CARRY THE CROSS

"Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus ..... and as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross. (Matthew 27:27,32)" Do we need to be compelled to bear his cross? "The Christian Scientist has enlisted to lessen evil, disease, and death; and he will overcome them by understanding their nothingness and the allness of God, or good. (Science and Health 450:19-22)" The cross can be thought of as persistently laying down the mortal concept, consistently upholding the divine standard, and recognizing man divinely. Carrying the cross is accepting responsibility for wiping out the mortal concept.

"The best spiritual type of Christly method for uplifting human thought and imparting divine Truth, is stationary power, stillness, and strength; and when this spiritual ideal is made our own, it becomes the model for human action. (Ret 88:27-4)" This quiet power, stedfast in Truth is knowing that everything is experienced in Mind. All is already included in divine Mind. There is no external world that needs to be preached to, saved, or healed. "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. (I Cor 15:58)" Christian Scientists help to carry the cross for the sake of the world.

THE WORLD

“The world’s ingratitude and hatred towards that just man effected his betrayal. (Science and Health 47:10-11)” From a relative standpoint, it appeared that evil, ingratitude and hatred, betrayed good. As Scientists, we must not be impressed with the odiousness of sin, even the crucifixion of a just man. Take everything to a higher sense; the only ‘world’ is the world as our consciousness. See that there is only one cause and that is God, infinite Good and there is only one lie about this Cause, animal magnetism. Know that Christianity never personalizes good or evil. Mrs Eddy writes “Evil has no reality. It is neither person, place, nor thing, but is simply a belief, an illusion of material sense (S&H 71:2).” Animal magnetism would personalize evil in a mentality that is not awake to its claims. So, when the ugliness of the world confronts us we must follow Jesus’ example and hold “uncomplaining guard over a world (S&H48:6)”. Then aggressive mental suggestion has nothing in us.

The sixth tenet of Christian Science is the culmination of its teachings “And we solemnly promise to watch, and pray for that Mind to be in us which was also in Christ Jesus; to do unto others as we would have them do unto us; and to be merciful, just, and pure.” Whenever animal magnetism presents its suggestions, refute them, because they have no place in the Mind that was in Christ Jesus, which we have solemnly promised to let be our own. “The great fact remains that evil is not mind (person). Evil has no power, no intelligence, for God is good, and therefore good is infinite, is All. (S&H 398:32).”

THE UTTER ERROR

"And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? (Matt 26:40)" Aren't you willing to handle animal magnetism even for an hour? Watch that you are not tempted to want to be a happy mortal. "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: (Matt 26:41(to:)" Watch not to accept the suggestion that there ever was a human concept to overturn.

Mrs Eddy writes in Science and Health "During his night of gloom and glory in the garden, Jesus realized the utter error of a belief in any possible material intelligence. (page 47)" This could be thought of as a peal or loud sustained ring of a large bell that startles slumbering thought from its erroneous dream.... (S&H223:25) Start by watching to know that every action, thought, voice, event is emanating from divine Mind. Then you are discerning Science, and handling animal magnetism. The dualism of having two worlds, spiritual and material, disappears "God will overturn, until 'He come whose right it is' (S&H 223:31)." As the peal of utter impossibility of material intelligence rings threw thought the moment of awakening comes and the Oneness of Mind appears.

GOD IS GLORIFIED

"Take ye heed, watch and pray: (Mark 13:33 (to:)" Begin each day by saying "God is All", then go out and prove it! When all things beside God disappear, self has been destroyed and you have fought and won the good fight! God is glorified in consciousness.

"If mortals would keep proper ward over mortal mind, the brood of evils which infest it would be cleared out." How do we keep proper watch? By holding in thought that Mind is doing all! It may appear that sense is doing something, eating, drinking, breathing, but in reality, it is all Mind. This is the starting point that destroys the sense of personally doing anything. This is letting Mind, virtue and truth, build a strong defence. "And we solemnly promise to watch, and pray for that Mind to be in us which was also in Christ Jesus; to do unto others as we would have them do unto us; and to be merciful, just, and pure (S&H 497:24)."

Jesus laid down a personal sense of "the Son of man" when he gave Judas the sop. The sop indicates animal magnetism or the belief that evil has power to undo God. Jesus had already demonstrated the Allness of God and now he was going to prove its opposite the nothingness of evil. Mrs. Eddy writes in Miscellaneous Writings "By the law of opposites, after the truth of man had been demonstrated, the postulate of error must appear (pg 57)." When personal sense was gone out, "Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him (John 13:31)." In other words, the final demonstration over all error had taken place and the "Son of God" has appeared.

HEALING EVERY WHERE

Science & Health 473:6-10 "Christ came to destroy the belief of sin. The God-principle is omnipresent and omnipotent. God is everywhere, and nothing apart from Him is present or has power." Jesus taught his disciples the supremacy of Spirit acting independently of matter. "Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. (Luke 9:1)" Jesus gave them the understanding of the power and authority of Mind. Then he told them to go forth and demonstrate it. "And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick. (Luke 9:2)"

The disciples with very little instructions obeyed Jesus' command to go out into the world and heal the sick. "When man is governed by God, the ever-present Mind who understands all things, man knows that with God all things are possible. (S&H 180:25-27)" They took the power and authority that was bestowed upon them without question or doubt "And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where. (Luke 9:6)"

"I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. (Psalms 40:8)" As Christian Scientists we have accepted Jesus' command to go out into all the world and heal the sick -- to show the world through reflection that sin, disease, and death are unreal. "The power of Christian Science and divine Love is omnipotent. It is indeed adequate to unclasp the hold and to destroy disease, sin, and death. (S&H 412:13)"

TAKE THE NEXT STEP

Are you seeking to get out of human error? You are not alone -- the whole world is, so we must lead the way by taking the next step.

To break the yoke of mortal thinking requires a willingness to take the next step beyond the present demonstration. Doing the minimum that is expected (going to church on Sundays and Wednesdays, reading the section of the weekly Bible lesson that corresponds to that day, occasionally opening Science and Health to a random page and expecting a healing, then, calling a Practitioner to do the work that we should have been doing all along) is merely keeping up the appearance of watching, but it is barely looking! If this is the case, then animal magnetism has lulled you into a sleep.

In Luke we find the assurance that “it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom (12:32).” When we learn the first lessons of Christian Science that the source for all Good is Mind, and the source for all evil is mortal mind; that Good is Power, and evil is a false claim to power, which can be overcome by Truth, enthusiasm and hope wells up within us and we feel the promise of what lies ahead. But, then we must take the next step.

“Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning. (Luke 12:35)” That old saying ‘Nothing without labor’ applies to the unfoldment of Christian Science in consciousness the same as it does in the material realm. We must be willing and eager to break the bonds of limited thinking: limited ability, limited time, limited opportunity etc. Deny these limits and you will find that the way will open out to you. If the claim is limited time, start with the time that appears to be available and improve it by meditating and affirming the allness of God through the seven synonyms. Make this a daily habit and you will become a blessed servant.

“Prayer, watching, and working, combined with self-immolation, are God’s gracious means for accomplishing whatever has been successfully done for the Christianization and health of mankind. (S&H 1:6)" Omnipotent Love will sustain us as our limits are thrown off. Improved moments of prayer, watching, and working will become hours and days and weeks. We will find greater opportunity for service and all mankind will be blessed. “And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. (Luke 12:38)”