The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1941-12-05
Feeling the Christmas
Spirit

II AOItllNo OI1I10tAudS SGdSOu
one sometimes hears the plain
tive question, 'How can feel
and enter into the Christmas spirit
when my own affairs and the lives
of others seem so troubled?"
Sincere self-searching often un-
covers the errors which claim to
hinder joyous participation in this
happy, holy season. The individual
may be deploring his inability to
give generously. Memories of other
Christmas seasons, which were
happy and gay before family ties
were broken, may rise to depress q
lonely one. Others may be so con-
cerned about persons and things that
Christmas has for them no sacred
significance. The earnest Christian
needs to ask himself: "Why is this?
Is happiness at Christmas time de-
pendent upon a material sense Of
things? Are human modes of giving
and receiving so important as to
affect true joy?"
The longing to feel and fulfill the
true spirit of Christmas is surely
blessed by our heavenly Father. The
quiet contemplation of the spiritual
episodes which preceded and fol-
lowed the first Christmas Day, lifts
thought above an apathetic endur-
ance of human necessities. Nothing
can dim the spiritual beauty and
power of the Scriptural narrative Of
the nativity, as given in the Cos
pels of Matthew and Luke. Again
and again, the Christian student is
impressed by the boundless Joy
which was felt by those whose spirit
ual sense discerned the fulfillment
Of divine prophecy in this great
event. The Wisemen, who saw and
followed the star in the east "re-
joiced with exceeding great ioys
Matthew 2:10). And when they
found the infant Jesus they fell at
his feet, and offered him precious
gifts. Watchful shepherds, who were
tending their flocks on the Judean
countryside, heard the angel message
of good tidings of great Joy, which
shall be to all people" duke 2:1O).
Heavenly intuition led them to
Bethlehem, where they found the
babe lying in a manger. Many of
the villagers listened with awe while
the shepherds related the wonderful
message which had come to them
that night. Then these simple, kindly
men returned to their sheep tending
"glorifying and praising God" (2:20).
Later, Simeon, spiritually-minded
man in Jerusalem, took the child
Jesus in his arms, and blessed God
for the light and glory which had
come into the world.
On page 1892 of Science and
Health with Key to the Scriptures"
Mary Baker Eddy writes, "Christ il
the true idea voicing good, the divine
message from God to men speaking
to the human consciousness"
Troubles disappear when the true
spirit of Christmas is understood,
felt, and loved. Abundant health,
activity, happiness, and affection are
the natural concomitantS of the right
understanding of God and ever
present Christ, Truth. =.
The real man, who is Gods off
spring, His likeness, is spiritual, per-
feet, eternal. Gods thoughts, or ideas,
are imbued with His power and
goodness. They are pure, life-giving,
and enrolling. Truth, Life, and
Love are real, incorrylptible SUBJ
stance. =. All that is worthy, gem
uine, and beneficial to men orig
mates in Spirit, God. Strength,
serenity, beauty, dominion, and un-
hindered activity are divinely estab-
lished facts of real being. That which
claims power to injure, vitiate, and
destroy good is nought but the false
argument Of mortal mind, the sup
posititious opposite of the one per-
feet Mind, God. Health, or spiritual
Wilderness, is Gods eternal gift to
all His children.
Someone may says ssH0w happy I
could be, If knew that my loved
ones were safe and enjoying the
blessings of Christmasl But duty
calls them where danger and distress
threaten each moment" The spiritual
fact is, however, that Gods dear love
and the power Of His Christ are ever
present to save, enlighten, and COM
fort all. Divine Love is never absent,
but ever active, meeting each and
every need. God is mans only Life;
hence man is eternally safe. The
unreal mortal concepts of life, hap
piness, intelligence, and security are
DOWerleSS, and cannot touch The real.
spiritual man.
Mrs. Eddy writes miscellany, D.
256), "At this happy season the veil
Of time springs aside at the touch
Of Love-" This holy influence Is for
ever our hope, strength, and protec-
ton. May we feel the touch Of
Love-" which takes away the fears,
tears, and pettiness Of self-centered
thinking, and reveals the true spirit
Of Christmas.
THE CAristian Science Mosttor.