"Laid daily at the gate"

IDA G. EVERSON

In the account given in Acts of the healing of "a certain man lame from his mother's womb," students of Christian Science find inspiration and guidance in the pursuit of their daily mental work.

The Scriptural account tells very little about the man who experienced this remarkable healing except that he "was carried" and was "laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple." It may readily be asked how it came about that this man, asking only that a coin be dropped into his hand, received so much more than he asked, even the strength to rise and enter into the temple, healed.

In order to gain a clearer glimpse of the spiritual facts involved in such a healing, one may be helped by studying the following definition of "temple" as given on page 595 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science: "Temple. Body; the idea of Life, substance, and intelligence; the superstructure of Truth; the shrine of Love; a material superstructure, where mortals congregate for worship."

In this definition are given both the spiritual and the material meaning of "temple." In the light of Christian Science, the student sees that Peter was able to heal the man through the understanding of God, divine Truth and Love, as the only Life, and hence the one true source of supply; and also because the man's thought was receptive to the spiritual message which the disciples had to deliver. When "Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us," the man obeyed, "expecting to receive something of them." Far more precious than material alms was that which he received!

What a message of hope this healing carries for all who are held in bondage because of their false beliefs about God and man. Whether the fetters are those of fear, of sickness, of unemployment, or of loneliness, through the study of Christian Science all may come daily to "the gate of the temple," where they may behold the perfection of God and of the spiritual creation. To the physically and mentally lame, holding distorted thoughts of one kind or another, come the tenderness and power of the Christian Science message, bidding them look to Spirit, Life, Truth, Love for healing and regeneration, enabling them to stand upright, to walk with God, joyous and free.

Lovingly, and with great wisdom, our Leader has laid upon her students a fourfold demand whereby they may enter into "the shrine of Love" and dwell within "the superstructure of Truth." They are asked to study the Bible Lessons contained in the Christian Science Quarterly. They should "daily watch and pray to be delivered from all evil, from prophesying, judging, condemning, counseling, influencing or being influenced erroneously" (Art. VIII, Sect. 1) from the Manual by Mrs. Eddy. They are to use the "Daily Prayer" (ibid., Sect. 4), which contains the following demand: "It shall be the duty of every member of this Church to pray each day: 'Thy kingdom come;' let the reign of divine Truth, Life, and Love be established in me, and rule out of me all sin; and may Thy Word enrich the affections of all mankind, and govern them!"

Furthermore, they are directed to defend themselves "daily against aggressive mental suggestion" (ibid., Sect. 6), barring out as one would a thief whatever knocks at the door of thought attempting to rob them of their trust in God, good.

As the lame man who was gently laid daily at the temple gate was healed and enabled to enter the temple, so we who follow the wise counsel of our Leader find ourselves led by the power of God out of a false sense of life and intelligence in matter into the peace and beauty of the temple of spiritual consciousness.

Those who find this peace often wish to take their dear ones with them into temple—"the superstructure of Truth"—at once; but they soon learn that it is unwise to attempt to pull anyone over its sacred threshold. Realization and demonstration must be individual. Our duty is to deny evil wherever it seems to be manifested, and to affirm the truth of the perfection of God and of man in His likeness. In this way, we truly help onward toward the gateway of Truth and Love all upon whom our thoughts rest. Then, let us leave them in God's care to receive Love's blessing. When they have learned to receive this divine blessing in humility and gratitude, we may be sure that they will of their own accord, rise up and enter in.

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