Joy

ALFRED SCHMIDT

The quality of joy is not always rightly understood. One definition of "joy" is, "The emotion excited by acquisition or expectation of good." In this simple sentence a glimpse of its meaning is gained; and at the same time it is pointed out how one may attain to a state of joy. The words "expectation of good" imply much to the Christian Scientist, and this has become for him the chief factor in daily experience. We cannot imagine a follower of Truth who does not expect good rather than evil.

The Psalmist declared, "In thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." Why, then, since almost everyone has an inherent sense of joy, do not all express this quality? It is important first of all to consider more closely the meaning of the word "good" in order to gain a right concept of joy, the joy of which our Master said, "Your joy no man taketh from you." He also said "There is none good but one that is God." On page 587 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mary Baker Eddy gives a similar definition: "Good. God; Spirit; omnipotence; omniscience; omnipresence; omniaction." We see from this how closely joy is related to the knowledge of God as good; therefore, it is not surprising that our Master gave us the rule, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Is there, then, any justification for lack, or any reason why we should not rejoice—rejoice in God, in the consciousness of good?

Let us look at the definition of God as given by our Leader on page 465 of Science and Health. "What is God?" she asks. And she answers, "God is incorporeal, divine, supreme, infinite Mind, Spirit, Soul, Principle, Life, Truth, Love." What spiritual joy is found in the understanding of the words—"incorporeal, divine, supreme, infinite Mind"! They give us the certainty that God knows nothing that is base, corporeal, or finite. And man? Neither has God's idea, man, anything to do with material imperfection. In conformity with the Bible, Christian Science teaches that the real man is the image of God, divine Mind. Consequently man, as God's likeness, expresses nothing that is corporeal, base, or finite. The fact, therefore, that woe has nothing to do with the real man, and that it is unknown to God, is cause for rejoicing.

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