True Sensitivity

HARRY DE LASAUX

"Sensitivity to good is responsiveness to the Christ, Truth,
which is always present"

Matthew , Mark, and Luke all tell of a much-loved incident in the healing ministry of Christ Jesus. Among a large group of people who were following the Saviour was a woman who had suffered a distressing ailment for twelve years. As Mark relates it, she "came in the press behind, and touched his garment. For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole" (Mark 5:27,28). She was healed at once, the narrative records.

What brought about the healing? Was the divine power transmissible supernaturally through Jesus by material contact? No, for the Bible reports Jesus as saying, "Thy faith hath made thee whole." Was it a blind faith, or was it a deep, sincere responsiveness or true sensitivity to the Soul-sense, which unites thought to the presence of God, divine Mind?

Mrs. Eddy explains what took place. With inspired spiritual vision, she writes on page 86 of Science and Health: "Jesus once asked, 'Who touched me?' Supposing this inquiry to be occasioned by physical contact alone, his disciples answered, 'The multitude throng thee.' Jesus knew, as others did not, that it was not matter, but mortal mind, whose touch called for aid. Repeating his inquiry, he was answered by the faith of a sick woman. His quick apprehension of this mental call illustrated his spirituality."

An essential element of spiritual healing is sensitivity or responsiveness to good. We need to understand more about this quality of Soul, God. When there is enough true sensitivity in the thought of both practitioner and patient, healing can be spontaneous and quick. The reason is that sensitivity to good is responsiveness to the Christ, Truth, which is always present. When the one in need is keenly sensitive to spiritual ideas, the one best able to meet the need comes into view. When the one who is able to help another is imbued with the tenderness of spiritual feeling needed in a given case, the one who is ready for it is drawn to him.

Divine Love is always here, is everywhere. This Love, or Soul, is the very essence and source of the tender sensitivity which is available to one and all.

True sensitivity, or fervent responsiveness to good, is found not only in the knowing of divine ideas but also in the feeling of their lovely presence. It might be said that we know the thoughts of divine Mind but feel the Soul-sense which expresses them.

In Christian Science we learn that man in God's likeness is sensitive only to good, for God is good. It is a joyous thing to know that all is well with God and man, and it is satisfying to feel this to be so. Healing is spontaneous when the Christ, Truth, that is known and the divine Love that is felt are one in consciousness.

Mrs. Eddy has given us another inspiring highlight on the healing of the sick woman. On page 57 of "Unity of Good," she writes: "When Jesus turned and said, 'Who hath touched me?' he must have felt the influence of the woman's thought; for it is written that he felt that 'virtue had gone out of him.' His pure consciousness was discriminating, and rendered this infallible verdict; but he neither held her error by affinity nor by infirmity, for it was detected and dismissed."

We need to overcome the belief of being responsive to error or sensitive to it. By reason of heredity or temperament some people seem to be more sensitive to error than are others. This false sensitiveness sometimes appears as a weak constitution, a passive nature, an oversubmissiveness to the will of others, or a responsiveness to the suggestions of chronic fear. If any of these appears to be the case, we need to reassure ourselves continually that "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble" (Ps, 46:1).

One of the simple and logical ways of overcoming the widespread belief of sensitivity to error is to quit dwelling upon error. We should daily do a thorough job of eliminating all brooding over, talking about, or listening to accounts of sickness, trouble, unhappiness, or discord. To do this, we must maintain Godlike thoughts, gentle attitudes, and an active sensitivity to good.

As one studies daily the Lesson-Sermon, outlined in the Christian Science Quarterly, practices its truths, and prays scientifically for himself and the world, he lays the foundation for continuing well-being and progress Godward.

True sensitivity is admirably summed up by our Leader in Science and Health, where she says (p. 569), "He that touches the hem of Christ's robe and masters his mortal beliefs, animality, and hate, rejoices in the proof of healing,—in a sweet and certain sense that God is Love."

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