Article February 8, 1936 Issue

The Radiance of Joy

ANNE ELIZABETH JENKINS

The Bible and "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" are filled with words such as "joy" and "bliss." Jesus told us that he came so that our joy might be full; and Mrs. Eddy, our Leader, carried this idea throughout her writings. We find "rapture," "bliss," and "radiance" in her vocabulary of joy. Twenty-four times in her Prose Works she uses the word "bliss," and thirteen times in Science and Health. She uses it in connection with Soul, spiritual sense; with Love, with God, and with unselfish loving. "Rapture" she uses nine times in the same works, and forms of the word "radiance" twenty-five times. As for "joy"—it is mentioned twenty-nine times in Science and Health and a hundred and forty-five times in "Prose Works." And it appears in connection with such words as "eager," "exuberant," "fresh," "heartfelt," "ineffable," "supernal," and "thrill of." And these words express spontaneity and exuberance.

We Christian Scientists are said to be a happy people, but we have yet to demonstrate in larger measure the radiance that comes from spiritual thinking. Too frequently we carry about with us the marks of the struggle with evil. Though we pray faithfully—go up into the mountain of spiritual vision—we do not often enough come down with faces shining.

This should not be so, because Christian Science has brought us the glad tidings of a present salvation. It has shown us that the Bible teaching that God is omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, is fundamental truth, unalterable, basic, demonstrable, and that God made man in His image.

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Right Enthusiasm
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