31 June | a.m

Say: This is the Day whereon God's most great favour hath been made manifest. The voice of all who are in the heavens above and on the earth below proclaimeth My Name, and singeth forth My praises, could ye but hear it!

- Baha'u'llah, The Summons of the Lord of Hosts, p. 53

Join thy voice, however feeble, to those of thy sister-journals who, in various parts of the world, are raising with one accord the call of this new Day of God.

- Shoghi Effendi, Arohanui - Letters to New Zealand, p. 13

29 June | p.m

This is the Day whereon the unseen world crieth out: "Great is thy blessedness, O earth, for thou hast been made the foot-stool of thy God, and been chosen as the seat of His mighty throne." The realm of glory exclaimeth: "Would that my life could be sacrificed for thee, for He Who is the Beloved of the All-Merciful hath established His sovereignty upon thee, through the power of His Name that hath been promised unto all things, whether of the past or of the future."

 

- Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 29

29 June | a.m

This is the Day whereon naught can be seen except the splendors of the Light that shineth from the face of Thy Lord, the Gracious, the Most Bountiful. Verily, We have caused every soul to expire by virtue of Our irresistible and all-subduing sovereignty. We have, then, called into being a new creation, as a token of Our grace unto men. I am, verily, the All-Bountiful, the Ancient of Days.

- Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 29

I bear witness, O my God, that through a word spoken by Thee in this Revelation all created things were made to expire, and through yet another word all such as Thou didst wish were, by Thy grace and bounty, endued with new life.

- Baha'u'llah, Prayers and Meditations by Baha'u'llah, p. 42

28 June | p.m

Great indeed is this Day! The allusions made to it in all the sacred Scriptures as the Day of God attest its greatness. The soul of every Prophet of God, of every Divine Messenger, hath thirsted for this wondrous Day. All the divers kindreds of the earth have, likewise, yearned to attain it. No sooner, however, had the Day Star of His Revelation manifested itself in the heaven of God's Will, than all, except those whom the Almighty was pleased to guide, were found dumbfounded and heedless.

 

- Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 10

27 June | p.m

This is the Day whereon the true servants of God partake of the life-giving waters of reunion, the Day whereon those that are nigh unto Him are able to drink of the soft-flowing river of immortality, and they who believe in His unity, the wine of His Presence, through their recognition of Him Who is the Highest and Last End of all, in Whom the Tongue of Majesty and Glory voiceth the call: "The Kingdom is Mine. I, Myself, am, of Mine own right, its Ruler."

 

- Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 33

27 June | a.m

This is the Day whereon every sweet smelling thing hath derived its fragrance from the smell of My garment - a garment that hath shed its perfume upon the whole of creation. This is the Day whereon the rushing waters of everlasting life have gushed out of the Will of the All-Merciful. Haste ye, with your hearts and souls, and quaff your fill, O Concourse of the realms above!

- Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 29

In this wonderful age the East is enlightened, the West is fragrant, and everywhere the soul inhales the holy perfume. The sea of the unity of mankind is lifting up its waves with joy, for there is real communication between the hearts and minds of men. The banner of the Holy Spirit is uplifted, and men see it, and are assured with the knowledge that this is a new day.

- Abdu’l-Bahá, Abdu’l-Bahá in London, p. 19

26 June | p.m

This is the Day in which God's most excellent favors have been poured out upon men, the Day in which His most mighty grace hath been infused into all created things. It is incumbent upon all the peoples of the world to reconcile their differences, and, with perfect unity and peace, abide beneath the shadow of the Tree of His care and loving-kindness.

 

- Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 6

26 June | a.m

This is the Day whereon the Ocean of God's mercy hath been manifested unto men, the Day in which the Day Star of His loving-kindness hath shed its radiance upon them, the Day in which the clouds of His bountiful favor have overshadowed the whole of mankind. Now is the time to cheer and refresh the down-cast through the invigorating breeze of love and fellowship, and the living waters of friendliness and charity.

- Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 7

This is a new cycle of human power. All the horizons of the world are luminous, and the world will become indeed as a garden and a paradise. It is the hour of unity of the sons of men and of the drawing together of all races and all classes.

- Abdu’l-Bahá, Abdu’l-Bahá in London, p. 19

25 June | a.m

Heard it ye ever reported by your fathers of old, or by the generations that preceded them, even unto the first Adam, that any one coming in the clouds of revelation, being invested with manifest and transcendent sovereignty, having on his right hand the Kingdom of God and on his left all the power and glory of His everlasting dominion, any one preceded by the hosts of God, the Almighty, the All-Compelling, the Most Powerful, and uttering continually verses whose import the minds of the most learned and wisest of men are powerless to fathom, should yet be the bearer of a message that is not of God? Be discerning, then, and speak ye the truth, the very truth, if ye claim to be honest and high-minded.

