Article May 26, 1928 Issue

How Dost Thou Love?

EDITH BAILEY

In the fourteenth chapter of John's Gospel, that marvelous chapter which reveals the Christliness of Jesus, we have a well-defined lesson in the practical way of loving. For months, perhaps, many of the disciples had been closely associated with Jesus; they had seen the truth lived and demonstrated by him; they had heard his wonderful lessons; but when, as it would seem, they should have glimpsed the import of his teachings, we find Thomas, in response to the declaration of Jesus, "I go to prepare a place for you. ... And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know," voicing this query: "Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?"

There is much for us in the answer Jesus gave to Thomas. There was no impatience shown at the materiality which was attempting to blind the vision of the disciples; there was no evidence of discouragement because he had labored so long and so faithfully and the results seemed so small; there was no vexation that the disciples had been so long in coming to an understanding of the truth. But with patience, with sympathy for their blind beliefs, with love so great that he saw them only as the Father saw them, he answered with this great truth: "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

How many times have we become impatient because someone near and dear to us seems to have made very slow progress in the study of Christian Science? How many times have we been annoyed and disturbed because someone who we think should know better is found voicing error? Have there not been times when we have been vexed and critical because we have noticed that someone is obviously striving for place? These are the testing times that put us on trial to prove how much we are practically loving. Perhaps when these temptations have come we have not cleared our consciousness of the belief in an evil power which would bind our brother. In addition to this, have we to this one or to that one made an audible declaration that this error or that error is being manifested by a certain person? By that very declaration not only are we binding the cords more tightly about our brother, but we ourselves are admitting a selfhood apart from God.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

Truth's Mighty Efficacy