"Poor in spirit"

JEKAB GREENBLAT

In the Scriptures we read that the great Teacher, in one of his discourses, said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away."

Sincere Christians of all creeds are agreed that Jesus' Sermon on the Mount presents the basis of true Christianity; but not until Mary Baker Eddy gave to the world the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," were Jesus' words fully explained. By using this "Key" the door of the spiritual meaning of the Scriptures is being opened to all who are willing to enter. With this "Key" we find that the portion of the Sermon on the Mount known as the Beatitudes may, perhaps, be called the root as well as the seed of true spiritual growth; for close study of these Beatitudes will reveal to us their spiritual meaning and the truth that they are practicable and applicable. To-day, sincere, loyal Christian Scientists everywhere are striving to prove Jesus' words, and are benefited to the extent of their living in conformity with them.

The words, "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for their's is the kingdom of heaven," have lost nothing of their value, although nearly two thousand years have passed since they came from the lips of the humble Nazarene. What a chart of the straight and narrow way do they spread before us! As we ponder them, we find that the "poor in spirit" are those who constantly turn away from materiality through spiritual understanding, ceasing thereby to be self-opinionated, materially wise, proud, ill-tempered, boastful. Thus obediently pressing on from sense to Soul, though the path may be rugged and narrow, we cannot fail to reach out for spiritual good and be receptive to it. In so doing we find ourselves blessed, above all expectation, with true happiness and the good of which we prove ourselves worthy, until a measure of perfect harmony—the kingdom of heaven—is reached here and now.

We cannot fail to be grateful for the wonderful promise given in this beatitude, which teaches that no longer have we to wait for heaven. We may enjoy heaven now by turning away from materiality, thus reflecting harmony in thought, word, and deed. Thus, also, divine Mind, Principle, Spirit, reigns and governs. Our Leader, on page 590 of Science and Health, defines the kingdom of heaven as "the reign of harmony in divine Science; the realm of unerring, eternal, and omnipotent Mind; the atmosphere of Spirit, where Soul is supreme."

As the First Commandment of the Mosaic Decalogue may be said to embrace the other nine commandments, so also the first beatitude may be said to embrace all the other beatitudes, teaching us how, by resisting all evil, overcoming all sin, we may gain the spiritual understanding of Truth, which heals and reforms when we are truly "poor in spirit." On page 82 of "Miscellaneous Writings" Mrs. Eddy writes: "Man is the offspring and idea of the Supreme Being, whose law is perfect and infinite. In obedience to this law, man is forever unfolding the endless beatitudes of Being; for he is the image and likeness of infinite Life, Truth, and Love." The Beatitudes, if lived, enable us to love God with all the heart, and our neighbor as ourselves.

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