Article January 16, 1926 Issue

The Wine in the Cup

ELIZABETH L. ROSE

Does it seem hard to understand that "whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth"? Surely in God's love, even though an experience appears to be a chastening one, we may look for and find a blessing which will bring rejoicing. Do we, as Christian Scientists, always remember, when endeavoring to solve the problems which present themselves to us, that the error is to be overcome; or do we become so deluded by it that we see the problem only, and even feel chagrined or resentful that it has come to us, forgetting that every cross has its crown of rejoicing? At one time, after a student of Christian Science had spent much time in trying to solve a problem which seemed to be always with her, she found that in handling the error she was accepting it as a burden. She had become so mesmerized and weighed down by the belief of suffering, which seemed to accompany it, that she had forgotten that the experience held something of joy in it for her, that it really was a passageway of progress which should lead to a better understanding of divine Science.

What would we think of a traveler for whose benefit we had prepared a refreshing drink, if he should accept the cup as a burden, shifting it from hand to hand, giving all his attention to the cup, its weight, appearance, material, size, and shape, never once lifting it to his lips or tasting to see that its contents were good, refreshing, and satisfying? On page 35 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mrs. Eddy has interpreted the cup of wine for us in the following words: "Our cup is the cross. Our wine theinspiration of Love, the draught our Master drank and commended to his followers." What are we doing with our cup? Have we tasted the inspiration of its wine? Do we know that it is good? What a help it would be to all of us in making our demonstrations if we would always remember that our blessing is to be found in the wine and not in the cup or in cross-bearing. It is true we must accept the cup and handle it, in order to taste of Love's inspiration, which will strengthen us and invigorate our understanding; but when we have drained it, and it no longer holds a blessing, it may be set aside, for it has served its purpose. How many of us are given to too much handling of the cup! We are so concerned about its size, shape, and weight, and the appearance we may make in holding it! Perhaps we fear to have our neighbor see that we are holding a cup, fearful of his sympathy, lest he think it too great for us to bear, or of his judgment should he censure or condemn us for holding it too long.

Let us rejoice in the thought that the wine which has been prepared for us by divine Love is to strengthen, sustain, and heal us, and no longer think it strange that we are required to assimilate our inspiration from Love. Mrs. Eddy says in her Message to The Mother Church for 1902 (p. 19), "There is no redundant drop in the cup that our Father permits us." Gratitude and humility will help us to silence discouragement, pride, or self-will, if these errors tempt us to turn from the cup. How glad we should be that we are asked to taste and see and prove that our God is good! The new understanding of Him gained in the experience will bring with it a greater love for all His children, and a larger measure of peace and joy than we have known before. The joy will not be that of fleeting emotional ecstasy, but rather the quiet, constant joy of exaltation and confidence found in knowing God and His goodness as All-in-all. It is evident that the Master knew the inspiration of his cup in the quiet hour in Gethsemane; for we read in Luke that after Jesus prayed, "Not my will, but thine, be done ... there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him."

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