As a rebuke to the pride, self-righteousness, and hypocrisy which appeared to dominate the thinking of the religionists of his day, Christ Jesus related the parable of the publican and the Pharisee who "went up into the temple to pray" (Luke 18:10-14). We are told that the Pharisee, apparently oblivious of his faults, thanked God that he was not sinful, as were other men, and boasted of his strict observance of fasting and tithing. The publican, acutely conscious of his shortcomings, turned his thoughts to God in a humble, fervent plea for mercy. The Master ended his parable with the comment, "I tell you, this man [the publican] went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."

As the student of Christian Science progresses in his understanding of the spiritual perfection and harmony of his real identity, made in God's likeness, he inevitably becomes aware of the errors that claim a place in his thinking, and these may include some of the selfish, unlovely traits typified by the Pharisee. Becoming deeply repentant, the student humbles himself before God, Truth and Love, even as did the publican, and finds release from error's domination. In "No and Yes" Mary Baker Eddy writes (p. 7), "Sooner or later the eyes of sinful mortals must be opened to see every error they possess, and the way out of it; and they will 'flee as a bird to your mountain,' away from the enemy of sinning sense, stubborn will, and every imperfection in the land of Sodom, and find rescue and refuge in Truth and Love."

The Bible admonishes us (James 4:10), "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up." Repentance for one's errors is requisite in order that one may win his freedom from them. However, to remain continually in a state of self-condemnation and discouragement does not help one to overcome his faults, but tends to pin them more firmly upon him. In another of the Master's parables (Luke 15:11-32) it is noticeable that when the prodigal son "came to himself," he did not linger in a state of uncertainty, self-condemnation, and despair; he at once journeyed to his father's home, there to receive a loving, joyous welcome. True repentance impels one to relinquish the belief that he is a discordant, sinful mortal and to recognize his spiritual sonship with the loving Father-Mother, God. He realizes that his true spiritual selfhood has never been absent from all good, and finds blessings right at hand, ready for his acceptance.

The Scriptures state (Eccl. 3: 15), "God requireth that which is past." As the student progresses in gaining dominion over erroneous traits and tendencies through repentance and reformation, he does well to refrain from rehearsing in-harmonies of the past to others. One is to humble himself "in the sight of the Lord," not to abase himself before men. An error which has been overcome through the realization that it never actually occurred in real spiritual existence is not apt to be remembered by others. A student once learned a lesson in this regard. In conversation with a friend she made some unwise remarks, which she afterward regretted. Recognizing that her words were not representative of her best thinking, she resolved to be more watchful in the future. She decided that she must speak to the friend and correct the false impression she felt had been made. To her surprise, her friend could not recall what had been said. This showed the student that when one has reduced error to nothingness in his own thought he should not continue to regard it as though it had once been something.

We read in the Master's parable considered at the beginning of this article that as the Pharisee stood in the temple indulging his false concept of prayer, he made comparisons which indicated that he thought he was far superior to the publican and other men. Shakespeare wrote, "Comparisons are odorous." To compare oneself with others, favorably or unfavorably, is a subtle form of materialism which may interfere with one's spiritual progress. Should one congratulate himself that he is better than others, he may at the same time unconsciously entertain the pharisaical qualities of self-righteousness, vanity, and uncharitableness. On the other hand, the belief that one is not doing so well as others, or is inferior to them, may tempt one to harbor envy, resentment, ill will, or deceit.

In reality there can be no such thing as comparisons between God's ideas, for all are spiritual, whole, and free; all reflect the perfection and harmony of the one universal creator, perfect Mind. Even from the human standpoint there is no basis for comparison between individuals, for all have different backgrounds and different types of mentalities and problems; and the experience of one student is not apt to parallel that of another. The Christian Scientist bends every effort to the comprehension and demonstration of his real spiritual being, the expression of God, good, and wastes no time in fruitless comparisons. Loving his neighbor as himself, he endeavors to perceive the perfect, harmonious, spiritual identity of all men and thus, in some degree, helps to uplift the thought of humanity.

Referring to Christ Jesus' parable of the publican and the Pharisee, Mrs. Eddy writes in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 448): "Blindness and self-righteousness cling fast to iniquity. When the Publican's wail went out to the great heart of Love, it won his humble desire." As the Scientist awakens to the unreality and powerlessness of the erroneous beliefs which have appeared to influence him, he repents of them in deep humility and forsakes them. Thus he becomes receptive to ever-present, ever-operative Truth, Life, and Love, which heal and regenerate. Our Leader states (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 205); "In mortal experience, the fire of repentance first separates the dross from the gold, and reformation brings the light which dispels darkness. Thus the operation of the spirit of Truth and Love on the human thought, in the words of St. John, 'shall take of mine and show it unto you.'"