 

- Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 258

24 June | p.m

O MY SERVANT!

Abandon not for that which perisheth an everlasting dominion, and cast not away celestial sovereignty for a worldly desire. This is the river of everlasting life that hath flowed from the well-spring of the pen of the merciful; well is it with them that drink!

 

- Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words

24 June | a.m

What mankind needeth in this day is obedience unto them that are in authority, and a faithful adherence to the cord of wisdom. The instruments which are essential to the immediate protection, the security and assurance of the human race have been entrusted to the hands, and lie in the grasp, of the governors of human society. This is the wish of God and His decree.

- Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 206

An intellectual grasp of the Teachings is purely superficial; with the first real test such believers are shaken from the bough! But once a Baha'i has the profound conviction of the authority from God, vested in the Prophet, passed on to the Master, and by Him, to the Guardians, and which flows out through the Assemblies and creates order based on obedience - once a Baha'i has this, nothing can shake him.

- From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to an individual believer, April 11, 1949

22 June | p.m

And likewise in the sacred verse: "Obey God and obey the Apostle, and those among you invested with authority." By "those invested with authority" is meant primarily and more especially the Imams - the blessings of God rest upon them! They, verily, are the manifestations of the power of God, and the sources of His authority, and the repositories of His knowledge, and the daysprings of His commandments. Secondarily these words refer unto the kings and rulers - those through the brightness of whose justice the horizons of the world are resplendent and luminous.

- Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 89

22 June | a.m

Regard for the rank of sovereigns is divinely ordained, as is clearly attested by the words of the Prophets of God and His chosen ones. He Who is the Spirit (Jesus) - may peace be upon Him - was asked: "O Spirit of God! Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar or not?" And He made reply: "Yea, render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's." He forbade it not. These two sayings are, in the estimation of men of insight, one and the same, for if that which belonged to Caesar had not come from God, He would have forbidden it.

 

- Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 89

21 June | p.m

Every nation must have a high regard for the position of its sovereign, must be submissive unto him, must carry out his behests, and hold fast his authority. The sovereigns of the earth have been and are the manifestations of the power, the grandeur and the majesty of God.

- Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 89

21 June | a.m

O SON OF MY HANDMAID!

Didst thou behold immortal sovereignty, thou wouldst strive to pass from thisfleeting world. But to conceal the one from thee and to reveal the other is a mystery which none but the pure in heart can comprehend.

- Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words, no. 41

To be brief; our purpose is to show that the divine sovereignty, the Kingdom of God, is an ancient sovereignty; that it is not an accidental sovereignty; just as a kingdom presupposes the existence of subjects, of an army, of a country; for otherwise the state of dominion, authority and kingdom cannot be conceived of.

- Abdu’l-Bahá, Foundations of World Unity, p. 108

20 June | p.m

We, of a certainty, have had no purpose in this earthly realm save to make God manifest and to reveal His sovereignty; sufficient unto Me is God for a witness. We, of a certainty, have had no intent in the celestial Kingdom but to exalt His Cause and glorify His praise; sufficient unto Me is God for a protector.

- Baha'u'llah, The Kitáb-i-Aqdas, p. 82

20 June | a.m

While in prison We have revealed a Book which We have entitled 'The Most Holy Book'. We have enacted laws therein and adorned it with the commandments of thy Lord, Who exerciseth authority over all that are in the heavens and on the earth.

- Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 261

The effulgence of God cannot be suspended. The sovereignty of God cannot be interrupted.

- Abdu’l-Bahá, Foundations of World Unity, p. 53

19 June | p.m

The Pen of the Divine Expounder exhorteth, at this moment, the manifestations of authority and the sources of power, namely the kings and rulers of the earth - may God assist them - and enjoineth them to uphold the cause of religion, and to cleave unto it. Religion is, verily, the chief instrument for the establishment of order in the world, and of tranquillity amongst its peoples.

 

- Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 27

19 June | a.m

Tear asunder, in My Name, the veils that have grievously blinded your vision, and, through the power born of your belief in the unity of God, scatter the idols of vain imitation. Enter, then, the holy paradise of the good-pleasure of the All-Merciful. Sanctify your souls from whatsoever is not of God, and taste ye the sweetness of rest within the pale of His vast and mighty Revelation, and beneath the shadow of His supreme and infallible authority.

 

- Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 142

17 June | p.m

It behoveth us, therefore, to make the utmost endeavor, that, by God's invisible assistance, these dark veils, these clouds of Heaven-sent trials, may not hinder us from beholding the beauty of His shining Countenance, and that we may recognize Him only by His own Self.

- Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 27

Besides all this, prayer and fasting is the cause of awakening and mindfulness and conducive to protection and preservation from tests.

