I just picked up an audio book from the library by Elaine Pagels titled The Gospel of Thomas. My interest in the teachings attributed to Jesus ebbs and flows, and the Christmas Spirit is flowing today. Here's a couple of verses that I found particularly instructive and resonant with a brief note of the meaning that arises today:

22 ...Jesus said to them, "When you make the two into one, and when you make the inner like the outer and the outer like the inner, and the upper like the lower, and when you make male and female into a single one, so that the male will not be male nor the female be female, when you make eyes in place of an eye, a hand in place of a hand, a foot in place of a foot, an image in place of an image, then you will enter [the kingdom]."

Non-dual unity.

29 Jesus said, "If the flesh came into being because of spirit, it is a marvel, but if spirit came into being because of the body, it is a marvel of marvels. Yet I marvel at how this great wealth has come to dwell in this poverty."

Ghost in the machine versus emergent spirit inseparable from the machine. Either way, we do not appreciate what we have and always pine for that which we do not have.

37 His followers said, "When will you appear to us and when shall we see you?" Jesus said, "When you strip without being ashamed and you take your clothes and put them under your feet like little children and trample them, then [you] will see the son of the living one and you will not be afraid."

Authenticity is necessary but not sufficient for realization. Realization entails letting go of self and cultural constructs and seeing Reality with fresh eyes.