Communion with God

MARY OZELLA HEAD

Divine moments—yea, hours—of communion with God were so common to Christ Jesus that he was able to understand the language of God without effort. It was his spiritual understanding of Truth, his realization of God's presence, that enabled him to know at the tomb of Lazarus that God heard him and that He heard him always. May we understand Truth too? Yes, through purification; through practice of the Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount; through meekness, mercifulness, charity, peaceableness, and righteousness. How much of these are we expressing? In proportion to our expression of them we are demonstrating good.

Mrs. Eddy says in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 274), "Divine Science is absolute, and permits no half-way position in learning its Principle and rule—establishing it by demonstration." No laxity of effort, no careless methods can be indulged in our pursuit of the truth and its application. Prayerfulness, obedience to the rules of Christian Science, gratitude for the good that is always with us, these are the essentials that help us to enter into that communion with God which Jesus enjoyed, and to establish our knowledge of Spirit by demonstration. "If 'faithful over a few things,' we shall be made rulers over many; but the one unused talent decays and is lost," Mrs. Eddy tells us (Science and Health, p. 323). Through perseverance, activity, and the improving of our moments as well as our hours by constant refusal to admit the multiform claims of evil, we use our talent and safeguard our knowledge of the truth.

Worldly entanglements, family cares, and the various subtle arguments of material sense may seem to be the foes of spiritual progress; but the alert Christian Scientist is faithful to what he knows of God's laws, and constantly demonstrates this knowledge by right thinking and right acting, whatever the circumstance that tries to enslave him. Nourished by the Word of God and abiding in Love, we can express God, whether in surroundings that seem pleasant to material sense or while struggling with problems that seem to chain us; for we are always in the presence of God. As the Psalmist sang: "Whither shall I go from thy spirit? ... If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me."

"My presence shall go with thee" is the promise to each one individually, as it was to Moses; for "now are we the sons of God." No waiting, but at this very moment we may realize God's presence and claim our birthright! How simple and easy; and as natural as the flower turning to the sunlight! Is there anything to be desired more than this sweet communion with God that comes of knowing His ever-presence, and that brings into our experience the beauty of holiness, the revelation of Truth, the government of wisdom, the inspiration of Love?

"When we realize that Life is Spirit, never in nor of matter," Mrs. Eddy says, "this understanding will expand into self-completeness, finding all in God, good, and needing no other consciousness" (Science and Health, p. 264). Each day is a step toward "self-completeness," if used for the unfoldment of good; each hour may become one of spiritual communion with God, so that we too may realize something of the divine anointing bestowed upon Jesus, and accomplish more of his wonderful works. The language of Spirit, which Jesus heard, is universal, and may be understood by all who apply themselves to know and practice the truth.

God speaks to us continually if we listen. We can hear His voice through the Bible's sacred pages and through Science and Health and all the other inspired writings of our Leader. We have all we need to complete our spiritual education; and it rests with each one, individually, as to how much he acquires and the time he takes to acquire it.

We have so many things to aid us in our journey that it seems as if none could lack. There are practitioners, teachers, lecturers, our Lesson-Sermons, our literature, our church services, our Wednesday evening testimony meetings, all of which are available to most of us. Is there any excuse, then, for backwardness? Are we not all continually standing by the open fount, where we may drink and be refreshed?

"Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price." "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled."

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