In Churches of Christ, Scientist, the reading of the Lesson-Sermon, as given in the Christian Science Quarterly, brings comfort and healing not only to the congregation but to the Readers as well.
A Reader whose motive is service to God and man, whose whole heart is given to the Cause of Christian Science, knows that spiritual sense alone unfolds the inspiration necessary for his part in a right reading of these wonderful Lesson-Sermons; for it is through spiritual discernment that Truth is understood. And it is through spiritual sense that those who come to the service yearning for Truth receive it. In the oneness of good, or God, man is seen to be not material and imperfect, as superstition or mortal sense would claim him to be, but spiritual and perfect, as God, Spirit, made him. The pure spiritual discernment of the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy, enabled her to interpret the inspired Word of the Bible and to give it to mankind in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures."
In the Manual of The Mother Church Mrs. Eddy presents the standard of thought and conduct expected of those entrusted to read the Lesson-Sermon. In Article In, Section I, after emphasizing that Readers must spend a suitable amount of time in preparation for this reading, she adds, "They must keep themselves unspotted from the world,—uncontaminated with evil,—that the mental atmosphere they exhale shall promote health and holiness, even that spiritual animus so universally needed." The ability to fulfill these requirements, which may appear exacting to human sense, is the blessed prerogative of every Reader. In daily prayer and practice he must identify himself as spiritual man, the true selfhood, in which is no inadequacy or imperfection. As a compound idea, or complete reflection of divine Love, and of Truth, man is an expression of such qualities as love, intelligence, and purity. As a Reader recognizes these truths, he will find himself capable of giving a true rendition of the inspired Word.
