The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1942-12-04
"Good tidings ofgreatjoy''

"a rear not: 1Or, DenOIQ, i
- bring you good tidings of
great joy, which shall be to all
people. For unto you is born this
day in the city of David Saviour,
which is Christ the Lord" Luke
2:10, ~. This message from God,
which came to the shepherds on the
hills of Judea on a still, clear night
long ago, is heard today by those
who are listening for Gods voice.
The star of Bethlehem still shines to
guide those who are watching and
waiting for the appearing of Christ,
Truth.
Christmas, to all true Christians,
betokens a desire to give. The Dis
coverer and Founder of Christian
Science, Mary Baker Eddy, loved
Christmas, and explains its spiritual
import as the coming of Truth to hui
man consciousness. She begins the
Preface to her textbook, Science
and Health with Key to the Scrip
tures," with these inspiring words
Up. wiz: ITO those leaning on the
sustaining infinite, to-day is big
with blessings. The wakeful shep-
herd beholds the first faint morning
beams, ere cometh the full radiance
of a risen day. So shone the pale star
to the prophet-shepherds; yet it trav-
ersed the night, and came where, in
Graded obscurity, lay the Bethlehem
babe, the human herald of Christ,
Truth, who would make plain to be-
nighted understanding the way of
salvation through Christ Jesus, till
across a night of error should dawn
the morning beams and shine the
guiding star of being" -.
In his ministry the Master put into
practical use his knowledge of God,
divine Love, ever-present good. He
babe his followers to love one an
other as he had loved them. The test
of true discipleship must always be
our understanding and emulation of
the love which Christ Jesus mani
Tested in his healing and saving
work. -. The appearing of Christ,
Truth, in human consciousness con-
stitutes continuous embodiment OF
spiritual light and joy. Each day Of
the year we must seek a better and
higher understanding of the eternal
Christ, Truth, and strive to become
more faithful followers of the great
Master and Way-shower, in hearing
all manner of sickness and SIM mus
helping to bring the true light Of
spiritual being to men.
The question may well be asked,
Has the light which penetrated the
thought of the humble shepherds
nineteen hundred years ago, and
which, later on, brought healing and
consolation to unnumbered thou
sands through the loving ministry Of
Christ Jesus, disappeared? The an
swer is, No. But men have permitted
the mist of false mortal sense to blur
their vision of the Christ. :.
Nothing but the Christ, Truth, UNDER
stood and lived, will eliminate
hatred, war, and greed from human
consciousness, and establish univer-
sal peace.
The purpose Of Christ Jesus was to
establish the kingdom of God ON
earth. How did he do this? By
showing the falsity of human beliefs.
Every healing was a casting out of
consciousness of some false belief
which has no connection with the
real man in Gods image. As the
turning on Of an electric switch
eliminates darkness from a room, so
the light of spiritual perception or
! the knowledge of the real man dis
pels false human belief. Christ Jesus
did not recognize evil as real, but
proved Its unreality through his
knowledge of the allness of Truth.
1t is natural and beautiful for men
to be joyous and steadfast in the re-
flecting of good. If tree is good Il
will bear good fruit. since like pro-
duces like. When we begin to under
stand that all materiality is but the
counterfeit, the material concept OF
that which Is spiritual and perfect,
we no longer walk In darkness, for
the light Of Truth illumines the way
we are going.
In her Communion Message to The
Mother Church for 1898, Mrs. Eddy
writes (The First Church Of Christ,
Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 122).
beloved brethren, another Christ
mas has come and gone. Has it en-
abled Us to know more Of the healing
Christ that saves from sickness and
sin? Are we still searching dill
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