Article April 16, 1927 Issue

Understanding

JANE M. GARAGHTY

The attainment of a higher spiritual understanding of God and His Christ is the object of all sincere students of Christian Science; and in this connection a question frequently asked by beginners in the study of this Science is stated on page 495 of our textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy: "How can I progress most rapidly in the understanding of Christian Science?" On the same page begins Mrs. Eddy's reply, part of which is, "Study thoroughly the letter and imbibe the spirit."

Throughout the Bible we find emphasis placed upon the importance of knowing God's Word. And by God's Word is not meant merely a compilation of material words used to express material thoughts. Because God is Spirit, the true meaning of His Word must be spiritual, must indeed be His own thoughts or ideas, which operate in a manner we can understand. It is stated in Psalms, "He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions." In John's Gospel also there is this definite pronouncement: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." Mrs. Eddy proved to herself, and to the entire satisfaction of all her followers, the necessity of earnest study of the Word.

Divine Love has provided abundant opportunities whereby we may acquire the letter of Christian Science. We find that the daily systematic study of the Lesson-Sermon in the Christian Science Quarterly, along with Mrs. Eddy's other writings and the Christian Science periodicals, is a great aid in establishing our confidence in God and in lifting our thoughts to the place where we are enabled to "imbibe the spirit." A definition of "imbibe" is "to receive or absorb into the mind;" and we have the right to know that every sincere seeker of this truth is receptive to the statements of Truth, and able to receive and absorb them. Only to the extent that one receives and absorbs the Word of God can it become externalized to his consciousness; and thus he is enabled to demonstrate for himself these words of our Leader (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 239): "In the ratio that Christian Science is studied and understood, mankind will, as aforetime, imbibe the spirit and prove the practicality, validity, and redemptive power of Christianity by healing all manner of disease, by overcoming sin and death."

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