THE earthly mission of Jesus was carried on among people steeped in materiality. He spoke of them as a "faithless and perverse generation," denounced their inability to discern the "signs of the times" even while visualizing the signs material, and told them of the wondrous works they might perform did they possess faith but as a grain of mustard seed.
The perverse generation that, having ears, heard not the spiritual import of his message has continued to exist. And to-day, as then, the world generally takes the literal meaning of the teachings of Jesus and of the Bible. The understanding faith, small even as a grain of mustard seed, which would enable mankind to gather the spiritual import of those teachings which Jesus said would not pass away even though every material symbol in the universe should fail, still seems lacking. In the fullness of time, however, Mary Baker Eddy provided that "key" to the Scriptures with which we may unlock the treasure house, acquaint ourselves consciously with God, and thereby remove every material concept which seemingly encompasses mankind. Throughout the ages the light of Truth has been shining in the darkness of human beliefs, but the darkness still does not comprehend it.
Of all the teachings of Christ Jesus, perhaps none has been so misinterpreted as has that regarding what constitutes loss and gain. And yet it is all so very clear when viewed in the light of the spiritual understanding which Christian Science gives. Jesus closes one of his parables, as told in the fourth chapter of Mark, with these words: "For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath." In Luke's gospel, eighth chapter (verse 18), the words "seemeth to have" are used, which bring out the spiritual import somewhat more clearly.
