Article July 25, 1914 Issue

Forgiveness

GERTRUDE SANDS SHERIDAN

In Science and Health (p. 497) we read, "We acknowledge God's forgiveness of sin in the destruction of sin." How many times it has been said, "I have forgiven it, but I'll never forget it." And yet what a sublime example of forgiveness our Master has given us! Even at the close of those last tragic events, when every indignity and cruelty that the hate and persecution of the mortal sense could devise had been visited upon him, came these words of godlike love and tenderness: "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." If he, our Master and Teacher, could thus speak in the face of the sum total of malice and hate, cannot we, his would-be followers, remember his words and say them truly in the every-day experiences which confront us in our homes, our offices, our professional and social activities?

"To whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little." This utterance of Jesus, full of such comfort and guidance for us if we will but ponder and heed it, partakes of the nature of every inspired statement of Truth,—it is two-edged. On the one hand, it deals with the destruction of evil; and on the other, with the perception and externalization of divine Truth. Forgiveness may be defined as an exalted attitude of mind in which we are enabled to work out our unity with God and with our fellow man. Mrs. Eddy says, "The pardon of divine mercy is the destruction of error" (Science and Health, p. 329). Christian Science teaches us how to obey the Master's injunction to forgive one another.

He who earnestly and honestly seeks to apprehend and be governed by the truths of Christian Science, speedily comes to realize that the one and only place to meet error, to uncover and cast it out, is in one's own consciousness. We need never go beyond our own thinking in order that our brother may be forgiven. In that communion with God which the spirit of forgiveness requires of us, we begin to appreciate the need of bringing every thought into subjection to Truth, and we become so occupied with the activity of right thinking that we gain a deeper humility, and our brother is forgiven because he is loved.

Enjoy 1 free Sentinel article or audio program each month, including content from 1898 to today.

Send a comment to the editors
NEXT IN THIS ISSUE
Article
Mathematical Accuracy
July 25, 1914
Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit