REFLECTING THE AMENITIES OF LOVE

ANDREW FLINT FRARY

Quite often material objects are prized for their ability to reflect light. The diamond, for instance, has an especial quality which enables it to reflect light, thus making it the most brilliant of minerals.

Christian Science teaches much about light and reflection. In "Retrospection and Introspection," Mary Baker Eddy states (p. 57): "Man shines by borrowed light. He reflects God as his Mind, and this reflection is substance,—the substance of good." Christian Science also teaches that man, the image of God, Spirit, Love, reflects spiritually all the qualities of God.

Some of the qualities which man reflects as the image of Love are holiness, purity, and love. The notion that man is a mortal, unloving and unforgiving, is a false concept of man and stems from accepting the mortal mind image as the real one. Christian Science teaches us that we can correct this false impression of man by realizing that true reflection is "the substance of good," God.

In the Manual of The Mother Church, Mrs. Eddy writes (Art. VIII, Sect. 1), "In Science, divine Love alone governs man; and a Christian Scientist reflects the sweet amenities of Love, in rebuking sin, in true brotherliness, charitableness, and forgiveness."

The teachings of Christ Jesus, our Master, were founded on divine Love, God. Jesus reflected this Love in a healing love, in a love which knew no sentimentality but was ever compassionate. The Love that is God, that knows no hate, malice, fear, or jealousy, is the Love that Christian Scientists should reflect in loving-kindness, gentleness, and peace.

Sometimes the carnal mind argues that hate is real and can cause misery and suffering in one's experience. This is a lie. Because divine Love is omnipresent, there is no place for hate to occupy. Occasionally jealousy, envy, and revenge claim ascendancy over harmony and compassion. This also is a lie. We must maintain that man, the image and likeness of infinite Love, can be conscious of and reflect only God's attributes. He cannot deviate from his divine source.

The Apostle Paul recognized his heavenly Father as a God of love when he said (II Cor. 13: 11), "Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you." As one realizes the omnipresence of God, divine Love, and reflects the amenities of Love, perfection, unity of thought, and peace are manifested in his experience.

One evening, as I was getting out of my car with some members of my family, a car door was slammed shut on my hand. I declared that in God, divine Love, there are no accidents. Reaching out to God for a clearer understanding of harmony and perfection, I recalled these words: "A Christian Scientist reflects the sweet amenities of Love."

I knew that, above all, I had to forgive the one who felt responsible for the occurrence. My thought was filled with charitableness and brotherly love. The pain ceased, and the healing came quickly. The next evening I took part in the performance of three Mozart string quartets with no difficulty.

In our daily expression of the amenities of Love, it is helpful for us to realize that all being abides with and reflects divine Life, Truth, and Love. We can know that the law of Love is available right where we are, right now. This law is epitomized in the two great commandments enjoined by Jesus (Matt. 22:37-39): "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind....Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." Each day in our contacts with mankind we can know that man in his true selfhood is the loving and lovable reflection of the one infinite God, good.

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