Go thy way, thy son liveth

The healing of the nobleman's son is found in the Gospel of John. It is the first healing mentioned specifically following the changing of the water into wine at the wedding feast. After that incident, word of his activities had begun to pass from village to village. It had reached a certain nobleman in Capernaum, who hearing that Jesus had returned to the area, sought him out to heal his sick child.

Some Bible commentaries think this man was Herod's stewart, whose wife was among the women that later ministered to Jesus from their own personal means. There must have been remarkable healings being attributed to the Master for this wealthy and influential man to leave the bedside of his dying son to ask for aid.

Jesus' response seems a bit stern. "Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe". The father did not come seeking teaching and instruction, with a desire to change his own thoughts, but only to get healing for his child, a healing no one else could have provided.

Despite the comment, the father urges Jesus to come back with him. He links the healing work with the physical presence of the healer, quite unlike the Centurion who will later understand that Jesus has but to speak the word and his servant will be healed. This father does not believe that Jesus could raise the dead, so he urges him to go with him before things get to that.

Jesus does not consent to go with him but sends him on his way with the assurance that the child will not die, but lives. The father is content with this so, in effect, this is a double healing for now the father's fear has been healed. He believes the word Jesus has spoken, expecting to find his child recovering.

As the nobleman is returning home, confident of the healing, he is met by his servants, come with news of his son, saying he lives. The father asks when the boy began to get better and they reply that at a certain time the fever left him altogether, no lingering after effects. Then he knew it had occured when Jesus told him the boy lived.

How many of us, seeking the help of a practitioner, would be willing to 'go our way' after being assured the need has been met, the healing was complete? The Christ is every bit as present today as it was then. The power of the word is every bit as effective here as it was in Galilee.

In Science and Health Mrs. Eddy writes: "Divine Love always has met and always will meet every human need. It is not well to imagine that Jesus demonstrated the divine power to heal only for a select number or for a limited period of time, since to all mankind and in every hour, divine Love supplies all good:. (S&H 494)

The whole household had certainly been aware of the crisis and the journey to seek aid. Perhaps they had all been praying for this miracle while the nobleman was away. Imagine the reunion when he returned and could confirm the healing coinciding with Jesus' word. That whole household believed and that may have explained his wife's support of Jesus' ministry following this event. Are we as supportive of the Christ when our need has been met? Are we as confident that the Christ can heal with a word? Are we ready to 'go our way', get up out of that sickbed, go back to our daily routine, knowing that we have appealed to divine Love and the human need has been completely and fully met with no time necessary for recovery?

It certainly is something to think about.

A fresh look at Mary washing Jesus' feet

I love it when there is a fresh way to look at a familiar Bible story. This morning I was reading an article that brought the incident of Mary washing Jesus' feet into a new light. Just suppose that Mary was not crying with remorse for her past life but had come to learn more of his teachings, sitting humbly by his feet, only to see that he was not being treated with respect. His feet had not been washed. Might this not have prompted those tears on his behalf? She had not brought any water or towels with her so it does not appear that it was her original intention to do this for him. But seeing it, she uses her own tears and her own hair to perform this humble service.

What a contrast to Simon the Pharisee's attitude. He was sitting at the head table, looking at Jesus with condemnation for allowing this woman to touch him this way. The Jews believed that contact with a person considered unclean defiled you. Simon was not at Jesus feet, listening with respect or asking questions or even asking to be forgiven for his sins. This woman had that attitude. So who was the more unclean?

How do we respond when we see the Christ or Christian Science not being treated with respect? Do we show our love by our actions? Or if someone comes to our services or a lecture who has problems do we look down our noses at them, not choosing to speak a friendly word or give a smile?

I will be thinking about my own actions and reactions today. Mary or Simon?

let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me

I always loved that song. This morning I was reading an article in the Sentinel and a few lines really hit home. And I do mean home. We are a three generation household and things can get a bit chaotic at times. I doubt anyone visiting with us would call it peaceful here.

Most days I follow up my morning study of the Christian Science Bible Lesson with an article from the Sentinel or the Journal and then I work with some daily prayers. One of them is based on a prayer used in Mrs. Eddy's household. There are some doubts that she originated this prayer but she certainly would have been aware of it. It begins: This is God's spiritual household. Nothing can enter to annoy or destroy. Nothing can enter to manifest sin, sickness, or discouragement for God, good, keeps this household in perfect peace. There's much more and I would be happy to share it with you if you ask.

