Jesus demonstrated on the cross that life is made continuous and becomes indestructible, when its quality is love. Not once did he say, but as the record declares he kept saying, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." The bitterest form of error, Pharisaic injustice and brutality, could not destroy his sense of Love; and so none of the efforts of error could destroy his life. Before the wrong judge he maintained the dignity of silence. To have answered would have been to have involved the judges in worse injustice. He "held his peace," and in that sanctuary preserved his good will. The silence of peace is the right thing before the judge who is wrong. The demonstration of love to the Pharisees who crucified Jesus portends eternal life, for such love could not be manifested unless it were the reflection of the Divine. This attitude of meekness brings us into safety. All must go well with us if we are "meek and lowly in heart." Why? Because then we know Love which is life.
What is the "murderer from the beginning" but the animal magnetism which shows itself as hatred,—self-righteousness ever "despising others"? Whatever destroys love is a killing sin. Love gives life as we find in the healing: and the effort of error is to perplex and annoy the healer that he may lose his sense of love. Let us be wise in discerning this, lest we be led into any, even transient, animosity to relatives, medical attendants, persecuting attorneys, or others who misrepresent and interfere. It is error seeking to kill the patient by diverting from him the reflection in love of the Love divine.
Let us ever be aware of the perpetual effort of error to destroy love. Is there a field where there are not some complications? Does any earnest worker stand forth unharassed by envy? Have we not all some foe who knows of weak joints in our armor and directs his shafts thither, and we say it is possible to love every one but him? What are these complexities and rivalries to teach us? How are we to draw out the poisoned arrow of jealousy, or shake off the viper of ingratitude and "feel no hurt"? These surely are but occasions for learning from Love, and for proving its life-giving power. How better can one rise above hatred than by having to keep saying, "Love is the only reality and power;" and needing to prove it by perpetually forgiving those who transgress against him, "not until seven times; but until seventy times seven;" that is, when the brother does not come to him and say, "I repent." but goes on justifying his course by "handling the word of God deceitfully."
