As the Bethlehem babe was born in humble surroundings in the silence of a starlit night, so the dawn of a spiritual idea appears meekly and quietly in the thought of the watcher and listener. It is felt as a gentle presence, bringing peace. The peace so often felt in the world at the Christmas season is in reality present at all times, everywhere, for all who understand its true origin and the healing it brings.
In the ninth chapter of Isaiah, the prophet speaks of the dimness and darkness of the human battleground where good and evil seem to strive. He draws a sharp distinction between the struggles of mortals in the flesh, where every battle is "with confused noise," ending in annihilation, and the dawn of the light of truth, which is to come with the expected Messiah, under whose government peace and righteousness are to be established. "For," writes the prophet, "unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."
In an age when it seems difficult to choose the way of wisdom, or even to recognize which is the lesser of two evils in human affairs, there can be no promise of greater comfort and relief than that of the coming of one at whose feet every burden can be laid, and who is willing and able to take "the government... upon his shoulder."
Through Christian Science we have come to understand how this Son, the spiritual reflection of God, has come to the receptive heart through all ages. Mrs. Eddy expresses the thought as follows on page 333 of Science and Health: "The advent of Jesus of Nazareth marked the first century of the Christian era, but the Christ is without beginning of years or end of days. Throughout all generations both before and after the Christian era, the Christ, as the spiritual idea,—the reflection of God,—has come with some measure of power and grace to all prepared to receive Christ, Truth."
The spiritual idea was expressed in its fullness to human understanding by Christ Jesus. Through his life, his teaching, and his healing works the Scriptures were illumined and the divine idea, man, and his relationship to God were manifested. What does this mean individually to each one of us? It means that wherever there seems to be a problem, a doubt, or distress of any nature, we now have a guiding light, a standard, and a measuring rod in the Christ-example.
Jesus did not leave his followers scattered and isolated when he ascended out of human sight. He established a church. When Peter showed that he had recognized the Messiah by his answer to Jesus' question, "Whom say ye that I am?" (Matt. 16:15), Jesus said to him: "Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
The small band of Jesus' followers became the nucleus of all those who in ages to come were to accept the fact of the Messiahship of Christ Jesus and advance his church through obedience to his example and teaching. His church is not based on a system of rites and ceremonies, but rests on the comfort and assurance with which his followers are imbued when they realize the spiritual relationship of man to God and the consequent perfection of the real man. Through this spiritual realization, each one may feel in his human experience his close relationship with God and unite with all who recognize the true Church. Thus Christ's followers carry out the Master's mission in the world.
In this age the student of Christian Science finds peace and refuge in the wide embrace of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, and its branches. Here he joins with those who are rising step by step out of the confusion of material beliefs. In the dimness of human argument, he turns to the Bible for enlightenment and finds impartial judgment; and he learns from the Epistles that the early disciples spoke frequently of peace in connection with God. This peace is available to all who seek it, and it is the most powerful weapon in the world for those who long to play their part in bringing peace on earth and brotherly love to all mankind.
It is when we listen to God in secret prayer that we most clearly hear His guidance. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught his followers how to pray. He said (Matt. 6:6), "When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly." What is this visible reward? Is it not that we then find ourselves united with our fellow workers in Christ, acting in harmony with them? We have been listening to the one Mind which was in Christ Jesus. We go forward with courage along the road which has been revealed to us and find that necessary human healings and adjustments follow naturally.
Peace is found in the open among people, not in seclusion. Peace is not the absence of movement, but rather the presence of harmonious activity. When we are most aware of the gentle presence of peace we are most likely to be called upon to help our neighbor or to fulfill some rewarding, and often demanding, labor of love. It is the writer's experience that the more the consciousness of the truth that brings peace occupies her thinking, the more her days are filled with useful activity.
Paul wrote to the members of the young church at Philippi, "The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:7). We too can rest assured that this same peace "which passeth all understanding" is present here and now for us all.
In "A Christmas Sermon" on pages 161 to 168 of "Miscellaneous Writings" Mrs. Eddy, speaking of the reappearing of the spiritual idea of sonship, states the answer to the question, "Is he wonderful?" in these words (p. 167): "His works thus prove him. He giveth power, peace, and holiness; he exalteth the lowly; he giveth liberty to the captive, health to the sick, salvation from sin to the sinner—and overcometh the world!"
