Article January 8, 1921 Issue

Harvest

SARA FULLER KELLOGG

In the Bible, spiritual development may be interestingly and profitably followed, in one way, through a study of the word "harvest." Its meaning steadily progresses from the material toward the spiritual, but it is metaphysical; therefore its true meaning is revealed only through a study of it in the textbook of Christian Science, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," and other writings of Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science.

From immemorial days, the harvest has been a time of festival and rejoicing. Although it seemed a time of purely material celebration, yet the long months of work in preparation for it and hopeful anticipation of it engendered a deep feeling of gratitude and safety which led thought to lift itself naturally beyond the external to a dawning sense of the spiritual source. In Chambers' "Book of Days" we read, "The harvest home of old England was obviously and beyond question a piece of natural religion." In the Old Testament, the harvest is referred to exclusively as a time of material benefit. In the New Testament, Jesus gave the word many significant applications to bring out its meaning. In Science and Health (p. 476), Mrs. Eddy says: "Jesus of Nazareth was the most scientific man that ever trod the globe. He plunged beneath the material surface of things, and found the spiritual cause." He saw that the earth's harvest was purely symbolic and he saw so far and so deeply into its meaning that he made it the means of lessons whose true importance has been brought out only in the light of Christian Science.

In the fourth chapter of John we read the story of Jesus' meeting with the woman at the well near Sychar, where the figurative meaning of harvest is brought out beautifully. The disciples, returning from the town with food, to the well, find Jesus speaking with the Samaritan woman. Her receptivity to the truth has called forth some of the most profound utterances of the Master; she is so exalted by what she has heard that she hurries back to the town to share with all who will listen the glorious news that the long looked for Messias has come and she has seen him and spoken to him. The disciples meanwhile have been evidently bent on a material errand only; Jesus raises their thought at once to spiritual heights, illumining the symbol and giving the true idea of food. Then follows the opportunity for a most wonderful lesson. His students have no doubt been thinking it necessary to preach and teach and heal in the city, in order to convert the people there,—in other words, that this would be a matter of time; but a single grateful, uplifted heart has brought immediately to the Master's feet not one or two, but many from there, so that to his disciples he said, "Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest."

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