Sunday, May 19th, 2024 Roundtable

Inasmuch as I am God’s child, spiritual, and not material, I must be perfect. I am whole; I am free; I have all I need every hour; I am without fear, without anxiety; I live in Spirit, not in matter (error); I am not in danger; no one can harm me or deprive me of any good. I know no such thing as pain, suffering, or disease, for I am a reflection of Life, Truth and Love. I am never disappointed or grieved. The harmony of my being is never broken, because I live in the infinite. No condition of the body is essential to my happiness, for God, good, only, is the spring of all my joys. My life is hid with Christ in God. Therefore, I am immortal, for nothing can be lost or die in God.

— from Divinity Course and General Collectanea, (the “Blue Book”), by Mary Baker Eddy, page 120

Christian Scientists, be a law to yourselves that mental malpractice cannot harm you either when asleep or when awake.

— from Science and Health, by Mary Baker Eddy, page 442

300 — WATCH, when you lose your peace, lest you assume that it is always error or animal magnetism that takes it away from you.

Once Mrs. Eddy wrote an article for the Journal of July, 1892, and then made the following comment: “I have written it because I was impelled to do so. God seemed (as many times He has under severe need) to deprive me of all peace until I wrote it and then my sweet peace returned. You remember my experience, published, when writing the chapter on Animal Magnetism in my first edition of Science and Health— do you not? This has been the same in its nature, but not circumstances.”

It is valuable to know that when Mrs. Eddy lost her peace, she did not necessarily assume that it was animal magnetism that had robbed her of it. She discerned in the above instance that it was God who had taken it away from her, that He had done it for a purpose, and that the only way to get it back was for her to do what He demanded. While in that state of “no peace,” it might seem difficult to write the article; yet the restoration of her peace was so important, that she took up the cross and did what God demanded.

The correct effect of the loss of peace or harmony on the advanced student is to drive him to do that which he should have done, but has not done. If he has not been working as he should to help the world, he should at once fulfil this obligation, not so much because he wants his peace restored, but because he longs to do that which the Father demands of him.

— from 500 Watching Points by Gilbert Carpenter

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GOLDEN TEXT: ROMANS 8 : 14

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”

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Before you are ready to close your eyes in sleep, be sure you are not holding anything unlovely in your consciousness, anything unlike God; laying aside every fear, put yourself entirely in His charge. Quiet yourself with the thought that He who has all power will protect you, give you health, and all you need in abundance, and know that whether sleeping or waking, you are safe, because your life is hid with Christ in God. To declare that you are well, is the exact truth; you are not flesh, but rather the ray of divine light that, shining upon flesh, makes it appear alive. This you is spiritual, and cannot be sick. Remember, that power is exerted by merely stating a truth. All truth is the word of God. Assert it constantly, even though your so-called human mind screams falsehood. It is to acknowledge Him, to have your mind stayed on Him, to be directly benefited by the activity of good.

— from Watches, Prayers, and Arguments by Mary Baker Eddy, page 70

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“Immortality” 1949 Association Address, by Herbert E. Rieke

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Some time ago I read a news item which interested me greatly on account of the comparison it suggested. The story was that of a woman in very moderate circumstances, who as a means of economy did her own housework, sometimes with the aid of a little maid. When she went shopping or marketing, she found it necessary to consider the cost of every article before making a purchase, and a ride home on the car was to her a luxury seldom indulged. Then, one day, the whole situation was suddenly changed. The news came that her husband was heir to an immense fortune. It would no longer be necessary to buy the cheaper articles of food and clothing, when her whole being cried out for the better things.

One of the first uses she made of her wealth was to dress her two little ones in such clothing as she had always wanted them to have,—handsome suits, in keeping with her long-suppressed taste in such matters. She walked back and forth through the shopping district of the city, making such purchases as she wished, and often she caught herself considering the cost before deciding to buy, forgetful for the moment that her means were no longer limited. Then, remembering her wealth, she would laugh softly at the very idea, and turn to examine some more expensive fabric. There was nothing tedious or tiresome about her shopping that day, and when at last she started home she had walked briskly for several blocks before the thought occurred to her that she could take a car. Then in the car she remembered that she could have ordered a carriage just as well, and it would certainly have been more pleasant than a crowded car. It was quite a while before she grew accustomed to the new order of things, and often she would catch herself trying to economize, then laugh heartily at her fears of insufficiency. It was hard to remember all the time that she was the wife of a millionaire, and the old habits, which had been so long forced upon her, were not easily shaken off.

