WHEN Christ Jesus and his twelve disciples were gathered in the large upper chamber to eat the Last Supper together, he talked tenderly to them of many things. "I will pray the Father," he promised them, "and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth"' (John 14:16, 17).
Referring to Jesus' words, Mrs. Eddy writes in Science and Health (p. 55): "This Comforter I understand to be Divine Science." The word translated "Comforter" in the King James Version of the Bible is in the original Greek Parakletos, one meaning of which is "one called alongside to help."
As Christian Scientists we are convinced that this Science is the Comforter because it is "alongside to help" in any problem. In Science and Health we find spiritual truths and definite rules which may be successfully applied to solve difficulties of any nature. We learn that there is one perfect, infinite God who is Mind, Soul, Spirit, Principle, Life, Truth, Love. We learn that man is spiritual and perfect, created by God in His image and likeness.
We learn that the real universe is likewise spiritual and perfect, the work of our perfect Father-Mother God. We learn that the material universe and material man are not true, in the absolute sense of that word, but are counterfeits of the real. We learn that by denying the evidence of the material senses and cultivating our spiritual senses, which tell us of divine reality, we can become conscious, here and now, of harmony instead of discord, of health instead of disease.
Many who, like the writer, have been born and reared in Christian Science homes have been comforted, cheered, supported, helped, and healed throughout their lives by this teaching. Many have proved the truth of Mrs. Eddy's statement in "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" (pp. 149, 150): "Remember, thou canst be brought into no condition, be it ever so severe, where Love has not been before thee and where its tender lesson is not awaiting thee. Therefore despair not nor murmur, for that which seeketh to save, to heal, and to deliver, will guide thee, if thou seekest this guidance."
Is it grief that is burdening our hearts? Then we may learn the "tender lesson" in Christian Science that the spiritual man of God's creating has never been born into matter, has never lived or died in matter. God's man has ever been at one with Him, incorporeal, infinite, eternally well, and whole, the very reflection of God Himself. As we draw closer to God, we draw closer to each other. Only in this spiritually mental way can we find and never lose each other.
Is it an inadequate sense of supply that troubles us? Let us summon Christian Science quickly to our side and be comforted by the spiritual facts that God eternally provides His children with an infinite abundance of good and that true substance consists of spiritual ideas.
One Christian Scientist and her daughter found their income seriously depleted during the depression. Turning to Christian Science, their Comforter, they looked away from the material situation to divine reality. Through spiritual sense, they saw themselves, not as impoverished mortals but as spiritual identities, children of God. They acknowledged God's tender care and provision and claimed their intelligence and usefulness by right of their reflection of divine Mind.
The effectiveness of these right ideas was soon apparent in their human experience. A way of making and marketing an unusual product occurred to them and furnished work which the mother could do in the home. Congenial employment was also forthcoming for the daughter. They were very grateful to God for the Comforter, which helped them through this trying period.
Perhaps a problem in human relationships presents itself to trouble our peace and rob us of our joy. Again, our Comforter is available to direct our thoughts away from the seeming mortal situation to the divine reality that the spiritual identities of all of us are at one with God, are ruled by the Christ, and are manifesting the love reflected from God Himself. The recognition of our at-one-ment with our Father-Mother God establishes the right relationship with our brother. The recognition of God's all-pervading love helps to dissipate the false consciousness of discord. Christian Science reveals to us that we are members of God's family, the sons and daughters of God, held in bonds of love. Our home life must, then, in Science and in Truth, be joyous, harmonious, infinitely satisfying. The acceptance and realization of these truths bring comfort, harmony, and joy to our human experience.
In case of accident or illness we can instantly call Christian Science "alongside to help." No matter what the discord, however large or small, we can enlist the services of our Comforter.
We can always declare that we are not ill because God did not make sickness and knows it not; therefore we need not fear it or experience it. Spiritual sense reveals to us our present perfection as ideas in Mind, not material but spiritual, under the government of the beneficent law of Love. How comforting it is to know that we can refuse to suffer for aught but sin! In accordance with the law of Love, only sin is punished; and punishment for sin ceases when we cease sinning.
We can call upon our Comforter to destroy sin as well as sickness. In the Bible we read that Christ Jesus loved righteousness and hated iniquity. We too must not only love righteousness but also hate iniquity. Unless sin is condemned, it is nourished in consciousness. Recognizing sin to be sin and turning from it with loathing, we aid in its destruction.
"Resist the devil, and he will flee from you," said James (4:7). Then he added: "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded." The acknowledgment that sin is erroneous and therefore not of God helps us to see that it has no real existence.
Christian Science strips sin of its false claims and reveals it to be a cruel illusion, without intelligence, presence, or power. But we must be consistent and not indulge sin while denying its reality. When we realize that there is no genuine pleasure in sin, we turn from it gladly to find the spiritual joy of life that is in and of God. Christian Science teaches us how to guard our thoughts: rejecting evil suggestions and welcoming the angel messages from God which beckon us away from materiality, we claim our heritage as imperishable and impeccable ideas of Soul.
Each one may prove for himself that Divine Science is the Comforter. Each will eventually learn that no matter what the problem may be, the right solution can be found when he intelligently and faithfully calls upon his Comforter to help him.
