Editorial September 4, 1926 Issue

Sorrow Not the Master of Joy

Albert F. Gilmore

A Blessing of inestimable value which Christian Science has conferred upon humanity is the healing of sorrow. Through the gentle ministry of the Christ, Truth, hearts bowed under a burden of grief are uplifted, and the sun of joy shines where before had been only the darkness of despair. The hopelessness of sorrow gives way before the revelation of Life as eternal and indestructible, and grief and mourning are turned into rejoicing and thanksgiving. Understanding of the omnipotence and omnipresence of divine Love destroys the belief that sorrow is legitimate, or can control God's perfect idea, man.

In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 304) Mrs. Eddy sets forth the inability of sorrow to destroy the charm and joy of life, in these words: "This is the doctrine of Christian Science: that divine Love cannot be deprived of its manifestation, or object; that joy cannot be turned into sorrow, for sorrow is not the master of joy; that good can never produce evil; that matter can never produce mind nor life result in death." From our Leader's statement, we surely know that sorrow is to be healed through understanding that Life is indestructible, and that divine Love is ever present. The writer of the book of Proverbs was so sure that sorrow had no divine source that he could declare, "The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it." Not having a divine source, sorrow has no reality or entity; nor is it a divine idea or emanation of the Mind which is God.

Isaiah, visioning the joyous flourishing of Christ's kingdom, voiced his assurance thus: "And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away." How comforting to the sorrowful are the prophet's words! They contain no hint of doubt as to his absolute assurance of the dominance of good. Sorrow and sighing do flee away before the gladness experienced by those who glory in the Lord, who live in the consciousness of the constant presence of good, good which, being infinite, can never be absent.

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September 4, 1926
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