Article March 4, 1939 Issue

Scientific Recognition of Good

MARY COLE CHAPMAN

CHRIST JESUS recognized only good as reality, and was thus able to bring peace to the sorrowing, reformation to the sinner, and health to those who sought his aid. Undoubtedly, among those who turned to him for help, there were many whose past actions had not been wholly good, but Jesus never condemned the person. He recognized in each individual call for help a sincere desire for salvation and freedom. He spent no time discussing past failures. Indeed, before his clear consciousness, error disappeared.

Peter, frequently referred to as the disciple who denied his Lord, or as the impetuous or overzealous one, was not so described by Jesus. For the Master, in his close association with Peter, knew all about his earnest desire to be faithful, even though sometimes this disciple was unsuccessful in this effort. He also knew that occasionally Peter yielded to temptation. Yet, Jesus consistently recognized as real only Peter's good motives, his earnestness and the sincerity of his purpose to obey the law of God. On one occasion, when Peter recognized the Christ, Truth, which Jesus expressed, the Master turned to him and said: "Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church."

When he forgave the Magdalen, Jesus' clear consciousness of divine Love healed her. He did not say, Now what have you been thinking? Nor did he refer to her past. He must have silently rebuked the error which had bound her, looked beneath the turmoil and unrest of sin-sick thoughts, and recognized her earnest desire to be healed. How gladly he must have said: "Thy sins are forgiven. ... Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace." Because of Jesus' acknowledgment of good as real, he recognized the ability of all God's children to express purity and nobility.

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