Article October 19, 1940 Issue

"The imperishable things of Spirit"

DOROTHY EILEEN HEYWOOD-DOVE

"Search the scriptures," counseled the greatest spiritual teacher the world has ever known; and he added significantly, "For in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me." Turning the attention of his critics away from his personality to the sacred writings in which they had been instructed since childhood, Jesus sought to awaken their thought to the great facts of spiritual being, to interpret and clarify the letter with which they were familiar, and to open their eyes to the meaning of eternal life and the method of its achievement.

The outward observance, the constant, even tedious reiteration of the letter of the law by scribe and Pharisee, called forth new and startling statements from his lips, statements of man's oneness with God, his divine source, in explanation of the mighty works which challenged the futility of their ritualism and the superficiality of their doctrines.

Undiscerningly did the Jewish contemporaries of Jesus listen to his constant references to the exemplification of his Messianic mission and confuse them with his human personality. His sublime originality and courage roused their fury, even while they saw the sick healed, the sinning redeemed, and the dead raised up by him. In this manner did they close the door upon themselves and their own capacity for spiritual attainment.

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