Back to this morning's article in the Sentinel. The writer says "If the world seems like an atmosphere of hate, acted out as war, how do we begin to change it? Isn't the answer that we should watch what we think? Shouldn't each live the change we want to see?" That is exactly what I needed this morning as I pray for peace and harmony for our home. She continues on "If each one begins to love instead of hate, and insists on the reality and power of divine Love, everything can change." Now that is something to consider!

Are there things in your home or household that you would like to see change? Maybe in your workplace or in your branch church. That change has to begin with your own thinking. You need to bring it in line with divine Love. Remember, Jesus told us that the kingdom of God is within you. It is already there and established. We don't have to go looking for peace and harmony as if it were missing. Be an example of world peace right within your own life and daily activities. Look to see what you can contribute today. Can you be less critical and more supportive of those around you? Can you express more patience? Can you look at those you love and see their best qualities always present? Can you do that for yourself as well?

Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with you today. Live the change you want to see.

Casting off vs casting out

In this week's Bible lesson there are references to God not casting off His people. I think of casting off in connection with knitting and with boating.

When you cast off in knitting you are finishing off what you have been working on. When you cast off in boating you are bringing in the lines that bound you to the dock in preparation for going out to sea. In both cases, you are choosing to do this. It is a letting go and a releasing. The Bible passages promise that 'the Lord will not cast off for ever' (Lam 3:31 and that 'the Lord will not cast off His people' (Ps 94:14). It should be a great comfort to know that God does not cast us off. We are one with Him forever.

There are times when something is cast out. That is a different situation where something is being discarded or sent away. Jesus often cast out devils, or evil beliefs, attached to people and causing illness. But many feel like they have cast out of work or relationships, excluded or discarded, seen as worthless.

We are never worthless in God's eyes. We are precious to Him as His own children, His own creation, an idea in divine Mind, cherished and held close. He will never cast us off or cast us out.

A new insight about the Prodigal Son parable

I love it when this happens. I am reading a familiar passage in the Bible and suddenly something lights up, like a light bulb, and I see something I hadn't before, a get a new understanding of those words. That happened this morning in this week's Bible lesson about Everlasting Punishment. Wha this lesson is teaching us is that God does not condemn, judge and punish, He forgives. And so should we.

In the Gospel of Luke, in chapter 15, Jesus is teaching and he tells the Parable of the Prodigal Son. What an amazing example of how God is ever watching us and just waiting for us to turn back to Him, for us to recognize that we have always been His beloved child, even when we have turned away from good. I love to notice who Jesus is speaking to, and in this case he tells this story to illustrate a point for the Pharisees and scribes who are murmuring because he chooses to welcome the publicans and sinners who have been drawn to him.

What was illumined this morning is the part of the story where the young man, having insisted on taking the money he would have had when his father died and then squandering it, has now been reduced to begging for work. Instead of going home, he becomes a servant to someone living in that place and is sent into the fields to feed swine. What could be more demeaning to a Jew who abhors swine to have to care for them. But this appears to be when he 'hits bottom' and sees the level to which he has allowed his life to sink. He looks at what he is doing. The only food available to him now is the husks of the carob tree given to the swine. This is something that would only be eaten by the poorest people. He suddenly realizes that in that place where he has chosen to remain no man is giving him anything.

There may be a point in your life when you find yourself in what appears to be this same condition. You have no job or income, your so-called friends treat you in the most demeaning way. You are no longer seen as an equal. No man gave unto him. No one offered comfort, advice, sympathy, compassion, a job that offered self-respect. No man gave him hope of returning to his former status.

In the parable, he suddenly comes to himself and realizes that his father's servants are treated better than this and he decides to leave this place and these people and go home. He is willing to swallow his pride, and not those carob husks. He will go back and ask for forgiveness. When he is on his way back, his father, who has been watching tirelessly for him, sees him and runs to meet him. He is embraced and welcomed with a kiss. No lectures, no I-told-you-so. He is lifted up and clothed in his former clothing, restored in his own eyes to his rightful place. He was never less than that in his father's eyes. We are never less than that in God's eyes either. He is always ready to show us who we have been all along.

