One evening, in the
home of Mr. and Mrs. Sutherland Maxwell in Montreal, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá summed up in
a few intensely poignant words both the crisis He saw engulfing humankind and
the sole means of deliverance:
“Today the world of
humanity is walking in darkness because it is out of touch with the world of
God. That is why we do not see the signs of God in the hearts of men.… When a
divine spiritual illumination becomes manifest in the world of humanity, when
divine instruction and guidance appear, then enlightenment follows, a new
spirit is realized within, a new power descends, and a new life is given. It is
like the birth from the animal kingdom into the kingdom of man. When man
acquires these virtues, the oneness of the world of humanity will be revealed.…
Then will the justice of God become manifest, all humanity will appear as the
members of one family, and every member of that family will be consecrated to
cooperation and mutual assistance.”
- The Universal House of Justice (From a
message dated 20 July 2000 addressed to the Friends Gathered at the Youth
Conference in Vancouver, 20-24 July 2000)
