Humility and Healing
Humility is a virtue that has been advocated in some form since the earliest times. Cicero, the most eloquent of Roman orators, declared: "The higher we are placed, the more humbly should we walk." De Officiis, Chap. 26, Sect. 90; Too often mere human theories, the pride of scholarship, the belief that we have a little mind of our own apart from God, blind us to the truth. The English poet William Cowper, differentiating between the pride of knowledge and the humility of wisdom, writes:
Knowledge is proud that he has learn'd so much;
Wisdom is humble that he knows no more. The Task, Book VI;
With deeper spiritual insight the Apostle Peter speaks in his first epistle of "that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price." I Pet. 3:4 ; In a religious sense humility often begins with a consciousness of mortal weakness; it ascribes to God the glory for any good one achieves. This disposition, casting aside all pride and self-assertiveness, brings its reward. "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time," 5:6; exclaims the same apostle.
Through his meekness and absolute confidence in God, Moses became leader and lawgiver of a great nation. His calm trust during pursuit by the Egyptian horsemen at the Red Sea presents one of the sublimest examples of moral courage in human history. Exhorting his people, he cried: "Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day." Ex. 14:13 ; The result was complete deliverance from the enemy.
Paul's conversion, as recorded in the New Testament, offers a vivid example of humility. As a young man, he was zealous in the persecution of the Christians, believing he was rendering service to God. On the way to Damascus his sudden conversion to acceptance of the Christ occurred. Though blinded by the brightness of the vision, he obeyed the command to go into the city, where after three days he received his sight. Repentant and humbled, he began his great work of preaching and healing.
Christ Jesus, through his deep humility and spirituality, perceived man as God's idea, wholly spiritual and good. He realized man's sonship with his Father, and this enabled him to lift humanity above their material beliefs and carnal desires. He healed the sick, cleansed the sinner, and raised the dead.
In all his works he showed his utter reliance upon his heavenly Father: "The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do." John 5:19 ; He acknowledged no other power but God.
Our Master on one occasion showed the necessity of being humble by placing a small child in the midst of his followers. He told them that only as they became as little children could they gain the kingdom of heaven. Yes, it is childlike humility that gives us greater receptivity. That is why he loved children.
As faithful followers of our Master, we aspire to emulate all his qualities and works. Christian Science enables us to do this. Mrs. Eddy emphasizes the importance of humility. She says, "Humility is lens and prism to the understanding of Mind-healing." Miscellaneous Writings, p. 356 ; We gain a clearer vision of God and man as we put aside the ego—all self-will and self-righteousness. We see God as infinite Spirit, good, and man as His image and likeness, perfect and spiritual, wholly good.
Without a knowledge of Christian Science the human mind is prone to argue over the existence of God and over the relationship between God and man. But we learn in Science that human reasoning must give place to divine understanding. It is only through revelation that we reach this higher plane of thought. It is only as we are humble enough to give up everything of our human self and find ourselves as ideas in the one Mind, that we perceive the truth of being.
There are not two persons—God and man. There are not two minds—the divine and the human. There is only one infinite Mind and its idea. In spiritual fact we are the reflections of this Mind. Thus, yielding our human consciousness to the divine reveals our true status. Calvin Hill, who was a member of Mrs. Eddy's household, relates: "On one occasion Mrs. Eddy said to me, in substance, 'The first thing I do in the morning when I awake is to declare I shall have no other mind before divine Mind, and become fully conscious of this, and adhere to it throughout the entire day; then the evil cannot touch me.'" We Knew Mary Baker Eddy, Third Series (Boston: The Christian Science Publishing Society, 1953), p. 42;
As we let go of personal sense, of reliance on personal possessions, and humbly pray for childlike receptivity, we will gain a deeper understanding of God and find true happiness. Mrs. Eddy states: "Humility is the stepping-stone to a higher recognition of Deity. The mounting sense gathers fresh forms and strange fire from the ashes of dissolving self, and drops the world. Meekness heightens immortal attributes only by removing the dust that dims them." Mis., p. 1 ;
It is only a counterfeit of humility, then, that would label man insignificant. We should not think we are practicing humility when, like the man in Jesus' parable, we bury our one talent in the earth, thinking, when we compare ourselves with those with more talents, that we are too insignificant in God's sight. As we use even our one talent, God will give the increase.
Relating humility to self-knowledge, the theologian and preacher C. H. Spurgeon held that humility is to make a right estimate of oneself and that it is not humility for a man to think less of himself than he ought. See "Humility," Gleanings Among the Sheaves; Christian Science shows us that the true estimate of ourselves lies in our spiritual identity, in our sonship with the Father. And as we become more and more conscious of our spiritual identity, which is perfect, immortal, and indestructible, we will have the power to carry on the work of Christian healing. "The individuality of man is no less tangible because it is spiritual and because his life is not at the mercy of matter," Mrs. Eddy tells us. "The understanding of his spiritual individuality makes man more real, more formidable in truth, and enables him to conquer sin, disease, and death." Science and Health, p. 317 .
In this healing work for ourselves and for others we are not making mortals into immortals, or turning materially sick and sinful humans into well and spiritual ones. No, we are removing the mask of materiality, the illusion of the senses, to perceive God's man, the only man, who is spiritual and perfect now.
The greater the humility, the more vivid the perception of the true man. Listening to the divine voice, we let God perform His work through us. We become individual, selfless reflections of Truth's power. Thus humility awakens us from the mesmerism of disease, or whatever ungodlike picture presents itself. What a comfort and joy it is to realize, even for a moment, that every type of disease is unreal!
So, claiming our spiritual individuality, shall we not pray each day for greater humility, and let Truth shine through us? Thus doing, we will ascend in spiritual understanding. Each day will be an ascension day.