What lies are you swallowing about your life? What atmosphere have you chosen to surround yourself? What are you relying on? Have you believed you are being punished for your choices? Come to yourself. Remember who you are and who you have always been. Go home. Your Father is waiting with open arms.

What was Tabitha thinking?

In this week's Bible Lesson we read about a wonderful person named Tabitha. She appears to have been an accomplished needle woman who created many coats and garments for others. She got sick and died. Her friends were devestated by this loss. They heard that Peter was in a nearby town and immediately sent for him to consol their grief. It is interesting that they did not send for him when Tabitha was so ill but waited until she was gone. Peter comes right away, he must have because the custom was to bury someone within 24 hours after death. Peter has been in a situation like this one before. He was an eyewitness to Jesus raising a young girl from death. Like that situation, Peter arrives to be surrounded by mourners. Remembering how Jesus dealt with that, he puts them all out. He needed to remove the strong claim of death and sadness. He needed some quiet to pray. And pray he does, kneeling down. This account is in the Book of Acts so it is possible that Peter told this story to Luke who recorded it. Once Peter understands that God is Life and there is never an end to Life, that Tabitha is at one with divine Life, that nothing in the form of illness could be more powerful than that divine Life, he turns to her and tells her to arise. She opens her eyes. That reminded me of when one of the prophets prayed for his servants eyes to be opened when they appeared to be surrounded by an enemy intent on killing them. She opens her eyes and sits up. The hold of illness has been broken and nullified. Now Peter gives her his hand and lifts her up. He has done this in past with the man who was lame from birth. He took him by the hand and lifted him up and instantly his feet and ankle bones recieved strength and he not only stood, but walked and leaped. Calling those who had been mourning Tabitha's death, he presents her alive and well. You can believe that news spread like wildfire and it lead many to believe in the power of God. I think Peter lifted Tabitha up in more ways than one. He lifted her right out of her own thought that she had become ill, that the illness could be fatal, and that she had passed away. He helped her awake from that dream into the reality of eternal Life. What a gift! We are not subject to decay or illness or deterioration. We are not under the jurisdiction of material or medical law. We are only subject to the divine law and power of God, who is Life. Be lifted up by this thought today.

Don't walk around with the spirit of infirmity

Our Father, divine Love, does not afflict. I love the woman who is described as having 'a spirit of infirmity'. That is how she looked to others, bowed down with something. That is how she must have felt about herself. It was the infirmity, that was the result. It was this heavy spirit for whatever reason that dragged her down. Jesus calls her over to him, puts his hands on her bowed shoulders, and with authority tells her she is loosed from that infirmity God had not caused it. He was not punishing her. This false belief was all that was bowing her under. Jesus describes her affliction as someone 'whom Satan hath bound'. Satan being the belief of something or someone other than God's creation. Another power, and yet we believe that God is omnipotent. If God fills all space then how can there be another power, except if we choose to believe in it. Once we see its powerlessness it no longer can bind us in any way. We are freed. The Christ did that for her and does that for each today. God is the only Life and it is all good. Don't let anything bring you down and make you stay there. In fact, it can only suggest, it has no power to enforce anything. You are loosed!

