Assuredly it was the manna of Truth and not merely the material loaf which Christ Jesus had in thought when he prayed the Father, saying (Matt. 6: 11), "Give us this day our daily bread." Supplying the spiritual interpretation of this prayer, Mary Baker Eddy writes in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 17), "Give 'us grace for to-day; feed the famished affections."
Christian Science offers to the hungry world this spiritual nutriment in the true idea of God and of man as His reflection. Famine for want of truly knowing God will be overcome, temporal needs of nourishment, clothing, and shelter will be met as individually and collectively mortals assimilate and digest this divine food. The remedy for a low standard of living lies in understanding and experiencing selfless spiritual life. Partaking of God's nature, clothing himself with Mind's spiritual qualities and ideas, knowing his true selfhood to be forever sheltered under divine Love's all-encompassing wing, the practicing Christian Scientist demonstrates as unreal the lack and limitation which come from a false, material sense of existence and the poverty of mortal thought.
To all mankind, in rich overflow, the grace of God is given. Through the revelation of divine Love, Mrs. Eddy presented Christian Science to humanity. Through its application we are enabled to prove the nothingness of evil, the allness of God, good, and the sufficiency of Soul to meet the human need. It is in this Science that we behold the glory of God and of spiritual man, forever reflecting divine Love. Holding this view, we are equipped to reject as unreal the unlikeness of Spirit, called a sinful mortal. Partaking of this grace, we find the famished affections fed, fleshly ills healed, hearts softened, homes united, natures sweetened, life purposes unselfed.
No longer do we think of man as mortal, hoping for heaven, believing in a life apart from God. For by the grace of God in Christian Science we recognize as real only the perfect man, the replete, wholly spiritual representation of the one infinite Mind. To behold, however, is not enough. This glory of Soul is expressed in us only in so far as we manifest the patience, wisdom, goodness of God, the joy and strength of Spirit, the affluence of Love, the spiritual intelligence of Mind.
Our heavenly Father-Mother certainly bestowed His sufficiency upon our beloved Leader. This is evidenced in her spirituality, spontaneity of thought, unerring guidance in providing the Manual of The Mother Church and in founding the Christian Science movement upon the Rock, Christ. Let us not be merely academic students of Mrs. Eddy's writings; rather let us follow her example by studying the letter, and by also being true exponents of the spiritual power, gentleness, and grace of God which her works reveal.
Without this influx of spirituality, how can we hope to eliminate the hate and fear, the irritation, indecision, thoughtlessness, willfulness, and pride, which hide perfection, hinder healing, and handicap our reflection of the divine? Christian Science insists that this manifestation of God in human consciousness is the only practical way in which His allness and evil's nothingness can be proved.
The repetition of statements from Science and Health as if they were formulas is no recipe for growth in grace. We truly eat the bread of God and drink the wine of heaven only as we partake of the divine Life and imbibe the spirit of Truth. In connection with this feast of Soul our early morning study of the Lesson-Sermons from the Christian Science Quarterly takes on new significance. This is our opportunity to share with prophet, apostle, and Wayshower the satisfying divine idea of man's indissoluble oneness with his perfect Principle, God.
When we come to this table of Truth in sincerity and humility, our worldly cares will drop away, and our affections will be fed as we set them wholly upon reflecting the grace and glory of divine Love. Inspired by this communion with God, we can rise and go into the world prepared for the day's demands of the healing work, worthwhile human endeavors, and zestful spiritual living.
Careful examination discloses the grand fact that in every activity of the Christian Science movement there is evidence of God's grace in caring for our spiritual need. With desire for increased grace, those who subscribe for and read the Christian Science literature, attend the lectures, use the Reading Rooms, accept the duties and obligations of membership in a branch church and in The Mother Church, are thereby inevitably attaining spirituality and thus have proof of God's tender care. Repudiating the notion that any merely ritualistic religion, materialistic philosophy, or science will ever meet the hunger and thirst for righteousness, Mrs. Eddy writes (ibid., p. 67), "Grace and Truth are potent beyond all other means and methods." Surely it was this unselfed love and spiritual understanding of God flooding human hearts and flowing into human lives to which Paul referred when he said (II Cor. 9:8), "God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work."
An elderly woman who had scoffed at the idea of a loving God who is able to supply the needs of mankind was in distress. Hurrying to her aid, her friend, a student of Christian Science, asked himself if this woman could expect to be helped. And the answer came, "Yes." And why? Because God is illimitable, unchanging Love, whose divine nature includes no grudges, holds no animosities, feels no disdain, but with warmth and tenderness ever waits to bless even those who curse Him.
The student further reasoned that since he was endeavoring to reflect the divine nature, he should practice Christian Science by clearing his own thought and seeing as unreal the material concept of this woman who seemed to manifest the helplessness and decadence of physical sense. In this Science he had learned to know as real only that spiritual manhood and womanhood which coexist with God and express forever the immortal character, ideas, and consciousness of Spirit, Mind. During the day proofs of Gods love were so clearly evidenced that the woman said: "I'll never doubt God again. His angel has guarded me, and He has met my need." From that day she accepted Christian Science. Surely in this experience* there is encouragement for those who in this Science are working to dissolve with spiritual grace the adamant of material-mindedness.
Here let us consider how, in its universal application and practical appeal, the grace of God brings light and healing to this generation. For instance, at national councils, in human relations, during business meetings, the exercise of love, tact, tolerance, and good humor oftentimes suffices to relieve tense situations. In the dark and difficult days of the last few years, has there not appeared on earth the practical wisdom which has led to the effective defense of the democratic way of life which offers security for the spread of Christian Science? Have we not observed how, whether stationed at high or humble posts, alertness to one's duty to God and his fellow man speeds its exponent on an upward-soaring way?
The world owes much to the spiritual vision which restored to mankind the Science of Christ. It also owes a debt to the eternal vigilance of freedom-loving men which safeguards liberty and to the moral courage which masters adversity, holds fast to good, and leads out of darkness into light. In this bright appearing of transitional and spiritual qualities we have clear evidence of the abundant grace of God. The scientific proof of this makes us equal to the tasks which need to be performed. The study of this Science unfolds the nature of this healing and saving grace, reveals divine Love as its source, and enables us to let it shine in the earth.
The beloved disciple declared (John 1: 17), "The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." The Mosaic law of "an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth" would meet error with error. But Jesus proclaimed perfect Love as man's divine Principle; he acknowledged and adored good as the only power. This enabled him and his disciples not only to prove the unreality of evil but to show humanity the way of redemption from the barbarisms of ignorance and human will. The Master himself declared that the Ten Commandments are one and all obeyed through loving God as All and our neighbor as ourselves.
Through Christian Science the slumbering world is being awakened to grasp and utilize the Christ, Truth. As Christian Scientists, let us strive to exemplify Jesus' compassion, his clear-sightedness in stating eternal values, his freedom from hypocrisy, and his demonstration of Christ's ability to heal and save mankind. Perceiving the evidences of God with us, we shall find that human consciousness is lifted up as in Jesus' time to behold the spiritual import of the mighty proofs of God's grace, the nothingness of materiality, and the allness of God, good. Surely His grace for today is enough to feed the famished affections, silence material sense, eliminate tumult and war, and establish the reign of divine Love on earth as it is in heaven.