- Abdu’l-Bahá, Baha'i World Faith - Abdu’l-Bahá Section, p. 368

17 June | a.m

O Thou Whose tests are a healing medicine to such as are nigh unto Thee, Whose sword is the ardent desire of all them that love Thee, Whose dart is the dearest wish of those hearts that yearn after Thee, Whose decree is the sole hope of them that have recognized Thy truth!

- Baha'u'llah, Prayers and Meditations by Baha'u'llah, p. 220

My only joy in this swiftly-passing world was to tread the stony path of God and to endure hard tests and all material griefs. For otherwise, this earthly life would prove barren and vain, and better would be death.

- Abdu’l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 226

16 June | p.m

But for the tribulations which are sustained in Thy path, how could Thy true lovers be recognized; and were it not for the trials which are borne for love of Thee, how could the station of such as yearn for Thee be revealed?

- Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 94

O thou maid-servant of God! Become thou not extinguished by the winds of tests, but rather become ignited and be more happy, for then thou wilt become a tried believer.

- Abdu’l-Bahá, Tablets of Abdu’l-Bahá v3, p. 591

16 June | a.m

O SON OF MAN!

Should prosperity befall thee, rejoice not, and should abasement come upon thee, grieve not, for both shall pass away and be no more.

- Baha'u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words, no. 52

As to the second question: the tests and trials of God take place in this world, not in the world of the Kingdom.

- Abdu’l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 194

15 June | p.m

Know ye that trials and tribulations have, from time immemorial, been the lot of the chosen Ones of God and His beloved, and such of His servants as are detached from all else but Him… Such is God's method carried into effect of old, and such will it remain in the future. Blessed are the steadfastly enduring, they that are patient under ills and hardships, who lament not over anything that befalleth them, and who tread the path of resignation…

 

- Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 129

15 June | a.m

O SON OF BEING!

Seek a martyr's death in My path, content with My pleasure and thankful for that which I ordain, that thou mayest repose with Me beneath the canopy of majesty behind the tabernacle of glory.

- Baha'u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words

The labourer cuts up the earth with his plough, and from that earth comes the rich and plentiful harvest. The more a man is chastened, the greater is the harvest of spiritual virtues shown forth by him... The prayer of the prophets of God has always been, and still is: Oh God, I long to lay down my life in the path to Thee! I desire to shed my blood for Thee, and to make the supreme sacrifice.

- Abdu’l-Bahá, Paris Talks, p. 50

14 June | p.m

Meditate profoundly, that the secret of things unseen may be revealed unto you, that you may inhale the sweetness of a spiritual and imperishable fragrance, and that you may acknowledge the truth that from time immemorial even unto eternity the Almighty hath tried, and will continue to try, His servants, so that light may be distinguished from darkness, truth from falsehood, right from wrong, guidance from error, happiness from misery, and roses from thorns. Even as He hath revealed: "Do men think when they say 'We believe' they shall be let alone and not be put to proof?"[Qur’án 29:2]

 

- Baha'u'llah, The Kitáb-i-Íqán, p. 7

14 June | a.m

O SON OF MAN!

If adversity befall thee not in My path, how canst thou walk in the ways of them that are content with My pleasure? If trials afflict thee not in thy longing to meet Me, how wilt thou attain the light in thy love for My beauty?

- Baha'u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words, no. 50

Every believer needs to remember that an essential characteristic of this physical world is that we are constantly faced with trials, tribulations, hardships and sufferings and that by overcoming them we achieve our moral and spiritual development; that we must seek to accomplish in the future what we may have failed to do in the past...

- From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer, January 9, 1977

13 June | p.m

O SON OF MAN!

My calamity is My providence, outwardly it is fire and vengeance, but inwardly it is light and mercy. Hasten thereunto that thou mayest become an eternal light and an immortal spirit. This is My command unto thee, do thou observe it.

 

- Baha'u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words, no. 51

13 June | a.m

Yea, such things as throw consternation into the hearts of all men come to pass only that each soul may be tested by the touchstone of God, that the true may be known and distinguished from the false.

- Baha'u'llah, The Kitáb-i-Íqán, p. 52

The necessity and the particularity of the assured and believing ones is to be firm in the Cause of God and withstand the hidden and evident tests.…Anybody can be happy in the state of comfort, ease, health, success, pleasure and joy; but if one will be happy and contented in the time of trouble, hardship and prevailing disease, it is the proof of nobility.

- Abdu’l-Bahá, Baha'i World Faith - Abdu’l-Bahá Section, p. 363

12 June | p.m

A single breeze of His affluence doth suffice to adorn all mankind with the robe of wealth; and one drop out of the ocean of His bountiful grace is enough to confer upon all beings the glory of everlasting life. But inasmuch as the divine Purpose hath decreed that the true should be known from the false, and the sun from the shadow, He hath, therefore, in every season sent down upon mankind the showers of tests from His realm of glory.

 

- Baha'u'llah, The Kitáb-i-Íqán, p. 53

12 June | a.m

O SON OF BEING!

