9/11
September 12, 2002
Be firm in your understanding that the divine Mind governs, and that in Science man reflects God's government.
As the media extravaganza unfurled to commemorate 9/11 our group wanted to go beyond the surface and find some healing perspectives through Christian Science.
The readings concentrated on Jesus' demonstration of forgiveness and Mary Baker Eddy's search in the shadows of mortal existence for the Light.
Here are a few insights that opened to members as they searched during the week.
1) The classical Christian Science approach to error is that it's unreal and consequently not to be trusted as giving anything like a valid picture of what's going on. The events of 9/11/01 were at best a dualistic representation of divine reality. So called dead and alive are all eternal and infinite right now. By keeping our focus on perfect God and His reflection perfect man we bring healing to grief, loss and the desire for revenge.
2) This led to quite a discussion of true knowledge and where it comes from. It's not available through the intellect but can be accessed to flood the intellect with healing effect. It is right at hand for everyone. The rituals of orthodox religion as well as the techniques set forth in Christian Science, A Course In Miracles and even Transcendental Meditation are intended to make "it" — the Christ, or God with us — apprehensible. Some teachers,including Mrs. Eddy, go so far as to show us that the worst appearances are in Reality Good, or "angels entertained unawares."
3) Since New York has come to be regarded as a kind of "capital of the world" it is inevitable that all the world's aches and pains should eventually make their way here. We could collapse under the load or move away, but with Christian Science there's a unique privilege and duty to get involved in the work of healing the cultural clashes, estrangements and envies so prominent in world affairs. Not that we're better metaphysicians than those elsewhere, but our hides are on the line. One way of seeing our city is to lift it up above its material symbolic form to the divine idea or New Jerusalem of Revelation. It's the city foursquare where the oneness and allness of God-man-universe is unveiled. See Science and Health, pp. 572-578. Some parts of this vision of perfection on earth are included in our Readings.
4) The healing perception of the Messianic fervor that apparently drives jihads and holy wars — including "protecting American values" — is obtained by first retiring the projections of evil most of us put on others. It's our own evil almost entirely, as both psychology and Christian Science agree. Once we have a grip on what we've been projecting on and therefore supposing to be emanating from others, we can see how it impacts our understanding of perfect God, perfect man and let it melt away under the benign influence of Truth.
5) Evil is often what mortals call a lesser good being destroyed as a greater good comes on the scene. A simple example is a baby tooth being pushed out by the adult tooth. A more complicated response might be needed to any thought that the disappearance of the Roman Empire was good. What of World War II? Is some overwhelming good appearing from 9/11 in spite of all the horrors and agonies? Can Christian Science be activated to prove that progress can unfold in a painless way?
We had some reports of healings.
1) A member was fired from his job two weeks ago over what appeared to be a misunderstanding with other employees. He discussed the situation with another member and they prayed. He was then moved to talk to a friend of the boss about what happened. The friend immediately talked to the boss and our member was rehired with appropriate adjustments vis-à-vis the other employees. Our member noted that the resolution of the problem occurred on 9/11/02. He's Christian, the boss is Muslim and his friend Jewish.
2) Another member was involved in a Protestant church business meeting where charitable activities for the year were discussed. There were good proposals and arguments on all sides, but with his understanding of Christian Science he could see through most of them to possible unintended side-effects. He found he could be supportive by praying in Science to see the harmony and well-being of all givers and recipients.
3) Last year on 9/11 one member was planning to have an 8:30 AM breakfast at Windows On The World, a restaurant atop the north tower of the World Trade Center. When he finished his study and prayer that morning he changed his plans when he realized he was needed at the office instead.
4) Two members talked of their feelings about Osama bin Laden. One said he'd like to incarcerate him and force him to read Science and Health. The other talked of his initial violent hatred of Osama which through prayer has now shifted to compassion. He pities him and recognizes his sad, broken inner child. He would like to go to him and soothe him.
5) Another member is slowly recovering from the effects of his father's violence and homophobia. He's "letting him be himself" — to which another member interjected, "yes, totally divine" — as the karma dissipates.
We couldn't agree on a topic for next week — so we'll do one of our No Topic meetings.
Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day. #And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. #Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
In a world of sin and sensuality hastening to a greater development of power, it is wise earnestly to consider whether it is the human mind or the divine Mind which is influencing one. What the prophets of Jehovah did, the worshippers of Baal failed to do; yet artifice and delusion claimed that they could equal the work of wisdom.
Science only can explain the incredible good and evil elements now coming to the surface. Mortals must find refuge in Truth in order to escape the error of these latter days.
My angels are exalted thoughts, appearing at the door of some sepulchre, in which human belief has buried its fondest earthly hopes. With white fingers they point upward to a new and glorified trust, to higher ideals of life and its joys. Angels are God's representatives. These upward-soaring beings never lead towards self, sin, or materiality, but guide to the divine Principle of all good, whither every real individuality, image, or likeness of God, gathers. By giving earnest heed to these spiritual guides they tarry with us, and we entertain "angels unawares."
The impersonation of the spiritual idea had a brief history in the earthly life of our Master; but "of his kingdom there shall be no end," for Christ, God's idea, will eventually rule all nations and peoples—imperatively, absolutely, finally—with divine Science. This immaculate idea, represented first by man and, according to the Revelator, last by woman, will baptize with fire; and the fiery baptism will burn up the chaff of error with the fervent heat of Truth and Love, melting and purifying even the gold of human character. After the stars sang together and all was primeval harmony, the material lie made war upon the spiritual idea; but this only impelled the idea to rise to the zenith of demonstration, destroying sin, sickness, and death, and to be caught up unto God,—to be found in its divine Principle.
Note this,—that the very message, or swift-winged thought, which poured forth hatred and torment, brought also the experience which at last lifted the seer to behold the great city, the four equal sides of which were heaven-bestowed and heaven-bestowing.
Think of this, dear reader, for it will lift the sackcloth from your eyes, and you will behold the soft-winged dove descending upon you. The very circumstance, which your suffering sense deems wrathful and afflictive, Love can make an angel entertained unawares.
The Revelator was on our plane of existence, while yet beholding what the eye cannot see,—that which is invisible to the uninspired thought. This testimony of Holy Writ sustains the fact in Science, that the heavens and earth to one human consciousness, that consciousness which God bestows, are spiritual, while to another, the unillumined human mind, the vision is material. This shows unmistakably that what the human mind terms matter and spirit indicates states and stages of consciousness.
The cement of a higher humanity will unite all interests in the one divinity.
We have no enemies. Whatever envy, hatred, revenge —the most remorseless motives that govern mortal mind —whatever these try to do, shall "work together for good to them that love God."
Even in belief you have but one (that, not in reality), and this one enemy is yourself—your erroneous belief that you have enemies; that evil is real; that aught but good exists in Science.
The Science of physical harmony, as now presented to the people in divine light, is radical enough to promote as forcible collisions of thought as the age has strength to bear. Until the heavenly law of health, according to Christian Science, is firmly grounded, even the thinkers are not prepared to answer intelligently leading questions about God and sin, and the world is far from ready to assimilate such a grand and all-absorbing verity concerning the divine nature and character as is embraced in the theory of God's blindness to error and ignorance of sin.