In this week's Bible Lesson we have the eye witness account from John of Jesus and the woman taken in adultery. The scribes and Pharisees were determined to undermine this man who was going around doing good and healing. They attempted to trap him in a situation that would make him look bad no matter how he answered. To accomplish this they caught a woman in the act of committing adultery. So this was premeditated on their part. Only the woman was brought before him for judgement although the man was equally at fault and by their own law should have been judged as well. They point out what Moses says in their 613 laws, that she should be stoned to death and ask what he feels should be her punishment. Should he show mercy he would be defying Moses. Jesus refuses to get into an arguement with them and stoops down to write in the dust, ignoring them. But they persist. At this point he lifts himself up, stands upright and gives his answer: he that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. Brilliant. One by one, being convicted in their own heart, they leave. I notice that Jesus took time before he responded. I believe he was praying about how to handle these men and their vindictive behavior. He may have then been doodling the names of sins in the dust. Those seeing that knew that Jesus was aware of their sins. Just as he was aware of the woman's sin. But he did not expose them openly, they convicted themselves as sinners. I love the fact that 'Jesus was left alone', they stopped badgering him. This is an important lesson for us when we feel like we are being put on the spot by those who would judge and condemn us. Jesus didn't argue and neither should we. Jesus took a moment to pray so he could respond instead of reacting. When he did, he did not turn around and treat them with contempt or anger, he just let God touch their hearts. What about the woman? Her actions, which she might have thought were undetected, had been publicly exposed. Jesus had lifted himself, phycially and more importantly metaphysically, above that confrontation. Now he would lift her as well. When 'he saw none but the woman', he saw nothing but the woman's true identity as a pure and sinless child of God, he asked her where her accusers were, did no one accuse her. She says 'no man' and calls him Lord. He tells her that he does not accuse her either but that she is to go and sin no more. What a saw this morning was that not only was that woman the object of this incident but Jesus himself was being accusing by those men. His handling of the situation left him untouched by their malice as he lifted himself above it and then lifted the woman as well. An important story for all of us.Their sin was uncovered, her sin was uncovered, but all learned something from this and left humbled and chastened without bloodshed. Their conspiracy had failed. As will all attempts of evil fail before the purity and power of good.

let not your heart be troubled

The Golden Text for this week's Bible lesson speaks to each of us: Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. We all hold things in our heart that trouble us at times and if we do not deal with them it can lead to fear of the outcome. Abraham was asked, at age 75, to leave everything behind and start a long journey to a Promised Land. He did not let his age hold him back. At 99, God promises that Abraham will father a child and Sarah gives birth to Isaac in her 90's. Think of the medical challenges both of them overcame as they chose to be obedient to God. David, still in his teens, goes up against the seasoned warrior giant Goliath. He does not let his youth hold him back. Armed with confidence, but not choosing to wear the armor King Saul offered him, David runs to meet Goliath and defeats him. He did not let his heart be troubled by this Goliath-sized problem. Jesus had to constrain his disciples to get into a boat and leave him behind. Could have been that those experienced fishermen could see the signs of the storm they would encounter? The storm held no problems for Jesus, he simply walked right through it. Jairus feared for his daughter, who seemed to be dying. Imagine how he felt when Jesus agrees to come heal her and then is delayed by the woman healed of an issue of blood. Jairus' recieves word that she has died. But Jesus tells him not to be afraid of this news. When they get to the house the professional mourners are out front, making a great fuss, hoping to be hired. Jesus dismisses them and raises the child. That called for strong faith and pure love. The thought I will work with today is this: Step by step will those who trust Him find that "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." (S&H 444) Don't let your heart be troubled...or trouble you...today. Trust in the goodness of God. No weapon formed against you can succeed. No comments made against you will be listened to or believed. No evil shall come your way in any form, even illness is powerless to harm you.

being a witness

In this week's Bible lesson there is a verse from Isaiah that reads: "Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? Yea, there is no God: I know not any."

This prompted a trip to the dictionary to look up the word 'witness'. To witness something is to see, hear, feel, experience something. A first hand account. So God, our beloved Father Mother, is telling us that we are witnesses to His work. It is all we can see or hear or experience. Genesis One tells us that He saw all that He had created and it was very good. So as witnesses of that, we can witness only good. All we see and hear and feel today can be the good that is being expressed by God.

That also means that all we can share with others is that good that we have seen and heard and felt. We are accurate and faithful witnesses to the perfection God has created and maintains. We are good witnesses of what is true about ourselves and everyone we encounter today. So there is never anything to fear in what we see or hear or feel.

How well that fits with the Golden Text: "Consider the work of God". You are the work of God and He has made you to witness His goodness.

