Article October 10, 1953 Issue

THE DIVINE DEMAND AND MEASURING ROD

[Original article in German]

ELISABETH REIM

Jesus could demand (Matt. 5:48), "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect," because he knew perfection to be quality of true being. Mary Baker Eddy says in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 518), "The divine Principle or Spirit, comprehends and expresses all, and all must therefore be as perfect as the divine Principle is perfect." It is the fact of perfection which must be brought to light and the illusion of imperfection which must be destroyed.

Mortals cling to a supposititious selfhood, which does not originate in God; they identify themselves with it and try to improve it, instead of laying it off. When we have turned from matter at even one point and have beheld spiritual reality, we are apt to look about for human approval. True selfhood is not, however, proud of the fact that it gives forth light. Giving forth light is inherent in its nature, and it cannot do otherwise than reflect the light from which it is inseparable. Every thought spiritualized, every piece of work well done, merely fulfills our duty and obligation to Him who demands that we acknowledge and express our true nature. Accordingly, the demand to be perfect, as our Father in heaven is perfect, means laying off the false selfhood with all its material thinking and doing and humbly and joyously expressing the qualities of God in our thinking and acting.

We should often ask ourselves to what extent we are meeting this demand. May we not find, along with work carefully done, a neglected opportunity or some action which is quite the opposite of the perfection demanded?

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