Article April 3, 1926 Issue

Morning

LOUISE MATTHEUS MARTIN

Who that has wakened in the fresh early hours of the day and looked out upon a world newly illumined has not felt the wholesome touch of hope, joy, and inspiration? The rising sun, unfurling its banner of light and spreading color in profusion over land and sea and sky, is symbolic of that eternal source of light in which no shadows dwell.

Mortality, revolving upon its axis of false belief, brings into its experience a succession of days and nights, of joy and sorrow, pleasure and pain, health and sickness; yet each new morning assures us that, above and beyond the limited vision of materiality and discord, is the eternal day, constantly unfolding the infinite goodness of God. In connection with this subject, it is interesting to study the definitions of the words "night," "morning," and "day," in the Glossary of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy. These may be found on pages 592, 591, and 584 respectively. Until we attain the full stature of spiritual understanding, however, darkness and dawn will alternate. Nevertheless, the Scriptures abound in comforting accounts of the ever-presence of God's angels of light amid the seeming gloom. How familiar to all, for example, is the story of Jacob, who wrestled with error "until the breaking of the day"—until the dawn of understanding dispersed the night of erroneous belief!

Again, there is the well-loved story of the resurrection morn. At the hour of the crucifixion, a curtain of darkness fell upon the earth,—a belief of hatred of Truth and Love,—a curtain of belief so opaque that, under its spell, even the disciples and the faithful Marys were unable to comprehend the Master's demonstration and see beyond the dreary veil the glorious morning of triumph. They lost sight of Christ Jesus' real selfhood as the Son of God and saw only their Lord, crucified and buried; and they wept in sorrow. Yet with unfailing sequence came the light, the morning light of a new day—the light of the resurrection, of revelation, bestirring them from their dream of terror and leading them to seek the risen Lord, the living Christ. The beautiful narrative, which has been repeated through the centuries, never grows old—of how Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came "very early in the morning the first day of the week ... unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun." They came, bringing sweet spices that they might anoint him whom they loved. As they went on their way, however, they were much troubled concerning the great stone at the door of the sepulcher; but, on reaching their destination, they found the stone rolled away and the Lord risen.

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