"Ye are the salt of the earth. . . . Ye are the light of the world." To a Christian Scientist these words spoken by Jesus immediately following the Beatitudes in his wonderful Sermon on the Mount have a specific meaning.

In the Beatitudes, Jesus plainly indicated the qualities which are blessed,—selflessness, purity, humility, meekness, mercy, and courage,—and a Christian Scientist knows that in proportion as he reflects these qualities is he becoming a light in the world. Did not Jesus fully exemplify all of them? And did he not say, "I am the light of the world"? Therefore, the true Christian Scientist, who is striving to let that Mind be in him "which was also in Christ Jesus," finds that he too must confirm his faith by his works, rather than by words alone. He claims no selfhood apart from God, no intelligence but the reflection of divine Mind, no life except that which is derived from God, who is Life, and no love but the love of God. And his desire is so to live that the world may see his "good works," and glorify his Father in heaven.

The light which "shineth in darkness" is reflected by one who is learning to overcome self-love, self-ignorance, selfwill, self-righteousness, lust, envy, revenge. Darkness and doubt always accompany these errors, and they are foes to health, happiness, and progress. The good that the Christian Scientist may do for himself and others, for the church, and for the world, depends upon his ability to purify his own mental household; in other words, to cast the beam out of his own eye. Through selfless love he is able to lay off his own burden and that of his brother. He lingers near one who may be in distress, stretching forth his hand, which is neither cold nor empty. He reflects tenderness and loving-kindness. Consciousness of God's presence banishes gloom, melts sorrows, and brings gladness and joy. The true Christian Scientist's thinking, whether in home, office, bank, school, or factory, will be uplifiting, loving, healing. How we all have longed for the love of a friend who lifts instead of leans, who forgives all our shortcomings ere asked to do so, who trusts us, is never envious of our good fortune, and is ever ready to encourage us when the way seems dark! And a true Christian Scientist can be that kind of friend! What a joy and privilege! In his Sermon on the Mount Jesus has taught us how to be a true friend. In the thirteenth chapter of his first epistle to the Corinthians Paul explained the real meaning of love. Our Leader's writings are full of loving counsel and admonitions.

In "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 294) Mrs. Eddy writes: "A real Christian Scientist is a marvel, a miracle in the universe of mortal mind. With selfless love, he inscribes on the heart of humanity and transcribes on the page of reality the living, palpable presence—the might and majesty!—of goodness. He lives for all mankind, and honors his creator." Living for all mankind means, then, self-forgetfulness, charity, kindness; the realization that the love of God is impartial, that not one of His ideas can be unloving, unhappy, or ungrateful, but that each one manifests, in his own way and in his own place, the warmth and sunlight of God's love. Is this not honoring the creator?

In his relationship with the church, the real Christian Scientist finds unlimited opportunities for letting his light shine. He finds each place he may fill a sacred one, and he also learns that the progress of the church is wholly the result of the individual spiritual growth and activity of each one of its members. In a message to a branch church Mrs. Eddy writes, in "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" (p. 195), "The praiseworthy success of this church, and its united efforts to build an edifice in which to worship the infinite, sprang from the temples erected first in the hearts of its members—the unselfed love that builds without hands, eternal in the heaven of Spirit." The building of the temple in our hearts is a precious privilege, and we find unselfed love the material which builds for eternity. Whatever his place, the Christian Scientist's light will shine brightest when he forgets self in his desire to reflect God. He knows that when the hearts of church members are filled with love and humility, the doors of the church will swing wide, and the stranger will be ushered in to find what he most needs—healing.

The teacher in the Sunday school has the glorious privilege of tending the flower garden; for, truly, the children are like so many beautiful buds, each one unfolding in God's way and in God's time, as he finds himself in the warmth and sunlight of reflected love. Like a gardener who carefully uproots the weeds, the teacher may aid in correcting thoughts which would hinder receptivity, and in supplying the wholesomeness and purity of the truth which, as it is assimilated, results in the full bloom: the unfoldment of God's idea. The teacher's only responsibility, then, is to keep his own thought a clear transparency through which the truth may be brought to these little ones.

Service in the church is service for God; and through his conscious reflection of Life, substance, intelligence, each member, in daily communion with God, is erecting in his heart the true temple.

The usefulness of the true Christian Scientist in helping to solve world problems is unquestioned; for he himself is proving the value of unselfed love and service, the power of honesty, the strength of obedience; and is presenting his body as a living sacrifice through temperate, pure, and wholesome living. Does not the solving of an individual problem give promise of the ultimate solving of the world's problems?

When we learn to love Christ, Truth, more than mortal selfhood, overcoming covetousness, envy, and all the concomitants of mortal belief which cause dissension and war, we then shall see our true value to our neighbor, to the church, and to the world.

In the words of our Leader (Miscellany, p. 191): "Continue steadfast in love and good works. Children of light,you are not children of darkness. Let your light shine. Keep in mind the foundations of Christian Science—one God and one Christ. Keep personality out of sight, and Christ's 'Blessed are ye' will seal your apostleship."