In one of the most solemn asseverations Christ Jesus ever uttered, namely, "I am the resurrection, and the life," he links inseparably the two words, "resurrection" and "life." This calls attention to the fact that proportionately as one takes part in the resurrection out of material beliefs, the immortality of Life is demonstrated.

Christian Science has revolutionized the significance of the word "resurrection" by showing us that resurrection is a continuous mental process. Mary Baker Eddy, in her textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 593), clearly defines it as "spiritualization of thought; a new and higher idea of immortality, or spiritual existence; material belief yielding to spiritual understanding." In the gaining of this "new and higher idea of immortality, or spiritual existence," we must of necessity turn to the life of him who made the above solemn declaration. Christ Jesus' demonstration of Life, culminating in his resurrection, was a perpetually ascending one, thus furnishing proof that the gaining of immortality is purely a mental process. This state of consciousness is attainable through the right understanding of God, as taught in Christian Science, and through faithful obedience to Jesus' precepts.

Christian Science has revealed the original beauty of our Master's teachings. John, the beloved disciple, wrote in his first epistle, "God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him." In perfect correlation of this beautiful Scriptural passage, Mrs. Eddy, in her beloved poem entitled "Love," writes (Poems, p. 7), "Love alone is Life." Thus we see that to love is to live. What could be more tenderly beautiful? How important then for us, as students of Christian Science, to pray earnestly that we may live a life of love; for if we are not reflecting Love, we are not truly living. Proportionably as we love, then, we truly live, and not only for the present, but throughout eternity. Thus we may demonstrate immortality.

The understanding of Love as Life destroys the belief in death and is indeed the Comforter. In "Miscellaneous Writings" by Mary Baker Eddy (p. 170), there is an extract from a sermon delivered by her, wherein she is reported to have said: "By following Christ truly, resurrection and life immortal are brought to us. If we follow him, to us there can be no dead." In striving to follow Christ, we must remember that Jesus lived that we might live—yes, he lived as we should live. Even as every day to him was a day of resurrection, so it should be to us. Daily we should become increasingly conscious that we live in God, Life; we should abide in the certain sense of the presence of divine Love, and earnestly strive to follow in the footsteps of our Master. Thus we shall be laying hold of eternal Life.

There should be no delay on our part. It is obvious that the longer we delay our progress Spiritward, the longer shall we delay our resurrection. That the entire spiritualization of thought is not accomplished at a single bound, should not discourage us.

It may be helpful to relate an experience of a student of Christian Science who daily, over a period of years, had to prove that resurrection is indeed a continuous mental process. This student had experienced a deep sorrow in the passing of a loved one. In the first moments of that grief, her heart cried out, "God, O dear God, why? Why?" She made a heart-broken appeal to all her friends, but no answer satisfied. Desperately, she turned to Science and Health and opened it on page 322. Under the marginal heading, "Uses of suffering," she found this statement: "The sharp experiences of belief in the supposititious life of matter, as well as our disappointments and ceaseless woes, turn us like tired children to the arms of divine Love. Then we begin to learn Life in divine Science." For three days in succession, she opened the book at this passage. Slowly she realized that here was the answer to her question, "Why?" Careful study was given the passage, until she began to see that Life in divine Science is Life indestructible, inseparable from Love. Many times through this night of error, she would ask God to send His angel messenger, and always would come a sweet peace and a recognition of omnipresent Love. Gradually she saw that she herself, and all she had claimed as hers, were forever safe in the arms of divine Love. A sense of calm and security came to her as she realized this oneness with divine Love. Her faith stood the test, even though she did not quite understand until years later, when she saw that because faith was a "gift of God," it was eternal, and therefore she could never lose it.

Through advancing demonstration, under the healing power of Love, everything began to be transformed. She saw the manifestations of divine Love in all her everyday experiences. The smile of a little child, a warm handclasp, a thoughtful act, brought a sense of God's nearness and love. As thought turned from a material sense of self, Life took on a new meaning. She was living as never before, not selfishly, but loving all mankind. In these moments of consecration, she made a vow or pledge of loyalty to God, her Father, that with His help she would bring forth from this sepulcher of "fondest earthly hopes" (Science and Health, p. 299) a monument of living beauty, a life of service, embracing all humanity. In this dedication of her life to God in humble service, there came a sense of peace and victory. Life and Love were understood as inseparable. More fully came the realization that to love is to live; and as she loved more abundantly, she experienced more abundant life. She became conscious of that Life in which death, or the belief of death, had never entered.

Love's resurrection! All, then, who desire, may be resurrected from a false sense of existence by entering upon a pathway of love. With what joyful expectancy can we now meet the new day, knowing that each one is a resurrection day! In the words of one of our hymns may be seen the healing and exalting power of Love: