The Holy Comforter

Ella W. Hoag

Who in all the world has not at some time felt the need of comfort? Indeed, the burden in human hearts seems at times to be so great as to appear almost universal. All through the Bible there runs a thread of tender comfort, assuring men over and over again that God's purpose is that men shall not lack consolation. "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God," is a refrain which has rung out to many a troubled heart with its healing message.

In spite of God's promises that His people should never lack the heartening blessing of His conscious presence, mankind has gone on, in a very large degree, uncomforted. It still cries out, with eyes all closed in bewilderment, for freedom from dismay, believing that it knows not where to turn for help. Because men have not understood the reason for or the exact nature of their discomfort, it is scarcely strange that they have not been aware of the place where comfort was to be found or how applied. They have not realized that all difficulty has been due to the lack of knowing God, and so they have deprived themselves of the remedy which is always at hand.

When Christ Jesus promised his disciples that he would not leave them comfortless, but that he would come again and receive them unto himself, that where he was, they might be also, he proclaimed that endless comfort which cannot fail to be realized where there is the consciousness of unity with God and His Christ. In addition to this direct promise Jesus also prophesied the coming of the Comforter, which he said "is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name," adding, "He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." This statement of Jesus is one thoroughly familiar to every Christian Scientist, but the fullness of its meaning has yet to be learned; for does it not indeed set forth the possibility of God, divine Love?

In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 55) Mrs. Eddy declares, "This Comforter I understand to be Divine Science;" and what a marvelous vision of deliverance from evil does she here portray! How earnestly and continuously should the Christian Scientist cling to this universal deliverer! Think of what "Comforter" and "Divine Science" used synonymously imply! What joy to realize that there is an infinite Science of Life which may be understood and used at all times and under all circumstances, because it is continually revealing God to all the world, and always with that comfort which allays all fear, which consoles all grief, banishes all sin, and lifts one ever into that sense of unity with God and His which sustains, and establishes in one's experience all that is true and good.

The Holy Comforter! And once having accepted it we can never again be separated from its omnipresent power. The Holy Comforter! Always at hand to refresh our understanding of divine Love, to proclaim in ever richer measure the healing power of divine Truth, to declare with the "still small voice" the gentleness and compassion which never fail. What holy companionship, what ever present solace, what uplifting blessedness; and it is all ours for the asking!

And perhaps most blessed of all is the fact that as we realize more and more fully that this Comforter is ours here and now, we awaken to the joyful knowledge that it is ours not only to use for our own health and happiness, but that it is ours also to reflect to all mankind. Our beloved Leader closes her most exquisite and withal most helpful of autobiographies with Hamilton's words (Retrospection and Introspection, p. 95):

"Ask God to give thee skill
In comfort's art:
That thou may'st consecrated be
And set apart
Unto a life of sympathy.
For heavy is the weight of ill
In every heart;
And comforters are needed much
Of Christlike touch."

And who would think for an instant of having a comforter and not wanting to share it with all the world? Who that has tasted of the joy and freedom, of the calm and peace which result from acquaintance with our Holy Comforter, could fail in a longing to bring similar bliss to the troubled hearts which are in such dire need? Surely Christian Scientists cannot cling too steadfastly to the Divine Science which reveals to all mankind for all time that perfect, all-satisfying understanding of God which is now and always the Comforter.

Ella W. Hoag

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