The Oil of Gladness ALBERT F. GILMORE, CSB          Mrs. Eddy advises her students in concise terms as to the mental attitude most conducive to the gaining of spiritual truth. She repeatedly warns them against seeking for material gain as such — for the loaves and fishes; against the Pharisaical attitude of pride of possession, love of rank and intellectual superiority. And to give strength to her admonitions she points to the example of Mary Magdalene, who, "from the summit of devout consecration," sought Truth "with the oil of gladness and the perfume of gratitude," and "with tears of repentance" (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 367).          How greatly do all seekers for Truth need to heed this lesson, simple in its form but of great significance in the depth of its meaning! The Pharisee would entertain the sense of superiority in rank, position, possessions, in intellectual attainment, priding himself in his assurance that he is not like other men. By the very attitude which he assumes he closes the channels through which flow the healing streams of love — gladness, humility, and gratitude. The spiritual attainment which he would possess is denied him by his false assumption: his mental attitude defeats his desire, shuts him off from the goal he seeks. He stands directly in the way of spiritual progress.          What part does "the oil of gladness" play in the gaining of spiritual truth, the knowledge of God and His universe? A very important part, for without this gracious quality the healing streams do not flow. If there be no joy, no gladness, vision is dimmed; the mental windows are darkened; material conditions are being accepted as real, and something seems to stand between God and man. One definition of "oil" which Mrs. Eddy gives in the Glossary to Science and Health (p. 592) is "heavenly inspiration." Applied to the term under consideration, this definition greatly illumines its meaning. The gladness which is based on "heavenly inspiration" is permanent, for it rises from recognition of the great fact of God's infinite love for His children, and the sure sense that because God is infinite, is All and good, there is no possible measure of reality attached to evil.          What could so greatly rejoice us as this incomparable fact? Then surely those who would rejoice, who would share the oil of gladness, must follow the way of "heavenly inspiration," of gratitude and rejoicing. It is that constant gladness which is so much needed in the healing work, for without it discord seems real.          The sufferer from disease is the victim of a conspiracy of the physical senses: he has, in some degree at least, accepted their evidence as true. He has given credence to some phase of evil's presentments, and consequently is laboring under the egregious blunder that there is some corner of the universe where God's infinite goodness is not being manifested; where God is, in fact, absent. How much, then, does one need to take account of his thoughts in order to determine what error he has admitted which has led him to so false a conclusion! How much he needs to renew the "heavenly inspiration" which eliminates every shadow of doubt or fear, which clarifies and purifies consciousness by casting out all unlike good!          To lift the sense of heaviness we need to read the Psalms. Greatly did the Psalmist rejoice in an overwhelming sense both of God's goodness and of His infinite presence. No harm can come to him who knows his dwelling place to be in "the secret place of the most High," secret only to material sense. The mortal mind, with its full measure of fears, doubts, and deceits, can take no cognizance of the spiritual man's dwelling place, divine consciousness — can never approach God's idea, nor gain entrance to the spiritual realm. "I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved." David had no doubt regarding his relationship with the divine. So assured was he of God's presence that he abode in the joyous sense of "heavenly inspiration," which lifted him above the realm of matter into the atmosphere of Mind, the state of consciousness where expression is real.          Shall we not seek, even persistently search, for that "heavenly inspiration" which insures both gladness and gratitude? Man's true state is that of perpetual joy, for no sense of burden and earth-born heaviness obtains with the real man — no sorrows. Perpetual harmony is the divine command. "Mind's infinite ideas run and disport themselves" our Leader assures us in Science and Health (p. 514). "In humility they climb the heights of holiness." Ideas which disport themselves know naught of heaviness.          The writer of the book of Hebrews, recognizing that Jesus the Christ had been divinely ordained as the Messiah, said of him, "Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows." As we love righteousness and hate iniquity, we shall be anointed with the same oil of gladness, the oil which is "heavenly inspiration," healing and redemptive. Let us, then, joy in the Lord, in the sure sense of the divine presence which never falters and never fails but rejoices forever.   "The Oil of Gladness" by Albert F. Gilmore, CSB Christian Science Sentinel, December 4, 1926

 

| Home | Library |

Copyright © 1996-2010 CSEC