Article September 15, 1945 Issue

"Lord, increase our faith"

GEORGE WIEDA

Because of his unquestioning faith in the ever-presence and all-power of the Supreme Being, and in the reality and unchangeableness of divine law and order, Jesus was able to heal instantly. The Master's works confirmed the Christ Science he taught. His teachings, however, were so contrary to the generally accepted material viewpoint that even his disciples found it difficult to comprehend many of his statements. Pondering the demands which their great Teacher had just made upon them, the disciples entreated him (Luke 17:5, 6), "Lord, increase our faith." He replied, "If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you."

The mustard seed is one of the smallest of seeds, yet it grows abundantly and produces profusely under the least favorable conditions. These characteristics may have caused the Master to choose the mustard seed as a symbol with which to illustrate the power of unquestioning faith in the creator.

Today the desire for higher faith is completely satisfied by instructions given by Mary Baker Eddy in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." Anticipating the desire for that faith which will lead to the understanding of the Christ-idea, Mrs. Eddy asks the question (ibid., p. 495), "How can I progress most rapidly in the understanding of Christian Science?" Her answer is, in part, as follows: "Study thoroughly the letter and imbibe the spirit. Adhere to the divine Principle of Christian Science and follow the behests of God, abiding steadfastly in wisdom, Truth, and Love." A careful study of the inspired Word of the Bible together with the Christian Science textbook unfolds the way to the spiritual understanding that heals the sick through faith in God.

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