to teach. That
is part of their
ancient oral
traditions. We
must also take
into account the
inspiration from
the Spiritual
Benefactors
during the
process of
writing the
Gospel, as
Emmanuel
explains in A
Caminho da Luz
(Pathway to
Light). With
the help of
works from
Emmanuel/Chico
and other
authors, we can
see the
importance of
the Spiritual
influence behind
the written
words of the
Gospel. One of
the most
important
Spiritist
researchers in
that field was
Honório Onofre
de Abreu, who
wrote Luz
Imperecível,
with guidance on
the methodology
to study and
understand the
Teachings of
Jesus.
Why did Jesus
use this
teaching method?
What was he
aiming to
achieve?
As Kardec says
in The Gospel
According to
Spiritism,
the main points
of the Teachings
of Christ were
always very
clear and
explicit. That
includes his
views on charity
and humility,
which are
essential points
in the process
of Spiritual
development.
Jesus took a
different, more
careful
approach, on
other issues, as
he knew that the
wider public
would need time
to reach the
maturity to
understand them.
They also needed
to wait for the
scientific and
philosophical
development that
lacked in that
era. But those
truths are in
the Gospel of
Jesus in a
symbolic and
allegoric
manner, so that
people would be
able to
understand them
at the right
time. They are
like seeds
waiting for the
right time to
germinate.
How do you feel
when you make
new discoveries
in your
research? And
how do you
transform that
in motivation
for the study
groups you
coordinate and
the talks you
give?
I feel great joy
and immense
gratitude for
realising how
much guidance
and assistance
we all have
received since
the early stages
of our process
of Spiritual
development.
Every time I
study or stop to
meditate on
Teachings of
Jesus I feel
like I was again
in Ancient
Galilee
following Our
Master though
his earthly
journey. From
that comes a
natural feeling
to share what I
was able to
understand and
feel in the
process. And
that is what I
have tried to do
through the
study groups and
talks.
What is the best
method to raise
awareness and
interest for
study and
research?
I have tried to
organise the
groups in a
dynamic and
interactive
manner,
explaining to
everyone how we
do the
bibliographic
research and how
we prepare the
material for
research. The
discovery of the
meaning behind
the symbols and
allegories is a
great source of
encouragement
for everyone. I
keep a
roundtable
format,
encouraging
fraternal debate
and the exchange
of ideas and the
participation of
every
individual.
Is there
anything from
your experiences
that you would
like to share
with us?
The most
remarkable
aspect of the
studies and
talks is to
realise how much
the figure of
Jesus continues
to touch the
hearts of the
people, even
after all these
years, and how
much people
continue to be
attracted to Him
and His message.
I would like to
remind the words
of Alcíone who,
along with Padre
Damiano
(Emmanuel)
already uses
this methodology
for a more
in-depth study
of the Gospel.
She said that
“the Gospel is a
vast journey
upwards, whose
end we will not
be able to reach
properly without
having the
knowledge and
without putting
into practice
all its details.
The message of
the Christ must
be known,
meditated upon,
felt and lived.”
That is the
four-step
guideline of
which knowledge
if only the
first stage. We
must bear in
mind that the
study of the
Gospel will only
be useful and
relevant in our
lives if we
change our lives
and put into
practice what we
have studied and
learned.