METAPHYSICAL MEETING, December 15, 2008
Contents
| - Topic | |
| - Call to the meeting | |
| - Opening readings | |
| - Member contribution A | |
| - Member contribution B | |
| - Member contribution C |
Topic
The babe we are to cherish (Miscellaneous Writings, page 370)
Call to the meeting
The meeting of our members on November 17 brought out the peace that is apparent in our church, which is such a fertile foundation for moving forward to nurture and grow our branch church. In a slight variation of words based on the Glossary definition, one can think of church as the organization demonstrating the usefulness of spirituality in our community. That demonstration was one of the discussion-points at our meeting Monday, and it is the central emblem of our entire movement. I am thus proposing that we continue in that direction.
For the meeting on December 15th, it seems fitting to consider the
significance of Christmas, how it relates to the development of Christian Science in our community, and the cause of our branch church. Mary Baker Eddy wrote specifically about Christmas on several occasions.
One of them provides a specific focus that I propose for the December
meeting, in particular the final paragraph of “The Cry of
Christmas-Tide,” in Miscellaneous Writings, page 370:
“In different ages the divine idea assumes different forms, according to humanity’s needs. In this age it assumes, more intelligently than ever before, the from of Christian healing. This is the babe we are cherish. This is the babe that twines its loving arms about the neck of omnipotence, and calls forth infinite care from His loving heart.” The proposed topic for the December meeting is: The babe we are to cherish
Yes, this topic was discussed nicely at this week’s (November) meeting, but I propose making it the central theme in December. It rests at the heart of Christian Science, and is what differentiates it from traditional Christianity, and what empowers it. I propose that the December meeting be similar in format to the November meeting, with the following agenda:
1. Introduction and opening readings
2. Discussion of the metaphysical topic. While there is no particular
format for this discussion, each participant may wish to cover two areas: (a) Discussion of how you explored the topic, your revelations, (b) A metaphysical treatment for church based on the topic.
3. Conclusion and plans for any subsequent meeting(s).
The proposed topic provides opportunity to explore many aspects of the
healing demonstration that relates to church progress. It’s a highly
specific and even subtle topic, with multiple facets. To give one
example, we can be careful not just to address spiritual healing from
our individual Christian Science viewpoint, but also to consider how it
is received by our community, by receptive individuals, how it is a
natural element of Christian activity that therefore cannot be opposed
or ignored. Humanly, traditional churches and hence the community
generally regard man as created by God materially, whereas spiritual
healing arises from recognition of the wholly spiritual man.
We are all involved in parenting this “babe” of healing, and it is there to grow and benefit all who respond to its presence, to facilitate our individual and church growth. I look forward to a rewarding sharing of inspiration on this important subject. The occasion will also be a grand opportunity to prepare for Christmas.
Opening readings
Ps 66:5 (to :)
Ps 93:4
Isa 2:2 it shall,5 come
I Tim 4:12 be,16
No 41:3-8,19
No 42:5-11 (to ;)
No 44:4,28
No 45:24-10
No 46:19
Note: “No” refers to No and Yes, by Mary Baker Eddy.
Member contribution A
I’ve been thinking about the word “more” with regard to healing. Godfrey John has written a poem entitled, “Ask Soon”:
There’s one question
you’ve got to ask
yourself soon
It’s this:
“Do I want to find and feel
the fresh truth
of Christian Science
over again – to be absorbed
with this light – more than I want
to lose the dark
of pain or of grief, of crisis or hate?”
Ask soon.
I’ve seen
Lives made fully free
Out of the right
Answer to that one.
Referring to the New English Bible, the gospel of John, we see that Jesus poses this question to Peter, “…do you love me more than all else?” To cherish the babe of Christian healing, to me then, means more than seeking relief from a problem, so that I may return to “business as usual.” To truly cherish divine healing is to strive for what makes metaphysical healing possible, — in a word, ascension. I’m not referring here to the final act of ascension, but to the continuous, Christian process of rising above the erroneous testimony of material sense and staying in the consciousness of truth. Mrs. Eddy states in The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany:
To live so as to keep human consciousness in constant relation
with the divine, the spiritual, and the eternal, is to individualize
infinite power; and this is Christian Science. (p. 160)
I was reminded recently that healing is not really about fixing something; it is rather growing out of or ascending above misconceptions about being. My Christmas gift to the world is the prayer that we all wake up emphatically to the fact that we live eternally in Spirit as complete, compound ideas, that Christian Science makes it possible to work out from, and to increasingly live in the “kingdom of heaven.”
