The correct understanding of the term "reflection" as used in Christian Science is important to the effective comprehension of man in the image and likeness of God. The first chapter of Genesis states that God created man in His own image and likeness. God being Spirit and perfect, it follows that man is spiritual and perfect. An image, or reflection, must of necessity be in the exact likeness of the original.

In the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mary Baker Eddy explains in her inimitable way (pp. 515, 516): "Your mirrored reflection is your own image or likeness. If you lift a weight, your reflection does this also. If you speak, the lips of this likeness move in accord with yours. Now compare man before the mirror to his divine Principle, God. Call the mirror divine Science, and call man the reflection. Then note how true, according to Christian Science, is the reflection to its original. As the reflection of yourself appears in the mirror, so you, being spiritual, are the reflection of God."

Looking into the mirror of divine Science, which reveals the truth of being, we see man as he really is, the image and likeness of Mind, reflecting health, intelligence, understanding; of Spirit, reflecting power and substance; of Soul, reflecting beauty, innocence, and purity; of Principle, reflecting order and justice; of Life, reflecting activity, growth, immortality; of Truth, reflecting integrity, reality; of Love, reflecting inspiration, light, gentleness, and loveliness.

As one recognizes his true being as the compound idea of God, including all right ideas, and images forth these ideas in his daily experience, he becomes known to others. God's reflection shines with its own effulgence and needs no influence, advertisement, or material personality to be recognized. One's place in business is secure and his progress sure when he replaces human will and striving with the calm assurance that God's reflection can only act in accord with Him. "The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise" (John 5:19). Man possesses no underived power. The qualities of success cannot be transmitted to man, but are reflected by him.

Reflection is substantial. It is tangible and actual. The real man and the real universe consist of nothing else, for the eternal Mind is All and expresses itself in its ideas. Man's supply, therefore, consists of his reflection of divine Love's affluence and completeness. This supply never accumulates, but is constantly given forth and, therefore, can never be lost or used up. Man must ever radiate the divine hues of God's bounty. Reflection is giving. In the words of a familiar and much-loved hymn in the Christian Science Hymnal (No. 182),

This truth is not transcendental, for when demonstrated in daily life it brings to view all that is necessary for our success and happiness.

Now reflection is impossible without light. Jesus said, speaking of the Christ (John 12:46), "I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness." Christ is the light or Truth revealing man's exact likeness to God. Through all the temptations, trials, and difficulties of his human experience Jesus never failed to reflect the qualities of God, which belong to the ideal man made in God's image and likeness.

In the present age this light of the Christ, Truth, is made manifest through the demonstrations of Christian Science. Today countless thousands are turning to the pages of the Christian Science textbook, finding the truth of God and man in His image and likeness and thereby healing sickness, sin, and all manner of lack and inharmony. With this spiritual enlightenment one begins to discern man's identity, complete as the reflection of all that God continuously imparts to His creation.

As it is impossible for light to be clearly reflected from an agitated surface, so it is impossible for the reflection of God to be evident while impatience, criticism, or resentment is held in thought. One should ever be alert to maintain the clarity, calmness, and spiritual-mindedness which are essential to the appearing of spiritual man.

Matter cannot reflect its opposite, Spirit. The material body has no part in spiritual reflection. Contemplating spiritual man, we lose sight of material beliefs, which obscure the light of spiritual reflection. As we understand the incorporeal nature of spiritual reflection, we more clearly comprehend Life as independent of matter and Soul as not in the body.

"If there is no spiritual reflection, then there remains only the darkness of vacuity and not a trace of heavenly tints" (Science and Health, p. 480). Darkness is only the absence of light, and the absence of something must be nothing. In the same vein of thinking, black is not considered a color, because it absorbs the rays of light and does not reflect them. Spiritual man never absorbs good or evil. He can only reflect God, good.

During a difficult day at the office a student of Christian Science inadvertently took into his thinking as real a sense of confusion, strife, and inharmony. As a result, he found himself suffering from fatigue, despondency, and nervous tension. Pondering on the nature of man as the image and likeness of God, he realized that he could not really absorb the seeming confusion, but could only reflect the peace and calm of Soul, the strength of Spirit. This truth understood resulted in an instantaneous healing.

The healing of sickness, sin, and lack is accomplished in Christian Science by acknowledging for oneself and others man's exact likeness to God in spiritual reflection. This image of God can never be tarnished, nor its light dimmed, for God and His Christ are eternal.

God cannot for a moment be parted from His reflection. Cause and effect are inseparable, for there could not be one without the other. Man could not exist without God, and God would not be expressed without man. What infinite possibilities unfold when one recognizes man's oneness with God and the fact that he always moves in accord with Him! One then gives up the belief that he is the personal creator of any thought or deed, either good or bad. He loses all fear of making mistakes, of taking the wrong course of action, or of offending anyone intentionally or unintentionally. Man's unity with God as His reflection explains man's reason for being, the why and wherefore of his existence. Man is necessary to God as His complete expression.

The powerful and far-reaching truths revealed in Christian Science become clear and practical to the receptive thought, to the meek in spirit ascribing all glory to God. With impressive beauty Mrs. Eddy writes in "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" (p. 150): "Stand by the limpid lake, sleeping amid willowy banks dyed with emerald. See therein the mirrored sky and the moon ablaze with her mild glory. This will stir your heart. Then, in speechless prayer, ask God to enable you to reflect God, to become His own image and likeness, even the calm, clear, radiant reflection of Christ's glory, healing the sick, bringing the sinner to repentance, and raising the spiritually dead in trespasses and sins to life in God."