Easter day foretells the overcoming of evil and all its claim to Life or Intelligence. In the new birth, there must be many conflicts with seeming claims of evil. The idea is infinite, and the birth slow. Mortals are in this matrix of materiality, and as spiritual consciousness breathes through its darkness, the resurrection is going on, and we rise out of our dead selves into newness of life. There is no royal road to spiritual freedom. The resurrection has begun, and we are all partakers just so far as we die to evil and live to good,—overcoming pride and self-love, anxiety, fear, anger, and malice. The simple story of the few faithful followers of Jesus is pathetic as we go with them in thought through this experience. They had not perceived the spiritual idea as sons of God, but were true to the light they had, clinging in love to the personal Jesus. They mourned for their Lord as one indeed lost to them, yet there was, with the despair, a hope that in some way his prophecy would be verified.
It was the women who first went to find their Lord, showing that to woman the risen Truth was to be first revealed. They took with them spices and ointments, types of thought fragrant with love, purity, and devotion. Such a mental state would insure freedom from obstacles. They found the stone rolled away from the door of the sepulchre,—there was no hindrance,—the angelic ministry of love had removed all barriers. Jesus had met and conquered every obstruction to the seekers after Truth. He had, during his ministry, exposed the works of evil, and in the three days had proved Life deathless and Love the master of all human passions. On entering in, they found not the body of the Lord Jesus, and they were perplexed as they looked about them. They had followed their highest, best understanding of how to find their Lord. This made the way possible for a higher revelation of Truth. In their perplexity, no doubt, visions of the possibilities of the fulfilment of Jesus' words overshadowed them, as they were about to enter the portals of a clearer spiritual apprehension, and they tarried as if waiting, when the two angels in dazzling apparel were perceived, and the illumination of immortality dawned upon them. Their remembrance of the lessons of Jesus was brightened by the consciousness that Life is immortal—eternal.
What is this sepulchre to us? Is it the belief of pleasure and reality in the things of materiality where Truth seems bound? Is it all that the world offers of riches, honor, and power? Every hope which is placed on these temporal conditions will prove emptiness,—riches take to themselves wings,—friends of the world will forsake,—honors are fleeting. Then we must behold an empty sepulchre! When Jesus was offered homage and worship, he said, "Call no man good upon the earth, there is none good but God, worship Him." Look back of personality and see the Infinite idea, God's thought, if you would find Truth, the risen Christ. Think of the millions of human beings who try to find happiness in human devices, whether the desire be for wealth, learning, or position. Experience is a dear school, yet how few will learn Truth except through suffering. In this extremity is found God's opportunity if the lesson is perceived and the tired, heart-aching child can turn to the unfailing source of peace and joy. Christian Science comes to each of us in the nature of an unfolding. There are times when the tempter will say to us, among other things, "This new thought is too exacting, it asks of us more time than we are able to give." Let us settle this by living up to the highest light we have, adding the little every day's gain,—placing our thought on Truth, guided by Love,—"line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little." Our work is gradual. We are told in our text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," and our dear Mother has reasoned it all out in the line of Truth, that "progress is born of experience," and if we have proved these gains, they are to be relied upon with earnestness, and they will stand by us when we are called in time of need. If we try to follow Jesus, we must know that what he taught was simple Truth, and simply taught, but it was Truth. Now all this is an unfolding, a gradual opening up of spiritual graces and infinite possibilities. And let us remember that humility is the stepping-stone to a higher recognition of Deity, whereby we discern the divine power of Truth and Love to heal the sick.
