The Spiritual Idea and Human Need

LUMAN A. FIELD.

Our Master said, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." To this divine, and therefore eternal and universal, promise and assurance, there is attached one condition,—"come unto me,"—and were it not that the spiritual idea guides "all right desires in their passage from ... a material sense of existence to the spiritual" (Science and Health, p. 566), we would at the very threshold of the opening prison be defrauded of our rights by "carnal beliefs" (Science and Health, p. 263). Some erroneous belief concerning Truth or the proper channel through which the knowledge of Truth should come, some prejudice, some false pride, some form of self-love or fear may darken the understanding and hinder us in our effort to "arise and go" to the Father.

The story of the healing of the blind man as told by Luke, illustrates some of the difficulties experienced in coming to the spiritual idea. Hearing the noise of a multitude passing by, the blind man asked the meaning of it, and was told, "Jesus of Nazareth passeth by." Note the identifying quality,—of Nazareth. Error often begins its work with a contemptuous expression calculated to arouse prejudice and unbelief, and thus bar the advance to a higher plane of thought and experience.

Had the bystander with physical vision but recognized the spiritual idea Jesus presented, the human sense would have been wonderfully illuminated, for, instead of the reply, "Jesus of Nazareth passeth by," the blind man might have heard a hope-inspiring statement in line with the thought given in our text-book. "The highest human corporeal concept of the divine idea, rebuking and destroying error, and bringing to light man's immortality" (Science and Health, p. 589). That the blind man had to some degree this clearer spiritual sight, and had caught somewhat of this divine concept of Jesus, is evidenced by his putting aside the thought of "Nazareth," and crying out, "Jesus, thou son of David [son of man, after God's own heart], have mercy on me." The subtle effort to obstruct progress by contempt and prejudice having failed, mortal beliefs assume a bolder and more aggressive attitude, and now the blind man is rebuked for crying out, and is commanded to "hold his peace." The human need is forbidden to voice its cry for help, but we rejoice to know that "human hate has no legitimate mandate" (Science and Health, p. 454).

David said, "In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears." It was most natural, therefore, that the "son of David" should hear the cry of need: and in response, he commanded that the blind man be brought unto him. When he was come near, Jesus asked him, "What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee?" He answered, "Lord, that I may receive my sight." Then Jesus said to him, "Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee." The recognition of the spiritual idea and the persistent thrusting aside of every thought of unbelief which would dim the spiritual sight, save all who come to Christ, Truth.

"Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden." Since "Love is impartial and universal in its adaptation and bestowals" (Science and Health, p. 13), every human need may voice its great desire,—"Lord, that I may receive my sight,"—my spiritual sense, my purity, my joy, my freedom, my peace, all that belongs to me as a child of God; and we may be sure that now as in the time of Jesus the spiritual idea will meet the demand according to our faith in Truth, and our obedience to Truth. To Moses, God said, "Certainly I will be with thee," and to Joshua, "As I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." Paul declared that "Charity (love) never faileth," and thus are we taught that the spiritual idea is always present, ever willing and abundantly able to meet every need. David wrote, "I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;" Jesus said, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world," and now in our own day the same truth is repeated to us in the words of our text-book, "Divine Love always has met, and always will meet, every human need" (Science and Health, p. 494).

In order, however, to avail ourselves of the divine help so freely offered, we must, like the blind man, carefully and energetically cast aside every prejudice and every erroneous belief that would dim our vision of the true idea when it is presented to us, even as our Leader has counselled, "Divest your thought, then, of the mortal and material view which contradicts the ever-presence and all-power of good" (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 14).

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