Article March 1, 1969 Issue

"Blessed are the poor in spirit"

JULIA IRENE FITZGERALD

Our beloved Master and Way-shower, Christ Jesus, tells us in the first beatitude, "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."^{Matt. 5:3;} What blessing, one may ask, can possibly follow from being "poor in spirit"? One Christian Scientist learned to interpret the parable this way: Blessed is the receptive thought, for it will discern Christ, Truth, and accept it without resistance.

Without the quality of spiritual receptivity no healing has ever been accomplished. Until one becomes aware of his lack of the Christ-spirit in human experience and feels the need of more of it, he will be feebly receptive to God's healing power. One's consciousness is made receptive to Truth either through suffering or through scientific study and daily practice of Truth. Mrs. Eddy tells us in the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health, "Either here or hereafter, suffering or Science must destroy all illusions regarding life and mind, and regenerate material sense and self."^{Science and Health, p. 296;}

God's help seems nearest in time of need, not because it was unattainable before, but because material thinking is not ready to give itself up until it sees the hopelessness of overcoming its problems by material means. As the individual feels the need of something higher and better than matter can give, his thought is made receptive to spiritual help. Science and Health declares, "When the sick or the sinning awake to realize their need of what they have not, they will be receptive of divine Science, which gravitates towards Soul and away from material sense, removes thought from the body, and elevates even mortal mind to the contemplation of something better than disease or sin."^{p. 323;}

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