Article October 27, 1945 Issue

Home—the Consciousness of Love

W. NORMAN COOPER

Correctly interpreted, the inspired Word of the Bible teaches its students that man does not live in changing material surroundings. Rather does he dwell in the changeless spiritual universe of God-inspired ideas. The Psalmist realized, to some extent at least, this truth, for he affirmed: "I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever" (23:6). In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" the revered Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy, renders the verse from which this statement is quoted, as follows (p. 578): "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house [the consciousness] of [love] for ever." "The consciousness of Love"—this is man's eternal dwelling place, his forever home. This spiritual consciousness is never limited by material surroundings, by personal temperaments, nor by human love and hate. Man possesses it by reflection.

Christ Jesus, our Way-shower, had a clear concept of this spiritual abiding place. His teachings abound with the truth that man indeed dwells in the realm of infinite Spirit. In this spiritual realm he saw man tenderly cared for by the loving Father-Mother God. Man, to Jesus' inspired consciousness, never dwelt in a "far country" of material living and acting, as did the prodigal son in the Master's parable. Instead he realized that man dwells in the realm where divine Mind is ever tenderly declaring to His spiritual idea, man: "Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine" (Luke 15:31). The oneness of God and man dwelling in spiritual unity was a basic doctrine in the Master's teaching. Can we possibly doubt that this enlightened knowledge of his Father, of himself, and of his fellow man, met his every human need?

Today many are facing the necessity of re-establishing their homes. They may gain confidence in one incident of Jesus' experience related in the Gospels of Mark and Luke. These two Gospel writers tell us that on one occasion Jesus was in need of some place in which to eat the traditional Jewish Passover with his disciples. He was not disturbed by the apparent lack of a material house, for with the confidence that comes of spiritual understanding he instructed two of his disciples to go to the near-by city, where they would be guided to one possessing an "upper room furnished and prepared." And what was the result? Mark puts it this way (14: 16): "And his disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found as he had said unto them."

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