Whole vs. hole

I may have written about this before but since it comes up in this week's Bible lesson, it is worth mentioning again. In the story of the woman with an issue of blood that she has been unable to cure despite seeing all the doctors and trying all the cures, she hears about Jesus and decides to do something very dangerous and brave. In her condition she is forbidden by Jewish law to mix with others as her issue of blood makes her unclean and would do that same for anyone she came in contact with. In her desperation she moves among the throng surrounding the Master in the hope that if she can but touch his clothes, she will be healed. And that is exactly what happens. She touches him and feels immediately that the condition has been healed. Jesus feels that touch and searches her out as she tries to slip away unnoticed. His purpose is not to expose her disobedience but to strengthen her understanding of how she had been healed. If he had let her go she would have believed she could only be healed by contact with him and he knew he was not always going to be there. But God always is. It was her faith in the Christ's ability to heal anything, including this stubborn and hopeless blood condition. Faith like that was rewarded and he just wanted her to see that by turning to God she would always find the answers she sought.

Do you have a hole or gap in your life that needs healing? Is there a hole in your budget that seems to drain away your paycheck from month to month? Is there a hole in your social life that never seems to be filled by just the right person? Is there a hole on an xray that would suggest some medical condition that needs healing? Are you currently seeking employment and not finding a good job? Whatever you are pursuing as determinedly as that woman went after her solution, you might try turning to Christian Science for healing.

Christian Science is the law of everpresent good from a loving Father Mother God. It is this divine parent meeting every human need with a perfect solution. It is the truth about your wonderful God and His love for each and every one of His children, you included. When you turn to Christian Science for healing, the prayer begins with understanding that you are whole, not hole. It turns you back to Genesis One where God saw everything He had made and it was very good.

Try thinking of yourself along these lines today and see if it doesn't make a difference. If you want to know more you can read our textbook, Science and Health, by Mary Baker Eddy. Visit a local reading room where the friendly staff can answer questions. Or contact a Christian Science practitioner who devotes their full time to being available for prayerful support and treatment. There are also many sites on the internet for more information. Don't live with something that can be healed, get help and a healing.

Take up your cross

There is a direct challenge in this week's Bible lesson. I have read the lesson several times already this week but just noticed this today. It comes from the gospel of Matthew. "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." That phrase 'take up his cross' resonated with me. What did the Master mean by that and how can I be obedient to that directive?

Each of us has times when we feel like we are dragging around a cross to be borne, some sense of a heavy burden we are dealing with. Or we might see some cross looming in our future, some unavoidable something that we are fearing or dreading. Some confrontation. Some physical condition that has appeared and now seems to be getting bigger, more evident, suggesting a name of some disease. It might be the world's thoughts about advancing age or diminishing funds. Whether it is a present situation that must be shouldered, weighing us down, or something we fear on the horizon, it seems to be our cross to bear. No one else can help.

What if we chose to 'kiss the cross', as Mrs. Eddy expresses it in hymn 253. She says we can 'wake to know a world more bright'. That cross certainly loomed for Jesus. He made his choice and that experience led to his resurrection and ascension. Isn't that what we all want? So what is required of us?

The cross indicates sacrifice. Is there something in your thought that you need to let go of, some wrong idea about God (I prayed about this but He didn't do anything), some wrong idea about yourself (I am somehow separated from divine Love, outside of Love's care and protection), some wrong idea about someone else (he or she is just impossible), some wrong idea about church (the services are so boring). It is our choice whether we shoulder this as a problem to be endured or take up the false idea and grow spiritually as we understand God's allness and goodness. God's law is the only law we are subject to. Mrs. Eddy tells us that "Truth is God's remedy for error of every sort".

Don't fear this cross. Embrace the opportunity to have it lift you up. Once you see the unreality of some illusion it can no longer fool you. All you see is what is really there. Good is the reality. Health is the reality. Abundance is the reality. Harmony is the reality.

Jesus and the blind man

Looking for something new in this familiar story, I found some helpful insights in a book by Trench, The Miracles of our Lord. Trench points out that the man was brought to Jesus by others, which might have meant his own faith was not strong. How often when we turn to the Christ for healing is our own doubt part of the challenge. Will God, or our understanding of Christian Science, be able to heal this?

This man was accustomed to being led by others. Jesus reaches out and takes him by the hand and leads him out of the town, away from the watchful eyes and beliefs of those who knew the man and the idly curious. Perhaps to help this man with his lack of faith Jesus used a simple remedy of that day to start things off. He used saliva and onionted the man's eyes. He also put his hands on him, as we might reach out to a friend in need or distress, a comforting touch. Then he asked him if he could see anything. At this point the man looks up. Metaphysically speaking, he begins to raise his level of thinking by looking upward to heaven. Physically he was raising his sight from the ground. He does see moving forms. If this man had been blind from birth he might not have known what people look like so it may be that this blindness was the result of some disease or accident. So Jesus repeats his actions by putting his hands on the man's eyes. The man's faith must have greatly increased, his expectations about this healing improved with this first evidence of returning sight. Jesus again instructs him to look up and now he finds his sight restored, another indication that it might have been somehow lost.

