THE PARTICIPANTS AT JESUS' BIRTH were caught up in something spiritually and historically much larger than themselves. They heard a long-anticipated wave of goodness and light and grace, a heaven-sent message: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men" (Luke 2:14).

Those words have become so familiar to many of us that they are often quoted without attribution, and with little or no recognition of their deep spiritual significance. In fact, I can remember a few years ago realizing for the first time that although I knew this verse from the Gospel of Luke well, I had always read it as if the angels' message had been "on earth peace, good will among men"—as if the heavenly Father were urging us all to live in peace among ourselves.

As important a message as that would be, I realized as I read the passage with fresh eyes that it conveys a profoundly reassuring spiritual fact. God, divine Love, is declaring that His intention for humanity—for you, for me—is good: "good will toward men." The angels' declaration is heralding the birth of Jesus, a babe of unique origin and mission, whose entire life as the Savior, Christ Jesus, would be given to show humanity the depths of God's love, and the ramifications of this love for the human race.

Our Father's will for us is unvaryingly good, as Jesus was to prove through his healing ministry. So to me it was as if God were saying on the occasion of Jesus' birth: "All of you can now be assured that My will for you is good. I am sending My Son to show you, in ways that will be unmistakable, that I intend for you good and good only. As you follow in the way he will show—think and do as he teaches—you will find peace like none you have known before, and help and healing sufficient for the severest needs."

I think at times we've all longed to feel such love. It's so much greater than the usual, politely shared sentiments of the Christmas season. It's so much bigger than we are, larger even than the most encompassing human affection. And to think we are included in this infinite divine Love! The teachings of Christian Science explain that the Christ, or Truth, which Jesus so thoroughly embodied in his life and teachings, continues with us—is in fact eternal. And this living Christ reveals to us our own true individuality as children of God. In the light of the Christ, we come to know ourselves as Jesus would have seen us—as the spiritual offspring of the one Father-Mother.

As we go about preparing for the happy events of the season, we might consider taking an increasingly God-centered approach. For example, we can rely less on our own personal resourcefulness and human will to accomplish tasks. We can take a reprieve from self-concern and personal longing. We can even begin to set aside the assumption that we are physical entities subject to various ailments. I've found that living more on God's terms, as His burden-free reflection, is increasingly possible as I practice thinking beyond what my eyes see and my ears hear, and instead listen with spiritual discernment for what divine Love is revealing to me, about me.

To understand that God is here and that His intention for our lives is actually entirely good, is to move into the light of the Christmas message. Describing the eternal Christ, Mary Baker Eddy once wrote, "Truth's immortal idea is sweeping down the centuries, gathering beneath its wings the sick and sinning" (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 55). This is the bigger-than-ourselves event that continuously goes on. As we respond to this Truth with open hearts—come under it, so to speak—it has the effect of changing and purifying our motives, unselfing our purpose, and energizing us to be who we actually all are: the wondrously loved, and loving, sons and daughters of God.

And it heralds Christian healing. With the Christmas season approaching—and so many cautionary news reports about health-related issues—I've been recalling with gratitude an experience I had recently, which showed to me the tender way that God, through His Christ, continues to minister specifically and uniquely to our needs.

I woke up one morning feeling ill. It appeared to be a severe case of flu, and as the morning went on, the condition worsened to the point of being debilitating. I found that the only way I could acquire sufficient relief to pray was to lie very, very still. So I spent the better part of the day alternating between praying and dozing.

Late that evening, I phoned the friend who was praying with me to report that I was still quite ill and feeling some dread about the approaching night. She began speaking to me very compassionately about the power and presence of divine Love. Among other things, she discussed the way Mary Baker Eddy said Christian healing 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." It occurred to me as my friend was talking that this statement could be read as describing God's demeanor toward me, and toward all who are seeking Christ-healing. We reach out to divine Love in prayer, and this reaching "calls forth infinite care from His loving heart" (Miscellaneous Writings 1883–1896, p. 370).

After I hung up the phone I thought, I don't seem to be able to do much. My prayers are not even as vigorous as they could be. But I can "give in" to Love, let Love take over. I can acknowledge divine Love's presence and feel Love's blessing of my life.

It wasn't long before I felt assured that the Father was indeed blessing me—and all who were reaching out for and cherishing the promise of Christ-healing. With this, I became convinced that I would be led forward spiritually to a complete healing. Almost immediately I was able to drink something, then to eat a bit, all the while continuing to entertain this quiet, joyful sense of surrendering to divine Love. It really was that simple, that gentle.

Soon I was able to be up and about sufficiently to begin reading the Bible Lesson in that week's Christian Science Quarterly. As I read, every sentence, every word, sank deeply into consciousness. A sense of God's presence and of my own spiritual well-being were borne in upon thought, and health and strength became more and more evident physically. I felt released, humbled, and very blessed to be once again on the holy ground of Christ-healing. By bedtime I was strong and well, and had a sense of childlilke awe at what had occurred. I slept soundly that night and was normally active and completely well the next day.

That experience has reminded me of the unique nature of each healing in Christian Science. The inspiration and the manner in which each comes, have a way of gently surprising us every time. Consequently, we are left with fresh insights into the Father's perfect plan for us, and our trust in His capacity to bless and heal is proportionately strengthened.

Built into the presumption of mortal life are fairly constant reminders of its limitations, its self-destructive tendencies, and incapacity to satisfy. But the Christ is here, telling us that the goodness of God's nature necessarily extends to us, His children. In fact, you could say that the Father's goodness is what defines us. In the process of finding out more about God, we naturally discover more about ourselves, because we are in fact His very image (see Gen. 1:27).

It is irrepressible, really, this spirit of the Christmas season. It can't be quelled either by personal adversity or by the larger challenges of these times. Truth's message is larger yet—and more powerful. It breaks through the noise and commotion of hurried living; it can be heard in embattled streets and in hospital beds. It's a message destined to have ultimate healing and saving impact not only for each of us individually, but for all of humanity. "On earth peace, good will toward men," the angels declare. And grateful hearts answer with rejoicing! |css