Article June 24, 1933 Issue

Longing to be Understood

NELLIE E. PEASE

IT has been said, and truly, that much of the world's misery is due to our misunderstanding of one another. Who does not long to be understood aright? Our Master questioned the disciples, "Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?" This query was met by the reply, "Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others Jeremias, or one of the prophets." How similar in a sense is this to our human experiences, when friends and enemies alike give voice to varying and mistaken opinions of us!

Referring to this incident, Mrs. Eddy says in our textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 137): "Yearning to be understood, the Master repeated, 'But whom say ye that I am?' This renewed inquiry meant: Who or what is it that is able to do the work, so mysterious to the popular mind? In his rejection of the answer already given and his renewal of the question, it is plain that Jesus completely eschewed the narrow opinion implied in their citation of the common report about him." Peter's clearer vision and better understanding of the spiritual nature of his questioner enabled him to reply, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." Well do we recall our Master's acceptance and approval of the answer!

It might be well to pause in the daily rush of human affairs to consider the heavenly experience it would be if we should approach another with the query, "Whom say ye that I am?" and be met with the loving response, "Thou art a child of God, even my brother, for we are both children of the one Father." In the presence of this just and generous acknowledgment of the spiritual character of our brother man, bitterness, hatred, misunderstanding could not long endure. An excellent way to observe the Golden Rule would be to try to understand our neighbor as we would have him understand us.

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Magnify the Lord
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