Article January 6, 1934 Issue

"Radiant reflection"

HARRIET KATE HELMAN GRAY

At a time when enemy hosts faced the forces of Israel in overwhelming numbers, Gideon was inspired of God to lead a small force of three hundred picked men against them. We read in the Bible that "he put a trumpet in every man's hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers." At the sound of Gideon's trumpet, all were to blow the trumpets and break the pitchers; and the sudden flare of light upon all sides put the enemy to flight. Spiritually interpreted, this story may point an inference that error, or evil, no matter how intrenched or how seemingly powerful, cannot abide the light of Truth.

Christian Science reveals that the source of spiritual light and radiance is God—Life, Truth, and Love—and that man, as the reflection of God, manifests this radiance. According to the record, Christ Jesus superlatively manifested this radiance of Truth. That the true followers of Jesus may reflect the light of Truth in proportion to their receptiveness to the Christ-idea is axiomatic in Christian Science; hence this challenging admonition of Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 15): "In speechless prayer, ask God to enable you to reflect God, to become His own image and likeness, even the calm, clear, radiant reflection of Christ's glory, healing the sick, bringing the sinner to repentance, and raising the spiritually dead in trespasses and sins to life in God."

Paul wrote: "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." How encouraging, how inspiring, it is to remind one's self that this "light of the knowledge of the glory of God" shines forever to enlighten our hearts! How energizing to remember that individual duty is not to kindle or even to tend the light of Truth, but to destroy the mortal belief, in order that the reflected light may shine forth wherever healing is needed! Did any of Gideon's warriors disobey the command? No; when the trumpet sounded, united through obedience they went forward to victory!

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