The communion which Christian Scientists commemorate at their Sunday services twice each year is a joyous occasion. At this feast they do not look to the material senses for inspiration, but to the fount of the Christ. Truth, where they partake of that living water which Jesus described to the woman of Samaria (John 4:14) as "springing up into everlasting life."

The Bible records the many feasts of Hebrew religious worship. There were the feasts of Tabernacles, of Pentecost, and chief among them the feast of the Passover, which had been instituted by Moses. Jesus' observance of this feast with his twelve disciples on the night before his crucifixion gave a new name and a new meaning to this commemoration. Christians call it the Lord's last supper. In its new import, the act of eating unleavened bread became symbolic of partaking of the body of Christ, or participating in the living example which Jesus set for the world. Drinking wine represented the blood of the New Covenant, in which all must share who follow in the way of Christ and meet the world's resistance to Truth and Love. This was the cup which Jesus drained to the dregs.

But it is none of the early Hebrew feasts which Christian Scientists commemorate. That which they commemorate is the morning meal, the spiritual breakfast, which Jesus prepared for his disciples after he had risen from the grave.

The account of this meal is recorded in the twenty-first chapter of John's Gospel. Here it will be seen that when the disciples came to land with their large haul of fish after they had obediently cast their nets on the right side of the ship, they found their breakfast already prepared for them. "They saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread" (21:9). At Jesus' direction they ate of the bread and fish, but be it observed there was no cup in this spiritual feast. The cup which Jesus had prayed might pass from him had been removed. He had overcome the grave.

Christian Scientists celebrate our Lord's victory which exchanged the cross for the crown. They rejoice at this overcoming, rather than mourn over the earthly experience of the crucifixion. Though humanly they too may seem to drink of the cup of bitterness, as did Jesus, they recognize that this is the cross of human striving which they must take up. But they do so with the vision of resurrection, not crucifixion, before their eyes. Remembering Jesus' assuring words (Matt. 11:30), "For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." they are not weighed down by earthly trials but take the ever-mounting footsteps which lead to heaven bestowed harmony, the realm of Soul, where fetters fall.

Daily, Christian Scientists commune with their Father-Mother God. Many have found rich spiritual nourishment in partaking of this bread of Truth in the early morning hours.

A student of Christian Science had an experience which taught her the importance of this daily spiritual sustenance. She was away from home in a large city, engaged in work which required the constant companionship of a friend who was not a Christian Scientist. They shared the same hotel room. Because they would be together no longer than two weeks, the Christian Scientist decided that she would forgo her daily study of the Lesson-Sermon in the Christian Science Quarterly, which she had been accustomed to read the first thing every morning. Now, she reasoned, it would be better to conform to the other girl's routine rather than participate in something in which her friend could not share.

Several days passed by and the work did not progress as harmoniously as had been expected. Furthermore the Christian Scientist found herself in such a state of mental turmoil that she was unable to sleep. She arose, remembering Mary Baker Eddy's words on page 15 of the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," "In order to pray aright, we must enter into the closet and shut the door." Importunately she pleaded with God to show her where she had transgressed, that the discordant senses might be silenced. Clearly came the answer, "You have gone without spiritual food for days."

Instantly she recognized how unwise had been her earlier decision. Because of association with another, one would not think of going without the customary three meals a day; therefore how foolish it was to go without this most important meal of all, the spiritual sustenance provided by the study of the Lesson-Sermon. Thus awakened, she got out her textbooks, the Bible and Science and Health, and fed her famished sense with the truths contained therein. How satisfying she found this spiritual repast, and what a lesson she learned never again to deprive herself of this vital refreshment!

Christian Scientists recognize the debt they owe their Leader, Mrs. Eddy, for giving them the undiluted truth in the Christian Science textbook, which removes the husks of doctrinal beliefs from the inspired Word of the Bible and feeds man with the bread of heaven, uncontaminated by any of the impurities of material, worldly concessions.

Paul took care to instruct the Corinthians in the true meaning of the Lord's supper lest it be lost in the material symbol. It is just as important today that we eliminate all material forms of worship for that of pure spirituality. Mrs. Eddy says (Science and Health, p. 140), "We worship spiritually, only as we cease to worship materially."

Loyal members of this church have observed that many of the symbols of earlier worship drop away, but they are learning daily to commune with the one God through the senses of Soul. This causes them to exchange material theories, forms, and practices for the regenerating ideas of Spirit. Thus to them the fruit of the vine becomes the wine of spiritual inspiration, which Jesus declared he would drink new with his followers in his Father's kingdom.