The holy Manifestations of God were sent down to make
visible the oneness of humanity. For this did They endure unnumbered ills and
tribulations, that a community from amongst mankind’s divergent peoples could
gather within the shadow of the Word of God and live as one, and could, with
delight and grace, demonstrate on earth the unity of humankind. Therefore must
the desire of the friends be this, to bring together and unify all peoples,
that all may receive a generous drink of this pure wine from this cup that is
‘tempered at the camphor fountain.’ Let
them make the differing populations to be as one and induce the hostile and murderous
kindreds of the earth to love one another instead. Let them loose from their
shackles the captives of sensual desires and cause the excluded to become
intimates of the mysteries. Let them give to the bereft a share of the
blessings of these days; let them guide the portionless to inexhaustible
treasure. This grace can come about through words and ways and deeds that are
of the Unseen Kingdom but, lacking such, it can never be. - ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’)