Busy not thyself with this world, for with fire We test the gold, and with gold We test Our servants.

- Baha'u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words, no. 55

Tests are benefits from God, for which we should thank Him. Grief and sorrow do not come to us by chance, they are sent to us by the Divine Mercy for our own perfecting.

- Abdu’l-Bahá, Paris Talks, p. 50

10 June | p.m

Be thou as the breezes of the All-Merciful for the trees of the realm of existence and foster their growth through the potency of the Name of thy Lord, the Just, the All-Informed.

- Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 137

The Kingdom of God is founded upon equity and justice, and also upon mercy, compassion, and kindness to every living soul. Strive ye then with all your heart to treat compassionately all humankind - except for those who have some selfish, private motive, or some disease of the soul. Kindness cannot be shown the tyrant, the deceiver, or the thief, because, far from awakening them to the error of their ways, it maketh them to continue in their perversity as before.

- Abdu’l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 158

10 June | a.m

It is better to guide one soul than to possess all that is on earth, for as long as that guided soul is under the shadow of the Tree of Divine Unity, he and the one who hath guided him will both be recipients of God's tender mercy, whereas possession of earthly things will cease at the time of death.

- The Báb, Selections from the Writings of the Báb, p. 75

His Holiness Christ says: Travel ye to the East and to the West of the world and summon the people to the Kingdom of God. Hence the mercy of God must encompass all humanity.

- Abdu’l-Bahá, Tablets of the Divine Plan, p. 31

9 June | p.m

To act like the beasts of the field is unworthy of man. Those virtues that befit his dignity are forbearance, mercy, compassion and loving-kindness towards all the peoples and kindreds of the earth.

- Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 215

Man was created to be merciful, he becomes a tyrant; he was created to be kind to all the children of men and given the capacity to confer life, but he becomes the destroyer of life.

- Abdu’l-Bahá, Divine Philosophy, p. 131

9 June | a.m

Say: Because He bore injustice, justice hath appeared on earth, and because He accepted abasement, the majesty of God hath shone forth amidst mankind.

- Baha'u'llah, The Kitáb-i-Aqdas, p. 76

Know that to do justice is to give to everyone according to his deserts… but when he [workman] has done no work and taken no trouble, he is given a gift: this is bounty… So Christ besought forgiveness for his murderers: this is called bounty.

- Abdu’l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions, p. 265

8 June | p.m

We exhort the loved ones of God to observe justice and fairness, and to do that which would prompt the friends of God to evince tender mercy and compassion towards each other. He is in truth the Counsellor, the Compassionate, the All-Bountiful. God grant that all men may be graciously aided to observe that which the Tongue of the One true God hath uttered.

 

- Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 134

8 June | a.m

The greatness of His mercy surpasseth the fury of His wrath, and His grace encompasseth all who have been called into being and been clothed with the robe of life, be they of the past or of the future.

- Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 130

The wrath of God is in the administration of His justice, both in this world and in the world to come. A God that is only loving or only just is not a perfect God. The divinity has to possess both of these aspects as every father ought to express both in his attitude towards his children. If we ponder a while, we will see that our welfare can be insured only when both of these divine attributes are equally emphasised and practiced.

- Shoghi Effendi, Arohanui - Letters to New Zealand, p. 32

7 June | p.m

No deed have I done, O my God, to merit beholding Thy face, and I know of a certainty that were I to live as long as the world lasts I would fail to accomplish any deed such as to deserve this favour, inasmuch as the station of a servant shall ever fall short of access to Thy holy precincts, unless Thy bounty should reach me and Thy tender mercy pervade me and Thy loving-kindness encompass me.

 

- The Báb, Selections from the Writings of the Báb, p. 191

 

7 June | a.m

The tenderness of Thy mercy, O my Lord, surpasseth the fury of Thy wrath, and Thy loving-kindness exceedeth Thy hot displeasure, and Thy grace excelleth Thy justice. Hold Thou, through Thy wondrous favors and mercies, the hands of Thy creatures, and suffer them not to be separated from the grace which Thou hast ordained as the means whereby they can recognize Thee.

- Baha'u'llah, Prayers and Meditations by Baha'u'llah, p. 135

Should we disobey God and work against His commands He will view our acts in the light of justice and punish us for it. That punishment may not be in the form of fire, as some believe, but in the form of spiritual deprivation and degradation. This is why we read so often in the prayers statements such as "God do not deal with us with justice, but rather through thy infinite mercy.”

- Shoghi Effendi, Arohanui - Letters to New Zealand, p. 32

6 June | p.m

We entreat God to deliver the light of equity and the sun of justice from the thick clouds of waywardness, and cause them to shine forth upon men. No light can compare with the light of justice. The establishment of order in the world and the tranquillity of the nations depend upon it.

 

- Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 28