In the night of trial in the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus withdrew from his disciples to pray; and as he took three of his faithful followers a little farther he requested that they tarry there and watch. But the disciples slept, slept at a time when need for alertness and watchfulness was great, when wicked minds were plotting to silence the voice of Truth by destroying the one who more than any other bore witness to Truth by blessing and healing those who in faith sought him.

It was more than a yearning for human companionship and understanding which elicited from the Master the words: "What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Jesus knew that the seed of Truth had been sown in the consciousness of his students, and great was his yearning to aid those earnest workers in their growth Spiritward. He realized that alertness and a right spirit of watchfulness were qualities essential to their individual growth, as well as to the establishment of the cause he held so dear, namely, the demonstration of Truth in human experience. His students must learn to maintain a positive watch for the appearance and unfoldment of Truth in human consciousness. This attainment was necessary to their individual salvation and to the fulfillment of the Master's glorious mission—the spreading of the gospel of peace and good will among men.

The need for positive watching is continuous. Jesus encouraged such watching when he added to his query the words, "The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." The five corporeal senses constitute the flesh, and these senses are indeed weak, for they have no authority, no foundation, no truth, no reality. In speaking of the devil or evil the Master said, "When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it." The material senses seem to govern mankind, but their sway is dispelled by the recognition and acceptance of the fact that God's will is beneficent and all-powerful, the law of destruction to any opposite so-called power or presence. God, Spirit, always wills good. Anything contrary to good is entirely unlike His nature and could not constitute His will.

Man is the image and likeness of God, and he is conscious only of what God knows. He is never conscious of evil. Mankind seems to be enslaved by sickness, suffering, and inharmony; hence the need of watching for the unfoldment of Truth in human consciousness. Proportionately as this unfoldment takes place, inharmony is proved to be unreal, an illusion.

Mankind must watch. Jesus urged this necessity. Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, recognized the importance of right watching, and in her writings may be found many citations stressing the value of watching. On the cover of the Christian Science Sentinel

Mrs. Eddy chose to place the words of Jesus, "What I say unto you I say unto all, Watch." Indeed, the name Sentinel, which Mrs. Eddy gave to this publication, shows her desire to impress upon mankind the need of watching.

A spirit of true watching is essential to progress in Christian Science. Right watching includes refusing to believe in or practice evil. In the spirit of true watching, a negative sense is surrendered for a positive, joyous recognition of the coming of the Christ to individual and universal human consciousness.

Positive watching sees the unreality of evil and refutes any superstitious belief that personal sense is an element of true watching. Mrs. Eddy has summed up the need of positive watching in a most comprehensive way in her article entitled "Watching versus Watching Out," in "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany," where she writes (p. 232): "If so-called watching produces fear or exhaustion and no good results, does that watch accord with Jesus' saying? It does not."

A Christian Scientist who was touring through a mountain district awoke one morning to find that a heavy mist had completely enveloped the beautiful scene which he had glimpsed the evening before. Realizing that the lovely view could not remain hidden, but would be fully revealed as the mist faded away, he joyously watched for that consummation. While he was watching, some helpful thoughts on the right spirit of watching filled his consciousness. He recognized that his present watch was a joyous one largely because he felt no false sense of responsibility. His task was only to watch, and he never doubted that the beauty would be revealed without effort on his part. His eager watching, however, placed him in a position to see the unfolding view. The glimpse of beauty which he had enjoyed the previous evening caused his thought to be filled with joyous expectancy, while he waited to see again that which he knew was there all the time, although temporarily hidden from his sight. He had no fear that the watch would be prolonged or in vain, for he knew that the mist which hid the beauty of the view would soon disappear before the warmth and light of the sun.

Each treatment given in Christian Science consists of letting the understanding of God dispel the illusion of the fleshly senses. The truth held to effectually uncovers the specific and general belief which has claimed to cause inharmony and unfolds the true idea which meets the need. This watching for the unfoldment of Truth is not a passive waiting for something to happen. Rather is it a joyous, active recognition and acknowledgment that God's work is done, that His creation is good and complete now. God has done His work, and our need is actively and joyously to understand and utilize the truth.

A young student of Christian Science found Jesus' words, used as title to this article, an inspiration in helping him to overcome a physical ill. A false sense of personal responsibility confronted him, largely because he was so situated that he could not obtain the help of a Christian Science practitioner. The battle with extreme suffering seemed a losing one. However, as he continued in earnest prayer for light, the words of Christ Jesus came to him, "What, could ye not watch with me one hour?" With those words came the realization that he was not alone—Truth had already done the work, and his task was to stay mentally awake and watch that his thoughts conformed to Truth. He began to recount to himself many healings which he and others had received through Christian Science. The mental rehearsal of these blessings filled him with joyous expectancy of further recognition of good in his own experience. He dwelt on these blessings and on many passages from the Bible and the writings of Mrs. Eddy, and so continued to watch, refusing to surrender this right mental activity so long as he remained physically awake. Toward morning the pain lessened sufficiently to allow him to sleep normally. He was healed, and from that night he never again suffered from that disease, although previously he had frequently experienced painful and persistent attacks.

A dictionary meaning of the word "watch" is to remain awake. The teachings of Christian Science place emphasis on the need for our staying mentally awake, thus helping ourselves and the world. Positive watching ensures alertness, and this quality is essential to progress. It is a joyous occupation, which purifies and happifies human experience, and ensures success in Christian healing.

Copyright, 1936, by The Christian Science Publishing Society, One, Norway Street, Boston, Massachusetts. Entered at Boston post office as second-class matter. Acceptance for mailing at a special rate of postage provided for in section 1103, Act of October 3, 1917, authorized on July 11, 1918.