Article December 22, 1945 Issue

"What of this child?"

TERESE ROSE NAGEL

In "A Christmas Sermon" (Miscellaneous Writings, pp. 161–168) Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, draws a clear distinction between the spiritual idea of man and the corporeal, human concept. Taking as her subject, "The Corporeal and Incorporeal Saviour," she elucidates step by step Jesus' demonstration of the Christ, or Son of God, in contradistinction to his appearance as a human being. The illuminating Bible text taken as a basis for this sermon is (Isa. 9:6): "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

After analyzing the significance of the life and work of the Master, Mrs. Eddy, quoting in part the foregoing Bible text, asks, "And what of this child?" Her answer is as follows: "This child, or spiritual idea, has evolved a more ready ear for the overture of angels and the scientific understanding of Truth and Love."

Mrs. Eddy further asks, "Who are his parents, brother, and sisters?" to which she replies, "His Father and Mother are divine Life, Truth, and Love; and they who do the will of his Father are his brethren." Our Leader here expresses thoughts which are of great benefit to those who are thinking of themselves as human parents, and in so doing may be holding themselves and their loved ones in the crushing and enveloping bondage of personal sense and personal parental possession.

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