Editorial May 27, 1911 Issue

"THE MASTER OF THE HOUSE"

Annie M. Knott

It is simply astonishing to note the quickness with which the spiritual sense of the Scriptures comes to students of Christian Science. Here it should be said, however, that they never attempt to force upon others their changed views, though they are glad to share their discoveries along Scriptural lines with those who are seeking help in this way. There are many sayings of Christ Jesus which in the old thought were regarded as references to death, which in the light of Christian Science point unmistakably to the coming of a fuller sense of Life, with its high spiritual demands. Thus we find several passages in the gospels which tell of the coming of the Christ-idea to the individual consciousness, or to that of the race, as, for instance, in Mark xiii and Luke xiii, where "the master of the house" is mentioned; but at one time we were accustomed to think of these beautiful passages as gloomy warnings of the approach of death, even as we once thought of the prophet's call, "Prepare to meet thy God."

In Mark's gospel we have a comprehensive picture of the upheaval of mortal belief at the coming of Truth, and these words of Christ Jesus are wonderfully inspiring when understood in Christian Science: "Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping." The one who is struggling with a belief in sickness or suffering of any kind certainly lacks the recognition of the divine rule in his mental abode, and he may be wondering why Truth tarries so long instead of coming at once to his rescue. The gathering shadows of evening may portend to him a long and dreary night, and even the dawn may be gray with forebodings, but to the one who keeps ever before him the command to watch and pray, the master of the house may come suddenly to "put down all [asserted] rule and all authority and power." Who would not keep awake to give loving and joyous welcome to the healing and saving Christ?

In Luke we have a reference to the master of the house which is somewhat different from the other, but it is no less cheering to the student of Christian Science. Here the divine idea is spoken of as within the house (or consciousness) and as the guardian of those who have a right to dwell therein, while he denies admittance to all intruders, which may mean beliefs of disease or of sin, or falsehoods masquerading as the ideas of Truth. Though these errors may knock persistently for entrance, Christ, Truth, as the master thought, bids them all depart and says, "I know you not." The all-important thing is for us to know our master and know what true service means. It will never do to parley with doubt and fear, which first question and then deny the authority of Truth and Love, even though to material sense the master of the house may seem to be far away, for to each faithful servant has been given his work and, what is more, he has been given "authority" to do it and to repel every invader with the master's own words, "I know you not." Our revered Leader says (Science and Health, p. 392), "The issues of pain or pleasure must come through mind, and like a watchman forsaking his post, we admit the intruding belief, forgetting that through divine help we can forbid this entrance." To this she adds, "Mind is the master of the corporeal senses, and can conquer sickness, sin, and death. Exercise this God-given authority"! This we can do if we remember at all times who it is that we should obey. Jesus said, "One is your Master, even Christ."

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