THE LABORERS
Every student of Christian Science rejoices in the fact that its illuminating teaching sheds a new light upon many passages of the Bible, revealing unsuspected beauties and deep truths, and this is perhaps especially noticeable with regard to the parables of our Lord. Before learning something of Christian Science, the parable of the laborers in the vineyard was a source of much perplexity to the writer. She could not see the justice of the equal payment of the "first" and the "last," although she was bound to admit that it seemed an inevitable consequence if it was believed that death was the entrance to heaven and that heaven could be attained even by a so-called death-bed repentance. Now, however, this same parable seems to be applicable to many phases of thought. Let us apply it in the following instances.
First let us assume that the "penny" represents simply physical healing. Often some one will ask, "Why should my healing be so slow, while others are healed after a few treatments, or perhaps instantaneously?" Well, it may be that the questioner entered upon Christian Science treatment somewhat carelessly, much as some of those laborers who were called in the early morning hours may have entered upon their work, accepting all as a matter of course, and satisfied that they would receive their reward in the evening, whatever happened. On the other hand, those who were called later in the day had perhaps passed through many hours of anxious waiting, hoping vainly to be called (healed) by some employer (some material means of healing), and when at last the call came, possibly these may have worked the more vigorously during that last hour to show their gratitude to the master of the vineyard.
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Again, let us apply this parable to those who have come to Christian Science for the spiritual healing. There are those who come into the vineyard early in the day; that is, they accept Christian Science as soon as they hear of it. Perhaps they have never thought much about these things before, they have been negatively satisfied with such religion as they had; but when the call came they entered the vineyard simply with the desire to "know what this new doctrine ... is," and the writer was certainly numbered among such. Mrs. Eddy says in Science and Health (p. 26), "Jesus spares us not one individual experience, if we follow his commands faithfully;" and without doubt this is so, consequently the struggles of this class of individuals are apt to take place after they have accepted Christian Science, but—and here I think is where the justice of the equal payment is made manifest—they make their fight with error within the shelter of the vineyard and with the certainty of success ever before them. A Christian Scientist knows that there can be only one result from persistent effort to overcome all false beliefs; namely, absolute and complete victory. He knows that according to the calculations of mortal sense this may take years, but he knows also that nothing can rob him of ultimate success, for with the destruction of error comes the realization of ever-present harmony,—God and His perfect, spiritual universe.
Now let us turn back to those who did not hear the call, to those who are still standing in the market-place, torn with doubts and fears, a prey to nameless terrors; too honest, perhaps, to accept work in the vineyards of false gods; think of them when the voice comes somewhat sternly, "Why stand ye here all the day idle?" and they answer humbly, "Because no man hath hired us." Think of the peace of entering into the vineyard—not the peace of idleness or sleep, but the joyous peace which accompanies right activity. Mrs. Eddy says, "God rests in action" (Science and Health, p. 519), and we, as reflecting Him, must do likewise. Would the earlier laborers be jealous when these late comers receive their "penny," if they looked at their case in this light? Surely not!
Finally, let us look at this parable again and let us call the vineyard the work of establishing and demonstrating Christian Science. Forty years ago only one laborer in the market-place of the world was ready to answer the call of the Master. Her thought was pure enough to catch the sound of Truth's voice above the din and clamor of earthly strife. She was obedient to that voice, and alone she entered the vineyard and labored there. The hours went by, and one by one others joined her; every hour brought a larger number, for the good news spread, and in a measure the work became easier for each succeeding laborer.
It was the writer's privilege lately to visit The Mother Church in Boston. First she saw the beautiful new building, with its great white dome standing out against the blue sky, giving a sense of breadth and strength and protection, and then her eyes turned to the original Mother Church edifice, nestling beside its offspring, and her heart was filled with gratitude for the noble work done by our Leader and those early pioneers who followed her. She knew that it was the building of that seemingly small but sturdy stone edifice which had made the erection of the great temple possible, and not only that temple but every branch church all over the world owes its very existence to the faithful work done by Mrs. Eddy and those laborers who indeed have borne "the burden and heat of the day."
But the laborers who come in at the eleventh hour must needs earn their penny also; and though the work may not be so difficult in some respects as that of the first comers, yet more will be expected of them. They must be ready to profit by the experience of the older workers, and they must be alert, active, and progressive, ever ready to listen to and obey their Leader's instructions and admonitions as she leads them to higher ground. We must remember that the nothingness of error is being uncovered more and more every day, and we need to learn how to meet and destroy all sense of its reality speedily and efficiently. If we are doing our best to clear away the weeds and to work intelligently in the Master's vineyard, we may be sure that not one of the early laborers, and least of all our beloved Leader, will grudge us our "penny" when the day's work is finished.
