Article May 23, 1959 Issue

FORGIVENESS

CORINNE M. IVEY

THE Master, Christ Jesus, frequently spoke of forgiveness. In Matthew (18:21, 22) we read: "Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven."

True forgiveness is understanding the allness of God, the perfection of man, and the nothingness of error. As long as we believe that error is personal, we cannot truly forgive. Our beloved Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, writes in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 71) : "Evil has no reality. It is neither person, place, nor thing, but is simply a belief an illusion of material sense."

We learn in Christian Science that God is the only Mind and that man reflects this one divine Mind. Hence man reflects only the qualities of Mind, such as goodness, mercy, justice, truthfulness, holiness, love. When we behold the true identity of man in God's likeness, we shall cease to believe that there is any wrong to forgive. In reality no wrong has been done or can be done to God's idea.

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