Article March 26, 1938 Issue

"The focal distance of infinity"

RUTH IRENE ROSS

"Immortal man is the eternal idea of Truth, that cannot lapse into a mortal belief or error concerning himself and his origin: he cannot get out of the focal distance of infinity," writes Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, on page 79 of "Miscellaneous Writings." There is, perhaps, no more vivid Biblical illustration of the truth of the above statement than that afforded by the account of Peter's denial of the Master, as given in the Gospel of Luke, and his subsequent recognition of the Messiah on the shore of the Lake of Gennesaret, following the crucifixion, as recorded by John.

With what patient compassion did Jesus foresee the fear which would beset Peter! On the very evening he was seized by the soldiers of the chief priests, Jesus said to him (Luke 22:34), "Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me." And even as he had said, Peter three times before dawn disclaimed his connection with the Way-shower. Bitter was his remorse; but, having recognized his guilt, Peter sought constructively to atone for his temporary disloyalty. In other words, no "mortal belief or error concerning himself" was able to continue to dim his clear, spiritual perception of his sonship with God and his duty to his Master. It was Peter who, when informed of the identity of the stranger on the shore of the Sea of Tiberias, impetuously cast himself into the water to swim shoreward. To Christ Jesus' patient query, at the close of the morning meal (John 21:15), "Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?" he replied, with a fervency born of unselfed devotion, "Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee." Had Peter allowed a false sense of self-condemnation to master him after his denial of Jesus, how different might have been his reply to that searching question!

Each one, through the spiritual recognition of the nature of God and man, may claim his inviolable heritage, his permanent abode within "the focal distance of infinity." Man, Mrs. Eddy tells us on page 591 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," is "the compound idea of infinite Spirit; the spiritual image and likeness of God; the full representation of Mind." With this inspired definition as a basis for thought, we can correct our mistaken concept of man. We can joyfully relinquish and destroy every fallacious belief which declares man to be sickly, sinful, sorrowful, the victim of circumstances, or the prey of a malignant power called death.

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