This may be more of a sermon than a prayer or treatment:
The Christ, or divine idea which bespeaks of that quintessential goodness and perfection, transcending and translating all materiality, is now pervasively active in consciousness, adjudicating, uplifting, and redeeming the minutiae of this self-appointed, material creation with the omnipotent radiance of spiritual order. Divine Truth, Life, and Love are winning over each and all. Are we not all tiring of error, the relentless old sin and sickness and death? O weary masses, Love is found in loving, Truth in humble honesty, and Life in the loss of mortal selfhood. God is your life and mind; you have no life of your own. You shine by borrowed light.
O churches, God did not create material man. The story of Adam and Eve is just that, an allegory illustrating the folly of belief in a material creation. Matter cannot be refined; a dream cannot be improved. All of us must begin again, each day. Because of the conspiring opinion of many minds, we need constant reminders. Start with God. Come back repeatedly to God, to that flawless Principle, perpetually governing every function of being. Ascend constantly out of the faulty fabric of mortal belief: “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” (2 Tim.) “Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.” (Isaiah) “Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.” (Ephesians)
My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for
the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.
— Psalm 130
Member contribution B
As I was pondering our family gathering for Christmas in Florida this year and praying for family unity and love, this topic of “the Babe to be cherished” fitted right in. What a better thought to hold with our wonderful family being together to celebrate Christmas, and holding close to our beliefs that mean so much to each of us at this time of year. The divine idea, the healing Christ, is the heart of Christmas, and with our family made up of several cultures and varying religious beliefs, it is an interesting combination. I enjoy and praise each member of our family for what beliefs they hold true, and I always hope they respect my faith as well.
We all try to emulate Jesus and act as he would. How would we act and what would we think if he were sitting right here with us tonight at our metaphysical meeting for our church? How would it change things?
I loved what Nathan Talbot had to say in his article in the December Journal. (See The Christian Science Journal, December 12, 2008, page 59.) He talks of modesty and majesty. Jesus was the demonstrator of power. He opened blind eyes. Leprosy disappeared with his touch. He lifted people right out of death. He was a spiritual giant. How could any of us think of literally following his example to heal? But, he called for it, he expected us to do greater works, — see John 14:12. WOW! Just having him in the room with us tonight would be awesome and humbling.
He was the ultimate servant, writes Mr. Talbot, and we called Him Master. He lived as a servant, washed feet, made breakfast, he broke bread in humble homes, he talked to farmers and fisherman. Christ Jesus' life was a profound melding of meekness and might of the human and the divine, of the man Jesus and the divinity of the Christ.
We don't need a majestic human life. Modesty, as Jesus expressed it, will do. It is our surrender to the Christ that infuses the humble person with the greatness. It is the Christ that everyone of us expresses and will allow us to demonstrate the majesty of the meekness. This will also be seen by our community and we can share it, just being modest.
Each day we pray for unfoldment to understand the Christ consciousness and experience the Christ coming in our hearts. When we become more of who we truly are, the reflections of God, His beloved child, we are humbled to act and pray to know our own Christlike nature and be at one with God. This allows us to love more — not only ourselves but others because without love we are nothing, empty, barren. With love we are full to the brim with goodness and joy and freedom to be God's perfect child. This freedom allows us to pray and heal and make this healing available to all mankind and have the universality and power of Christian healing.
Member contribution C
“The Cry of Christmas-tide” (Miscellaneous Writings, by Mary Baker Eddy, p. 369, explains that Christian healing is the babe we are to cherish. How do I cherish Christian healing? Isn’t it constantly knowing that all disease is a false belief acting mesmerically on the human body? That we don’t heal sick bodies; we know that disease is unreal, that God didn’t create us to be sick, that God didn’t send disease, that it is only a mortal mind suggestion, an aggressive mental suggestion, unreal in every way, a lie about man and a lie about God, since as God’s reflection we can only reflect perfect health, a consciousness pure and perfect. I can keep my consciousness filled with Truth and Love, standing porter at the door of thought, not letting in an single belief of disease.
