It is natural to resist disease, and it is right to do so, for sickness is the work of the devil, not of God, as the Bible teaches; it is destructive and is a bold contradiction of the creator's will for man. Jesus called the devil a liar, and Christian Science repeats this designation and shows how to reverse the liar's lies with Truth, or the Christ. What better means of healing can be found than the power of Christ, which stops the action of evil mind that eventuates in sickness?

Spiritual healing is proof of the presence of Truth in human thought; it means that true theology is understood. Mary Baker Eddy says in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (pp. 145, 146): "The theology of Christian Science includes healing the sick. Our Master's first article of faith propounded to his students was healing, and he proved his faith by his works."

Inability to heal spiritually shows the need for a fuller embodiment of the Christ-idea. Jesus claimed no power for himself that was not available to all. Prophets and patriarchs before him had demonstrated the Christ, and he knew that his followers to come would do the same. Through the Christ Science, we of this age can embody Truth and heal spiritually.

By revealing Christ as the true idea of sonship rather than the personal Jesus, Christian Science makes the Christ contemporary and utilizes its healing might. Jesus said (John 8:36), "If the Son . . . shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."

The Master realized that he was the Son of God, and he declared that all men have the same Father. There is certain healing power in the simple acceptance of this fact; but if we need greater power in order to bring about a healing of sin or sickness, we have access to it by demonstrating the divine nature, which belongs to our real manhood, God's image.

There is nothing materialistic about the desire to heal, for this desire is the result of compassion and compassion has its roots in divine Love, or God. Our Leader says in Science and Health (p. 350), "Divine Truth must be known by its effects on the body as well as on the mind, before the Science of being can be demonstrated."

Throughout his career, the Saviour emphasized healing. The Gospels are replete with accounts of the power of Truth, which he wielded over physical difficulties. Mrs. Eddy's early years as a Scientist were spent in doing healing works such as the world had not dreamed of since the days of Jesus and his disciples. This is evidence that the ability to heal is a necessity before the full meaning of the Science of being can be grasped. Healing is now the first step toward the unfoldment of the infinity of good, just as it was in the time of Jesus.

We dare not discount the importance of taking our first step into the vast realm of the Science of Truth. Otherwise, we shall remain yearningly on the threshold of heaven. If we cannot yet heal through spiritual means, we must learn how to. The Bible and our Leader's writings make the process clear. Intense love of God and man is requisite. Obedience to God's laws, which calls for conformity to His truths, then becomes a joy. Demonstrating real life in Christ fulfills the demands of Love. All of these requisites are possible of attainment because they are natural to God's man; and they are necessary to our gaining salvation from the material sense of existence. Sickness must be destroyed on the same basis that sin is—that it has no place in real being and should be cast out of consciousness.

The healing of physical difficulties does not exalt material personality but subdues it. After a Christian Science healing takes place, there is less awareness of flesh on the part of the person healed, less assertion of human will, less consciousness of matter. The false, mortal sense of self, which is the opposite of God's likeness, has given place somewhat to the true sense of self. And this is the real purpose in healing.

In his ascension, Jesus put off the flesh. The Christ his spiritual identity, became so evident to him that he completely lost sight of his human, fleshly heritage and the material body faded from thought. But the Master's ascension did not come until he had taken every step of spiritual development leading to it. This meant subordinating the material senses in which disease occurs. Every healing he brought about increased his dominion over those fleshly senses. He was working out his full freedom from the fettering beliefs of mortality. He was demonstrating and illustrating the Christ, the divine idea of sonship.

In "Miscellaneous Writings," Mrs. Eddy says (p. 370): "In different ages the divine idea assumes different forms, according to humanity's needs. In this age it assumes, more intelligently than ever before, the form of Christian healing. This is the babe we are to cherish. This is the babe that twines its loving arms about the neck of omnipotence, and calls forth infinite care from His loving heart."

At this Christmas season and at all times, we should give special thought to the healing Christ, should cherish our infant conception of it and should advance our practice of its infinite possibilities.

Helen Wood Bauman