METAPHYSICAL MEETING, March 17, 2014
Contents
| - Topic | |
| - Call to the meeting | |
| - Readings | |
| - Participant contribution A | |
| - Participant contribution B |
Topic
Spiritual progress: What does it mean?
Call to the meeting
Our monthly metaphysical meetings during the past five years have provided a sound basis for spiritual progress. The metaphysical work you have done has been effective. We thank you for your dedication to the metaphysical support of our church and its activities.
Our next metaphysical meeting on Monday, March 17 at 7:30 p.m. in the Reading Room will address specifically the idea of spiritual progress with the title:
Spiritual Progress: What Does It Mean?
You are invited to contemplate this topic during the upcoming weeks. All are encouraged to attend the meeting in person or by phone/Skype. Some people prepare short papers, but others attend just to listen or share spontaneously. Spiritual unfoldment and study styles are individual.
Readings
Matt. 16:13-19 (to 1st :)
SH 137:8-21, 26-22
Mis. 140:25-9
Participant contribution A
I made two questions: What is the basis, or foundation, for spiritual progress for our church? and, How do we measure our spiritual progress? I think the first question is easier to answer than the second. Then I thought, “What is the basis, or foundation, for our church?” If this question is answered, we will know how to measure our progress. Of course, measuring spiritual progress is highly individual. None of us is qualified to measure the spiritual progress of another. However, our individual spiritual progress contributes to our collective spiritual progress as a branch church membership. I should add that the collective spiritual progress supports each one of us. It’s Love being reflected in love.
We are modern-day apostles of Christ. Today, we fulfill the role of the original 12 in spreading the gospel of Truth. I like to ask myself, “Would I have recognized [and do I now] that Jesus was the Messiah? Would I have declared it as firmly as Peter? Would I then have been worthy to receive the keys of the kingdom?” These are big questions, and they define the role of our branch church. It is based on the foundation of Christ healing. We are declaring it to our community through our lectures, reading room, services, and Sunday School, and also through our individual silent prayers. People in the community don’t have to come for our foundational activities to bless them. Our collective thought is raising the community’s collective thought. Of course, we’d prefer that our services are full and our lectures standing room only, but we must know and continue to affirm that God’s goodness is present and is noticed.
Yet, we can’t measure spiritual progress by human activity or numbers of participants. Mrs. Eddy wrote, “The progress of truth confirms its claims, and our Master confirmed his words by his works” (S&H 94:17-18). Here’s an indicator of spiritual progress: healing, or proving what we preach. Last Wednesday, only four of us attended the testimony meeting. I was tempted to think, “If everybody who wants to give a testimony has done so by 8:45, do I end the service or do we sit there in silence?” I reversed that negative thought pretty quickly. The four of us filled the half hour with confirmation of the claims of truth.
Spiritual progress for our branch church isn’t necessarily proven by a new building or more efficient use of our land. Spiritual progress is demonstrated in the lives of our members. This collective demonstration will result in spiritual progress for our branch church.
Participant contribution B
The obvious question is, What is progress? In her writings, Mary Baker Eddy provides more than one answer to that question, although I particularly appreciate her statement that reads: “…progress is the law of God, whose law demands of us only what we can certainly fulfil” (S&H 233:6-7). That statement implies the spiritual relationship between God and man that is never absent, never broken. The mortal, material view of man may not acknowledge the fundamental spiritual nature of man as the likeness of infinite, eternal Mind, Sprit. But that’s the law Mrs. Eddy refers to in defining progress as “the law of God”. But when we insist upon that relationship as part of our fundamental being, then we free ourselves to express God’s fullness, not simply for the human to be blessed by God, but for the essential spiritual Allness of the divine Creator to be manifest.
That manifestation is always spiritual. It is never any other form. And yet when we perceive that it is the only real, then we find that completeness objectified in our human experience. And that includes the unfolding of progressive steps in everything with which our church is involved. We don’t have to wonder what we should do about this, that, or the other. Or what the next step should be. We do need to be receptive to the Christ speaking to human consciousness, guiding us collectively. That is spiritual progress.
Spiritual progress always takes us higher, to a deeper comprehension of what is already true, specifically about God, since God is All, is omnipresent, and omniscient. God knows all there is to know, and as His likeness we are led spiritually to know all we need to know in fulfilling God’s plan. God’s plan inevitably facilitates His own perfection, and we are essential parts of that infinite unfoldment.
A key realization is that if progress is not practical, it is not progress. In her Miscellaneous Writings, Mrs. Eddy states: “In Christian Science, progress is demonstration, not doctrine.” Which means it is inevitably a step-by-step towards perfection, the natural state of God and his likeness, man. Then Mrs. Eddy continues: “This Science is ameliorative and regenerative, delivering mankind from all error through the light and love of Truth. It gives to the race loftier desires and new possibilities … It touches mind to more spiritual issues, systematizes action, gives a keener sense of Truth and a stronger desire for it” (Mis. 235:8-17). Ah, spiritual progress!
That is, as we realize more of the law of God, the only Truth there can be, then our consciousness becomes spiritual. We see that our church is a wholly spiritual idea, already complete, and we are guided to do whatever is needed to bring that out in our facility, our actions, our community.