Editorials

“What if everything is actually OK?” This question was arresting. Things sure didn’t feel OK.

One of the most frequently quoted statements of Christ Jesus’ teachings is: “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” ( John 8:32 ). It is preceded by this qualifying statement: “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed” ( John 8:31 ).

Shortly before his crucifixion and resurrection, Christ Jesus spoke to his disciples about continuing his mission after he was no longer with them. He instructed them to follow his commandments and promised them a Comforter that would enable them to carry his work forward.

Every member of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and every member of a Christian Science branch church can heal. Indeed, every individual can heal themselves and others, since in truth, God is the only healer, and the capacity to demonstrate God’s power is inherent in our spiritual makeup as children of God—a capacity just waiting to be discovered and cultivated.

Sometime around 700 bc the prophet Isaiah said, “And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more” ( Isaiah 2:4 ).   Fast-forward to the early 20th century and Isaiah’s words, if read as a literal prophecy, still weren’t realized.

The purpose of everything Christ Jesus said and did was to make people see and feel the vividness of the kingdom of heaven, or the supremacy and actuality of God, good, in their lives. This good news of Spirit’s power and sovereignty may have initially seemed like some far-off thing that could only be hoped for, and very much separate from their daily lives.

No one was stopping to help the man. The student wanted to stop, but he was headed for the last exam of his last year in seminary—a final he had to pass in order to accept a badly needed job.

At this time of year , many of us reflect on our lives and resolve to do better. We may consider the example of individuals we admire, and then attempt to model their good qualities.

It can be pretty easy to think of the story of Jesus’ nativity in the Gospels in terms of a series of enormously difficult obstacles that were overcome through a seemingly impossible series of events. The account ends with the “miraculous” appearing of God’s Son in the form of a vulnerable-looking baby—the Christ child—who, even after being born, still has to contend with a king determined to do away with him.

Compassion moves us in a lot of different ways, perhaps especially during the holidays. People volunteer at food banks, donate toys, serve meals in shelters, or carry out other, unseen kindnesses.