Article November 27, 1943 Issue

Greater Love

GEOFFREY A. B. COOPER

Two students of Christian Science, walking through the beautiful countryside of the English Cotswolds one summer evening, were much impressed when they came upon a memorial at some crossroads. It was an obelisk of Cotswold stone, surmounted by a bronze figure representing youth at peace after battle. A closer inspection of this reminder of the previous world conflict disclosed words which had been cut in the mossy stone at the base, and which read, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." After some quiet thought and discussion, a fuller meaning of these oft-quoted words of Jesus was discerned, and the clear interpretation gained has since been to one student a source of strength and inspiration.

The more commonly accepted interpretation of these words is that the greatest test of our unselfishness and the depth of our affection for another are shown by our willingness to lay down even our very life—the highest human possession—for our friend. War, although inherently evil, provides opportunities for exemplifying high qualities such as self-sacrifice, sincerity, and devotion. Many occasions for overcoming the evil suggestions of fear, hate, sensuality, death, disease, arise in war; but to the student of Christian Science, as to all others, the need for overcoming evil is increasingly apparent when international wars are being fought.

Under the marginal heading "The armor of divinity," Mrs. Eddy writes in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 571): "At all times and under all circumstances, overcome evil with good. Know thyself, and God will supply the wisdom and the occasion for a victory over evil." The means for overcoming are ever at hand; moreover, victory is already assured for those who gain the knowledge of man's true selfhood as the reflection of God, the image and likeness of all that is good, beautiful, and true. Such understanding furnishes us with "the armor of divinity," our complete and certain protection from every form of evil.

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