Articles

Paul , the great Christian apostle, was a man who knew what he was talking about. He had seen a great light and heard Christ speaking to him.

I discovered recently how rewarding it is to set a goal, in our daily study and prayers, of consistently moving beyond mere belief in God—where thought often settles down too comfortably with familiar words —into spiritual understanding, where healing works are accomplished. Although this certainly takes an effort, particularly in emptying out all the material concerns that would clog thought, spiritual understanding is natural to us.

Last year, in a letter to Christian Science teachers and students associations, The Christian Science Board of Directors invited them to "share with the Clerk of The Mother Church the demonstrations you make individually or collectively in forging a pioneering path of relevance for church within your community. " The replies have been so inspiring that we wanted to share a sampling with readers of the Journal.

Back in 1986, when I completed my term as an Associate Editor for the religious periodicals, at first I felt totally liberated. No more writing on demand—those nearly-every-week editorials that the Editors are required to write for The Christian Science Journal, the Christian Science Sentinel, and The Herald of Christian Science.

Writing to heal Getting out the message of Christianity challenges each new generation of the followers of Christ Jesus. Our works—the living of the message—reach out to those looking for answers.

In 1989, when the public suddenly realized how dramatically the events in Central and Eastern Europe were coming to a head, my friends and I were regularly discussing the latest news. We wondered about the prospects and risks of rapid development that sometimes rides along on waves of alternating hope and disillusionment.

When attending a Wednesday evening testimony meeting in a Christian Science church, you may have heard a testifier state that he "handled" a certain illness and, in doing so, was healed. Did you go home wishing you understood more clearly his meaning when he said he "handled" it? One meaning of the word handle is to deal with, and when Christian Scientists say they "handle" evil or disease, they are talking about dealing with it prayerfully, metaphysically.

When Christ Jesus shared what is known as the last supper with his disciples, he went on to give them a "new" commandment: to love one another as he had loved them. But before telling them this, their Master had meekly washed their feet, saying: "If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.

A friend once confided that she often felt a secret sadness at family gatherings and celebrations because she dreaded the future when either she or her husband would pass on and the other one be left behind alone. Several times over the years she'd lost members of her family and each time had been devastated by grief and a sense of loss.

THE DAY OF PENTECOST The Master's words had been very clear just before he ascended. His disciples were to tell the story of his life and teaching, of his crucifixion and resurrection, everywhere —in Jerusalem, in all Judea, in the neighboring territories, "into all the world.