When Jesus declared, "I can of mine own self do nothing," and "the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works," he enlightened humanity on the perplexing subject of responsibility by liberating them from belief in the heavy burden of personal obligation and dependence upon one's self or others. Yet in spite of these inspired words and Jesus' scientific proof of their truth, the term responsibility has become so closely associated with care and anxiety that the original meaning of the word as "the act of responding, readiness to answer or reply" has gradually been lost sight of. Thus joy seldom accompanies the world's thought of responsibility. With Jesus responsibility was, however, obedient, spontaneous responsiveness to divine Love; it was absolute reliance upon God, the Principle of harmony, immortality, spiritual law; it was joyful acceptance of the exact, scientific rules of infinite Truth, Life, and Love, and absolute confidence in the ultimate victory of an accurate application of these rules.
So implicit, simple, and peaceful was Jesus' trust in good, that, in the face of seemingly insurmountable difficulties and the great variety of problems which presented themselves to him for solution, he remained mentally undisturbed and superior to suggestions of error tempting him to rely on his own strength and understanding. And because the Master found this unconditional reliance upon God difficult to impart to others, until their spiritual insight had been sufficiently awakened to perceive it for themselves, he pointed to his works—the results of his absolute faith and obedience—as conclusive evidence of the power which the true sense of responsibility bestows on man.
Through Christian Science the spiritual sense of man's unity with God, his scientific place in Mind, and his definitely individual work as divine idea have become apparent, and because of this great revelation, Jesus' inspired words in reference to responsibility have for us to-day a message of continued joy, strength, peace, and spiritual enlightenment. For by scientifically putting into practice the true sense of responsibility as "the act of responding, readiness to answer or reply," that is, by making our thoughts obediently responsive to Principle,—reflecting, through spiritual understanding, the nature and attributes of God, divine Love, Truth, Life, and being ever ready to answer the call to service, ever ready to reply to the demand for higher qualifications necessary in this work, —we are leaning upon the inexhaustible resources of divine Mind, and, in consequence, are prepared to witness the demonstration of healing activity, intelligence, power, and love.