The thought suggested by this story was that we, you and I, have also received good news, which comes to us well authenticated in Christian Science. We are heirs of a great inheritance, more vast and enduring than that which came to the woman of whom we have read. We are heirs, joint-heirs with Christ, children of the King. Our supply is indeed unlimited, and we are given dominion over all the earth. Do we realize it? If so, our actions often fail to show it. We too often observe the strictest economy, not only in matters of finance, but also in health, peace, and happiness. Do we look at our scanty income and say it is not sufficient to meet the demands made upon it? Is our supply of health so small that we cannot eat what others eat, and cannot do what others do? Is our measure of happiness reduced to an occasional smile? If so, then we are forgetful of the fact that all things are ours, and we are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.

We have been so long accustomed to the old way of doing things and getting things that we often fail to remember our absolutely inexhaustible supply, and go about hungering for a crust, instead of reaching out in the understanding that an abundant feast is ever ready for God’s children. We are heirs, and the wealth of all good is at our command; then let us do away with the old limited thought, and grasp with firmer hand the health, wealth, happiness, and peace which the children of God should enjoy. The strenuous strife and struggle should give place to the calm assurance that our heavenly Father provides for all our wants.

“An Inheritance” from The Christian Science Sentinel, September 26, 1908, by Hattie V. Moss

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When only a youth, Samuel was called to be a prophet (Acts iii. 24) and to succeed Eli, whose sense of divine illumination had nearly gone out. At the time of Samuel’s call the Hebrews had reached the lowest stage of apostasy. This condition is represented in Eli and his profligate offspring. Samuel was the son of Hannah and Elkanah, and was a child of prayer, (1 Sam. i.) consecrated to God from his birth, and at an early age taken to Shiloh and given in charge of the high priest. After the demise of Eli he became judge, and the acknowledged supreme ruler over Israel, — its best judge. He lifted the Hebrews from idolatry, and subsequently freed them from the Philistine yoke.

In order to intelligently follow the exegesis of the lessons, we must remember that “all is Mind,” — hence the acting and actions depicted in our lessons must be regarded as personification, and interpreted as conditions of Mind. The high priest, Eli, was the highest idea of God recognizable to the Hebrews. His light wanes; Samuel symbolizes the growth of a higher spiritual consciousness that was to come out from this state of darkness. The two profligate sons of Eli stand for the condition of mind of the high priest whose offspring they were. The Jewish temple represents the universe, God’s temple, i. e., all of the universe they could grasp.

Expository Notes. V. 1: The call of Samuel; “The child ministered,” etc. He was in the temple; he performed the duties necessary to spiritual progression; a childish thought not grown old as was Eli (Matt. xi. 25). “Word was precious” Eli was the highest type of morality, and but little divine thought flowed through him. The word was precious, because rare. “No open vision.” Communication with Jehovah had nearly ceased; there were none who could prophecy or declare the Divine will (Amos viii. 11); “A famine of hearing the words of the Lord was upon them,” because of their apostasy. The light only shone for persons here and there; it was not general. Samuel’s mother, Hannah, had felt the touch of infinite love. Through her prayer a higher idea had appeared, — an idea which was to dissipate the darkness that hung over the Hebrew nation.

“Report and Belief” (excerpt) from The Christian Science Journal, June 1889, by F. E. Mason, C. S. B.

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Article “Scientific Translation” in Addresses by Martha Wilcox

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Article “Day” Collected Writings by Bicknell Young, page 79

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Beloved children, the world has need of you, — and more as children than as men and women: it needs your innocence, unselfishness, faithful affection, uncontaminated lives. You need also to watch, and pray that you preserve these virtues unstained, and lose them not through contact with the world. What grander ambition is there than to maintain in yourselves what Jesus loved, and to know that your example, more than words, makes morals for mankind!

— from Miscellaneous Writings by Mary Baker Eddy, page 110

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Article “Things to handle daily” — by Mary Baker Eddy

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Thoughts shared on the Lesson from readers:

Article “Meekness and Restoration” by Florence Roberts

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Final Readings