In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus deals with the subject of unfair criticism. He tells his hearers that if they judge others unfairly, they themselves will be subject to the same treatment. And then the Way-shower says (Matt. 7:3), "And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?" He advises the hearer to cast first the beam out of his own eye that he may see clearly enough to cast the mote out of his brother's eye.

This instruction of Jesus is of basic value to the Christian Scientist in his relation with his fellow men; it calls for self-examination on the part of the individual whenever he is tempted to criticize his neighbor. A mote is a small particle, perhaps of wood or dust. But a beam is a large timber, many times larger than the eye itself. The reference is significant in that the beam represents self-love or spiritual blindness. It is the fault which blinds the individual to his own shortcomings and prevents him from judging righteous judgment. It keeps him from helping his fellow men to overcome their faults.

The removal of the beams of selfishness and spiritual blindness in oneself and of the mote of lesser faults in others calls for constant and honest self-examination. In her book "Miscellaneous Writings" Mary Baker Eddy writes (p. 355), "Learn what in thine own mentality is unlike 'the anointed,' and cast it out; then thou wilt discern the error in thy patient's mind that makes his body sick, and remove it, and rest like the dove from the deluge." And she adds, "'Physician, heal thyself.'"

The purpose of self-examination is to ascertain the nature of one's thoughts of himself and others and to study one's aims. Such examination must be based on a standard from which to judge righteous judgment. This standard is perfect God and perfect man: God who is Spirit, All, and man who is His spiritual idea. Our work in self-examination is to cast out of ourselves and others every thought which does not originate in Spirit, in divine Mind. Honesty of purpose, sincerity, and diligent watchfulness are required.

The beam of self-love or mental darkness shuts out the true view of oneself and one's neighbor and causes hardship. But the light of divine Love, reflected in the mentality of the individual, dispels the darkness of this error and reveals all creation as loving, lovely, and lovable. To find a fault in another is to entertain unlovely thoughts in oneself, and this in turn may result in a magnified sense of physical and mental discord.

The important point to hold in thought is this: if one becomes conscious of physical, mental, or moral discord or shortcomings in oneself or in another, the immediate step to be taken is self-examination. It is to look within and cast out first whatever is not in conformity with Christ—with the true idea of God. In the degree that we love our neighbor as ourself—see him as God's idea—we demonstrate Christian Science.

In the following statement our Leader speaks of the importance of systematic self-examination (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, pp. 128, 129): "Watch, and pray daily that evil suggestions, in whatever guise, take no root in your thought nor bear fruit. Ofttimes examine yourselves, and see if there be found anywhere a deterrent of Truth and Love, and 'hold fast that which is good.'" Mrs. Eddy also advises us to be careful not to be overcome by the odiousness of sin or discord which may be unveiled in ourselves and others during this process of self-examination. We are not to make something of error, to consider it a reality, to let it dwell in our thoughts and be magnified into the beam of spiritual blindness. We are to reject it and hold fast to that which is good.

On entering a synagogue, the Master once found a man with a withered hand. It was the Sabbath day, when no one was supposed to work, and Jesus' enemies watched him to see what he would do. The account says that Jesus was grieved by the hardness of their hearts. He healed the man, and then the Pharisees in their blindness went out and plotted together to kill him.

Self-love, the outgrowth of spiritual blindness, is hardness of heart. Every earnest disciple of the Christ needs to watch his thoughts to see that this beam of evil is effaced from his consciousness, lest it envelop him in mental darkness. Our Leader tells us (Miscellaneous Writings, pp. 127, 128), "The human heart, like a feather bed, needs often to be stirred, sometimes roughly, and given a variety of turns, else it grows hard and uncomfortable whereon to repose." Constant self-examination uncovers errors which need correction. Gratitude and unselfed love for God and man bathe the heart in healing balm and restore its warmth, spontaneity, and tenderness. This state of consciousness eliminates both the mote and the beam in our experience and in our relations with others.

We are all familiar with Jesus' practice of retiring in prayer to commune with God and thus refresh himself for greater works. If so good and pure a representative of God required these periods of communion and self-examination, certainly we, his disciples, should devote quiet periods to silent communion and renewal of thought. In so doing we shall be following Paul's admonition when he writes of the true communion (I Cor. 11:28), "Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup."

Harold Molter