In the Christian Science Bible Lesson September 19, 2011 Issue

A journey to the ‘holy city’

For the lesson titled "Reality" from September 19–25, 2011

By Nancy Fischer

From the Golden Text to the references from the book of Revelation found in every section of this week’s Bible Lesson, titled “Reality,” the progressive awakening to spiritual reality is described through vivid—and helpful—symbols. This Lesson also provides concrete examples of the healing application of these symbols.

The Golden Text and Responsive Reading comprise most of Psalm 48, one of the “pilgrim psalms” sung by those going up to Jerusalem for great Jewish religious festivals. Throughout the Bible, Jerusalem, the “city of God,” is a symbol of God’s presence and saving power. As the people streamed up to this city on a hill, they sang of the beauty, joy, strength, refuge, lovingkindness, righteousness, justice, and protection provided by God for everyone, forever. So, wherever we see these qualities expressed, we’re glimpsing what’s really real.

From that powerful sense of God’s presence evoked by an actual historical city, the Lesson goes on to present a series of mental pictures and their equally powerful lessons—symbolic visions that came to John, as described in the book of Revelation . 

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