Article December 25, 1937 Issue

"Good tidings"

WYTHE H. WOOLFOLK

On that glorious night in ancient Palestine the angel of light appeared unto watchful shepherds bringing the greatest tidings of joy the world has ever known, saying: "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." Today Christian Science, shining above the darkness of materialism, repeats the same angelic message, "I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people." For we may say that this day, and every day in the hearts of all who will receive it, is born "a Saviour, which is Christ," defined by Mrs. Eddy on page 583 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" as follows: "The divine manifestation of God, which comes to the flesh to destroy incarnate error."

December the twenty-fifth is a day set aside by many in commemoration of the birth of Jesus, and this day is observed in various ways, usually by the exchanging of gifts, making merriment for children, by carol singing and religious gatherings. To human sense it is a very sweet and lovely occasion. But even as mankind, uninstructed by Christian Science, has largely missed the message of the Christ, so it has mistaken the meaning of Christmas. The true Christmas can never be confined to any day of natal observance, for the Christ never was born. Christ, Truth, always has been present and ever will be; and the same divine influence which motivated every thought and action of Jesus will be felt by all who open their hearts to receive the Christ-qualities of spirituality, purity, unselfed love, and who are obedient to the infinite God, good. Then each day a bigger, better, and brighter Christmas will dawn, one filled with an increased understanding of the unlimited goodness of God, Spirit, Love. As we grow to know more of divine Love we shall give up the habit of mere gift-giving at Christmas, and shall daily express the glory of God in our every thought and act.

In her poem "Christ and Christmas," Mrs. Eddy lifts thought above the common celebrations of December the twenty-fifth in the following stanzas:

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