In Miscellaneous Writings, page 4:24, we read: “It is often said, You must have a very strong will-power to heal, or, It must require a great deal of faith to make your demonstrations. When it is answered that there is no will-power required, and that something more than faith is necessary, we meet with an expression of incredulity. It is not alone the mission of Christian Science to heal the sick, but to destroy sin in mortal thought. This work well done will elevate and purify the race. It cannot fail to do this if we devote our best energies to the work.”
To cherish Christian healing, I must devote my best energies to the work. I must “destroy sin in mortal thought” — so that means in my thought first. I must not ever give the devil a voice. I must not repeat someone else’s false belief as if it were real or true. It is a lie, so why should I repeat a lie? No disease is true. No disease is real! If someone is suffering, it isn’t their fault. I must not blame them for entertaining a false belief about themselves. It is an aggressive mental suggestion and it isn’t true, so my job is to keep my own thought clear, and not to accept it about them or anyone else. No disease is real.
“Divine Science derives its sanction from the Bible, and the divine origin of Science is demonstrated through the holy influence of Truth in healing sickness and sin.” (Science and Health 146:23-26)
The Christ, Truth, has always been with us. Jesus embodied the Christ and showed us the way we should live in order to also embody this Christ, Truth. Get self out of the way! Live Christian Science. See our fellow man as reflections of God — putting no labels on anyone. See our fellow man as a rich, spiritual harvest. “The harvest truly is plenteous but the laborers are few.” Review testimonies, re-read Spiritual Healing and take note of how people came into Christian Science — a neighbor, a co-worker, a fellow student at college, a roommate, spouse, a mother-in-law.
We have the comforter! The Latin root confortare means “to strengthen”. The Comforter gives us strength. If we truly love our fellow man, we would want to share this great gift of Christian healing — given to us by Christ Jesus and revealed to this age by Mary Baker Eddy.
“...Christian healing confers the most health and makes the best men.” (Science and Health, viii 14-15) “...this Science must be demonstrated by healing.” (Science and Health 6:22) I must strive to be an “advanced thinker and devout Christian.” Even if rejected by medical theories and most people, “this does not affect the invincible facts.” Christian Science does heal. We can affirm this throughout a treatment. “...(it is) a revealed and practical Science.” It “remains inviolate for every man to understand and to practice.” (Science and Health 109:16)
Christian healing — this babe we are to cherish — shall be called “Wonderful.” Do I cherish Christian healing as wonderful, precious. What does it mean to cherish? It means: To hold or treat as dear, feel love for, to care for tenderly; to nurture: as to cherish a child. Also to treat something as valuable. A synonym is to “foster”, which implies sustaining and nourishing something with care, especially in order to promote, increase, or strengthen it.
See I Thes. 2:7. There Paul reminds the Thessalonians that “...we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children.” Mrs. Eddy cherished Christian healing.
“Denial of the possibility of Christian healing robs Christianity...” (Science and Health 134:17)
“Those, who are willing to leave their nets or to cast them on the right side for Truth, have the opportunity now, as aforetime, to learn and to practise Modern Christian healing.” (Science and Health 271:26) I must cast my net on the side of Truth, and learn and practice Christian healing. “...Christian healing...proves the nothingness of error, discord, by demonstrating the all-inclusiveness of harmonious Truth.” (Science and Health 351:24) Healing was the central activity of Jesus’ mission, so how could one profess to be a Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ, and deny that sickness, sin, and death can be healed?
Paraphrasing Science and Health p. 460: To the sick, their sickness is solid conviction, so it must “be dealt with through right apprehension of the truth of being.” We can’t be “mere smatterers” in Science. So one must love, nurture, cherish, support, treasure, strengthen Christian healing.
And from Science and Health 514: Understand the control which Love holds over all. “In Science, divine Love alone governs man...” This understanding “...supports Christian healing, and enables its possessor to emulate the example of Jesus.” Jesus is the example I am to follow.