Easter ELLA W. HOAG, CSD          On that morning of the long ago, when the women at the sepulcher were met by the angel who told them that Jesus had risen from the dead, it is little likely they had even a faint concept of what that wonderful event was to mean for all mankind. To their sorrowful hearts, grieving because of the supposed loss of the one whom they held most dear, this assurance of Jesus' resurrection must have brought the glad hope of renewed companionship. But how could they realize in that hour the significance of his marvelous triumph, or that it held for all humanity the promise of complete victory over all materiality? The Christian world has always stood in awe before this demonstration of Jesus, accounting the day of its commemoration as perhaps its holiest festival. Nevertheless, until Christian Science was revealed, — in spite of all the Biblical teaching on the subject, — comparatively little of the deep helpfulness of Jesus' resurrection had been understood.          To the disciples, who had walked daily with Jesus for the three years of his public ministry, this demonstration must have evidenced, as never before, the truth of his teachings, since here was a mighty proof of his words, "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." Paul also preached the truth which the resurrection revealed. Again and again he insisted on the fact that through a proper apprehension of it men might be delivered from all the ills of the flesh, and rise into an understanding of the Christ which would enable them to reap the fulfillment of Jesus' promise, "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also." He emphasized this possibility when he said, "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God."          In "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 179) Mrs. Eddy asks, "What is it that seems a stone between us and the resurrection morning?" and she answers by saying, "It is the belief of mind in matter." Then she adds, "We can only come into the spiritual resurrection by quitting the old consciousness of Soul in sense." Now Christian Scientists accept the teachings of the Bible and of their Leader as the correct interpretation of resurrection. They believe that Jesus came forth from the sepulcher because of his stupendous victory over the flesh through his understanding of Spirit. With the light of Christian Science they see he must have taken each step by mastering the atheistic beliefs in matter with his understanding of the allness of God, divine Mind. Through the power of Mind he proved the undesirability, the powerlessness, yes, the unreality of matter!          And yet they wonder why they themselves seem to follow him so slowly and oftentimes so reluctantly! When they have the way so plainly marked out, not only through Jesus' teaching and experiences, but also in the clear, demonstrable explanation of them in Christian Science, still they ask, Why do we advance so slowly from matter to Spirit? Yet again Mrs. Eddy states the reason. In "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 156) she says, "It is their materiality that clogs the progress of students." Knowing this, why are they so loath to renounce matter, — to loose its chains? Because they fail to recognize its undesirability, its unreality! Always it is arguing for its pleasure, its profit, its satisfaction, its claims to good, its reality, — and they, alas, so often listen!          Then, as Christian Scientists, shall we not awaken fully to this outrageous deception and press on as never before? Shall we not contemplate the bliss of spiritual good, until we refuse the false and destructive allurements of materiality? There is a world looking eagerly for salvation! A world sick unto death because of its false beliefs that all good is included in matter! Then let us for Love's sake help the world to lay hold of the power of Jesus' resurrection, by ourselves relinquishing that which we know is only a sham, and by seeking with renewed consecration the things that "are above." With Jesus' perfect demonstration before us, let us go forward. Let us drop the false beliefs of mind in matter, and lay hold of the might of divine Mind. Then we may claim our Leader's benediction in "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" (p. 155), "May this glad Easter morn find the members of this dear church having a pure peace, a fresh joy, a clear vision of heaven here, — heaven within us, — and an awakened sense of the risen Christ."   "Easter" by Ella W. Hoag, CSD Christian Science Sentinel, March 31, 1923

 

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