Editorial December 22, 1917 Issue

Mother and Child

William P. McKenzie

Speaking humanly Mrs. Eddy says in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 253): "A mother's love touches the heart of God, and should it not appeal to human sympathy?" Then rising to metaphysical meanings she continues: "Do the children of this period dream of the spiritual Mother's sore travail, through the long night, that has opened their eyes to the light of Christian Science?"

Mary of Nazareth, when the days of purification required by the Mosaic law were accomplished, brought her child to the temple "to present him to the Lord," and thither at the right time came Simeon led by Spirit; for it was "revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ." He prophesied of the child in words at which the mother marveled as he blessed God, saying, "Mine eyes have seen thy salvation ... a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel."

He declared that the child would be "for a sign which shall be spoken against," and to the mother said, "Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also." Mother and child—the sword and the cross—agony and sacrifice to human sense; here is the mystery whereby heaven is being reached to-day by mothers and sons who count not their own lives dear unto themselves, but are making sacrifice for the salvation of the world. And how is heaven brought nigh? Because in metaphysics sword and cross means purification and resurrection, victory and ascension.

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