Editorial April 23, 1927 Issue

By Prayer and Fasting

Albert F. Gilmore

Jesus' reply to his disciples who asked the reason why they had not been able to heal the boy pronounced by his father to be lunatic, as recorded in Matthew's Gospel, contains an important message to those who practice spiritual healing. While attributing their failure to unbelief, the Master uttered these significant words: "Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting." In the right interpretation of "prayer and fasting" lies the key to the healing of many a case of illness pronounced by medical authority to be incurable. In defining the purport of Jesus' words, Mrs. Eddy states in "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" (p. 339), "The animus of his saying was: Silence appetites, passion, and all that wars against Spirit and spiritual power."

While prayer is the scientific method of healing taught in Christian Science, yet prayer is not always, perhaps not often, accompanied by the fasting which makes it most effective. As we withdraw from the world of material sense, and lift thought above its testimony into the realm of Spirit, where the facts of being alone abide, we gain that exalted state which is most conducive to the demonstration of divine power over material belief. Since the curative agency is our understanding of spiritual Truth, the state of consciousness which is the best transparency for Truth is the condition most favorable for healing. It is the clean window pane through which shines most light.

Moreover, since acceptance of material sense testimony as real bars spiritual growth, to be rid of materialism is the paramount necessity. Of this necessity Mrs. Eddy states (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 156): "It is their materiality that clogs the progress of students, and 'this kind goeth not forth but by prayer and fasting.' It is materialism through which the animal magnetizer preys, and in turn becomes a prey. Spirituality is the basis of all true thought and volition." Here our Leader has set the problem squarely before us. The sensuous beliefs through which materialism finds expression are to be reduced to nothingness, a process accomplished through the power of Spirit. The metaphysician has no other means of destroying error, and needs none other.

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