A Hit Song from the '60s begins, "What the world needs now is love, sweet love." Now, 40-some years later maybe we could be singing, "What the world needs now—more than ever—is love, sweet love." Hurricanes and floods that devastate whole regions, unjust regimes oppressing millions around the world, genocide, the AIDS pandemic—how do we combat such seemingly overwhelming issues?

Well, with love.

OK, fair enough. We realize that to a lot of people, maybe even most people, that answer might be appropriate for a little pop lyric, but it doesn't provide a practical, effective solution. But we believe that the kind of love we apply to these challenges can, in fact, bring about dynamic change. Not the pop version of human love, but rather, the most powerful love in the universe—the love that comes from God. We know that this love does heal, as well as transform and restore lives, and inspires individuals and nations to incredible achievements.

In Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy referred to Jesus as "the best man that ever trod the globe" (p. 52). And as well, he has probably had more influence for good over the last two centuries than anyone else in history. He never held a Big Eight Summit. He never drew a sword or shot a gun. He never negotiated a treaty. But he changed lives, saved lives, restored lives—during his own time on earth, and through his teachings for the last two millennia. Importantly, he taught the power of love, humility, compassion, while strongly rebuking hatred, self-righteousness, or claims of personal power of any kind. As he said of his own ministry, "I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me" (John 5:30).

Can we have the same confidence, as Jesus did, in the power of God—who is divine Love itself—to change the world? How easy for most of us to want to retaliate against the injustice so evident around the world. To hate, to wish retribution, to opt for "an eye for an eye" against our enemies rather than "turning the other cheek," as Jesus taught. He forgave even those who crucified him. And Jesus prevailed. Not through his own personal power or political acumen, but because he trusted God to guide and protect him, and to ensure that his work would continue after him to bless all of humanity.

Throughout Jesus' life, it's clear that humility—not to be confused with weakness or false self-deprecation—characterized his conduct. For example, when Jesus was the guest in the home of an important Pharisee, he was approached by a woman of low repute. She humbly bathed Jesus' feet first with her tears, and then with a costly fragrant oil. She had reformed her life, and in gratitude and humility she was paying her deepest respect to this holy man. Mary Baker Eddy asked: "Did Jesus spurn the woman? Did he repel her adoration?" And the important answer: "No! He regarded her compassionately" (Science and Health, p. 363).

Humility and compassion—these are qualities of love that appear frequently in Christian theology. In fact, Jesus himself bathed the feet of his disciples. He asked them: "Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. . . . The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him" (John 13:12-14, 16). In other words, no one is better, no one is more highly esteemed by God, than any other.

We can acknowledge this in our interactions with others. We can tap into the power of divine Love by making the effort to see others in the light of divine Love and to respond with compassion rather than self-righteousness in difficult situations. We can metaphorically kneel and "bathe the feet" of others—even those who disagree with us. We can, in the spirit of this week's Sentinel, "nurse" the world in the broadest and deepest sense of the word. And we can vow never to spurn those who ask for our help. As we each increasingly emulate Jesus' examples of humility and healing compassion, we will begin to see the dynamic good that must naturally—and inevitably—result.