Article October 5, 1946 Issue

Response

NERINE B. GOBEN

In the Glossary of her textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mary Baker Eddy gives as part of the definition of "Gethsemane" (p. 586), "Love meeting no response, but still remaining love." If we love with the love that comes from the divine nature we become purified in the furnace of human unresponsiveness and attain a true sense of unselfed manhood. Do our attempts to express love and kindness sometimes seem to be met with indifference or even aloofness? Then let us look away from person and turn wholeheartedly to God. Let us fix our gaze clearly on reality and we shall see that, however lacking in responsiveness our brother may appear to be, the man of God's creating is beloved, loving, and lovable. We do not always know what problems our brother may be facing, or how bravely he may be standing. We do not need to know. But we do need to pray, humbly and continuously, that our vision be kept clear so that we may behold him in Science as God's radiant reflection. And we must be ready and eager to offer a helping hand in the way of divine Love's directing. If wisdom governs each act of thoughtfulness, we need not hesitate to do more than just our part, to go the second mile, as Jesus put it.

Pure friendship, based on mutual helpfulness and spiritual aspirations, is one of the sweetest blessings which may enter men's lives. But the Master's experience teaches us not to depend upon a human sense of personality. He had probably hoped to have the comfort of his disciples' loving support in his hour of need. Surely, one may say, he had a right to expect this, for he had given them so much. And yet, in his deep anguish in Gethsemane, he was met by apathy and neglect. Mrs. Eddy speaks of this on page 48 of Science and Health thus: "There was no response to that human yearning, and so Jesus turned forever away from earth to heaven, from sense to Soul." Jesus did not, however, allow himself to remain saddened by this experience, nor did he become hardened toward his disciples. He "turned forever away," not from them, but from the lying arguments of injustice and self-pity.

His love for his students continued to be expressed as before, and on an even higher level. While he had learned the utter futility of relying on person, he had also gained a fuller sense of his oneness with his Father-Mother God and a more spiritual love for his brother man. He proved the words of Scripture (Gen. 50:20), "But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good."

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