What this tells me is that we need to approach every healing with the understanding that the Christ can and will restore whatever appeared to be lost whether it was health, supply, employment, self respect, or peace. Just what are we expecting to happen when we pray or ask for Christian Science treatment? Let there not be a doubt or fear that God is not up to the occasion. He is. And so are we.

Jesus led that man away from those who were holding a false picture about him or the Christ. When the healing was complete he told him to go home but not to return to town, not to go back to the past. Let's not relive the lie but rejoice in what has been revealed as the truth.

If you choose to turn to the Christ for healing, if we call upon a practitioner to support us in prayer, we can expect to feel the healing touch of divine Love, the power of God's law of everpresent good operating on our behalf, removing any false belief and bringing the truth of our identity as God's perfect image and likeness. This improved understanding, this clearer perception about God and His child, becomes clear and we 'see' it. Healing follows.

diviner concepts

This week's Bible lesson on Soul has been a good one for me. I especially have liked something from the second section. The Bible verse from John reflects Genesis One: "All things were made by Him and without Him was not anything made that was made." Mrs. Eddy illuminates this further where she writes of 'diviner conceptions' and 'the only true conception of being.'

For me, that 'means my prayers and my study are to help me understand this divine conception, what Divine Mind knows about me. I am an idea in divine Mind. That is where I originated. I am a concept of God. Only what God is knowing about me, that divine concept, is true. Nothing has been added to it, or taken from it, it has remained exactly as God conceived it. It is the only concept of me and I am most lovingly and wonderfully made. That is the only conception that ever took place.

That means there are no birth defects, no unpleasant or dangerous traits handed down from one generation to another, no poor genes. I do not have to look at my family and think that I will be stuck with a certain look or action. God is my Father and Mother. All that is true about me is His concept of me.

Wonderful.

Only reflections of good can come

This promise is found in Science and Health "From Love and from the light and harmony which are the abode of Spirit, only reflections of good can come." I have always read that to mean that because of the nature of divine Love and Spirit we, as the image and likeness of God, must only reflect good. That is all there is to reflect. We are the good reflection of the Original. Today I thought about it in a slightly different light.

Because God is divine Mind and we reflect that Mind (there is no other) then all we can know, all that can come to us, are good things. The things we reflect upon can only be good. Reflection in the sense of what we are thinking and believing. How comforting to know that we have the power and ability to counter any negative thinking, any false beliefs, any suggestions that something is present that God did not make.

A helpful thought to work with today. Only reflections of good can come.

Jesus' question: where have you laid him?

Studying a recent Bible Lesson on Life, I was brought up short by this question. Suddenly I saw it in a new light. Jesus didn't need to know where they had laid the body of his friend Lazarus. He may have wondered where they were holding Lazarus in thought. We know where Jesus held him, safe in the encircling arms of divine Love, perfectly well and whole with divine Life.

It made me question myself, when I see someone struggling with a physical problem, or a financial question, or an unhappy relationship....where I am putting that person? My first reaction should be to pattern the Master, and immediately lift that false belief, denying that any such thing could be true about God or His beloved creation. God is the only Cause and Creator and we are told in the Bible that He saw all that He had created and it was very good. God did not and does not create physical challenges. God, good, is the source of all supply, an undisturbed flowing out of His abundance. Mrs. Eddy says the divine Love always had met and always will meet every human need. Psalm 23 assures us we shall not be 'in want'. Since God, divine Love fills all space and is always expressing Himself, Love fills all space and is always expressing itself to us, through us, for us, as us. There are no gaps in Love. There are no misunderstandings or resentments or built up anger in divine Mind.

So that question was a reminder to watch my thinking when faced with some picture of illness or lack or loss or unhappiness. Where do I immediately place that person in my thought? With God. Healing is the inevitable result.