Editorial December 20, 1941 Issue

"The basis of Christmas"

Evelyn F. Heywood

"On earth peace, good will toward men," was the angels' message to the shepherds keeping watch over their flock, on the night that Jesus was born. In referring to the anniversary of that hour, Mary Baker Eddy writes in "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" (p. 260), "The basis of Christmas is love loving its enemies, returning good for evil, love that 'suffereth long, and is kind.'"

The promise of peace on earth came with the advent of the Christian era; nevertheless the human experience of Christ Jesus was beset by conflict and persecution, by the evidence of hatred and of violence. "Think not," he said to the people, "that I am come to send peace on earth. I came not to send peace, but a sword." In explaining this seeming contradiction, Mrs. Eddy writes on page 214 of "Miscellaneous Writings," "The very conflict his Truth brought, in accomplishing its purpose of Love, meant, all the way through, 'Put up thy sword:' but the sword must have been drawn before it could be returned into the scabbard."

The Christ-message brings peace to humanity — not a counterfeit peace, sacrificing courage and integrity, dethroning justice, and ensuring mere self-preservation, but the peace of steadfast spiritual knowing. Fearlessly will those who possess it cross swords with evil, in order to eliminate that which would usurp, distort, and deceive.

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