Are Sin, Disease and Death Real?-Lesson - Oct 12, 2008

[Susie]

I have a question about "...Christ Jesus, who threw upon mortals the true reflection of God.." (S&H p. 259:8)

I suppose since this is the first post for this weeks lesson, I should say... the lesson this week is "Are Sin, Disease and Death Real?"

Now for my question...

In the second section of the lesson, Mrs. Eddy says, "In divine Science, man is the true image of God. The divine nature was best expressed in Christ Jesus, who threw upon mortals the true reflection of God and lifted their lives higher than their poor thought-models would allow." (S&H p. 259:6)

So... I know that as a Christian Scientist, that the concept of Christ is eternal. Since the Christ power is eternal, is it still available to continue throwing upon us "the true reflection of God" and lift our lives higher than our poor thought-models allow? Is this what we do for ourselves as we grow spiritually? Or, is this what the Christ does to/for us as we become more spiritually aware? Is this what the Divine Comforter does?

Even as I write this I can't help but think about he prodigal son in the lesson who received a robe once he returned. Perhaps a connection?

Susie

[JudyRae]

In the second section of the lesson, Mrs. Eddy says, "In divine Science, man is the true image of God. The divine nature was best expressed in Christ Jesus, who threw upon mortals the true reflection of God and lifted their lives higher than their poor thought-models would allow." (S&H p. 259:6)

So... I know that as a Christian Scientist, that the concept of Christ is eternal. Since the Christ power is eternal, is it still available to continue throwing upon us "the true reflection of God" and lift our lives higher than our poor thought-models allow? Is this what we do for ourselves as we grow spiritually? Or, is this what the Christ does to/for us as we become more spiritually aware? Is this what the Divine Comforter does?

Even as I write this I can't help but think about he prodigal son in the lesson who received a robe once he returned. Perhaps a connection?

Susie

Hello Susie,

Hey, what a great insight about the robe for the prodigal son! When I get a chance perhaps I'll look up to see what the significance of the ring was too.

I see the Comforter, or Holy Ghost as the communicator that reveals God's power at work. Revealing to us the Christ - the full representation of the spiritual idea, man, our true selfhood as the reflection of God.

Hopefully more later on in the week!

JudyRae

[Caron]

Since the Christ power is eternal, is it still available to continue throwing upon us "the true reflection of God" and lift our lives higher than our poor thought-models allow? Is this what we do for ourselves as we grow spiritually? Or, is this what the Christ does to/for us as we become more spiritually aware? Is this what the Divine Comforter does?

Even as I write this I can't help but think about he prodigal son in the lesson who received a robe once he returned. Perhaps a connection?



Susie, this story of the prodigal son has captured my attention, too. In the past, I've done a little research on it, and I remember reading that slaves went barefoot -- so perhaps the significance of the shoes was to elevate the son above the status that he thought he deserved.

In fact, all the elements of the father's welcome, from the fact that he saw his son from a great way off (he must've been waiting for him!), to the ring (symbol of wealth), robe, and shoes, to the homecoming feast, and most of all, the father's unconditional love -- all these things were the very best that the father had to offer. They symbolize, to me, the abundant good that is waiting for each of us as we turn from erroneous attitudes and beliefs to the life that God gives so generously.

This idea of the robe that you bring up reminds me of a few Bible passages:

For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (Gal 3:27)

Awake, awake;...put on thy beautiful garments... (Isa 52:1)

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness... (Isa 61:10)


Yes, I agree that Christ is the eternal presence -- the same yesterday, today, and forever -- ready to comfort each one of us, to turn us back to the true concept of who and what we are. In Truth, there is no lapse from harmony and no action apart from God.


Also, there was a line that jumped out at me in third section of the Lesson, when I read it this week. Of course, we've seen this many times; it's even on the wall of most CS churches:

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:32)

But in this week's Lesson, this line follows the account of the healing of the woman who had a problem that had lasted many years, who reached out in a crowd to touch Jesus' garment (hey, there's the robe again!) -- and it ends with:

And the woman was made whole from that hour.

So here's what strongly spoke to me as I read the next citation from John:

And YE shall know the truth, and the truth shall make YOU free.

[imjim]

Since the Christ power is eternal, is it still available to continue throwing upon us "the true reflection of God" and lift our lives higher than our poor thought-models allow?

Yes.

Is this what we do for ourselves as we grow spiritually?

Yes.

...is this what the Christ does to/for us as we become more spiritually aware?

Yes.

Is this what the Divine Comforter does?

Yes.

The prodigal son, in the midst of his infirmity and self caused afflictions, came to the realization that he didn’t need to do that any longer. He’d spent many years digging holes in his life - only to realize the folly of sin and its rewards. When he finally realized his mistakes, he turned to his father for help. We, like the prodigal son, need to recognize the availability of our Father’s mercy and turn from sin - only then can we be rightly robed.

The ability to turn from sin is always with us. The ability to have the Christ affect our lives and our thinking is always with us. Although, like the prodigal son, it usually takes a good deal of self awareness and a recognition of my own lack, to make me want to change.

S&H tells us:
S&H 19:17 “Every pang of repentance and suffering, every effort for reform, every good thought and deed, will help us to understand Jesus' atonement for sin and aid its efficacy; but if the sinner continues to pray and repent, sin and be sorry, he has little part in the atonement,--in the at-one-ment with God,--for he lacks the practical repentance, which reforms the heart and enables man to do the will of wisdom.”

The ability to have “pangs of repentance” (the recognition of self caused affliction) is always with us. Isn’t the true mission of the Christ to force our thinking to a higher conception of who we are enabling us to come back to our Father?

The misconception (even in very small degrees) of God and/or the Christ as some sort of super human being is at the root of our inability to see His constant ever-presence. The Bible tells us that, “God is a spirit (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=50&chapter=4&verse=24&version=9&context=verse)” and we must get beyond the vision of God as a “super human being,” to the recognition of God as Spirit, to be able to see the Christ as ever active and always available.

The spirit of Love is always, ever available, never bound by human lack or circumstance.

Hope this helps,
imjim

PS Definition 10 (http://machaut.uchicago.edu/?action=search&resource=Webster%27s&word=Throw&quicksearch=on) on this link is an interesting thought for “throwing” when considered with “who threw upon mortals the true reflection of God.”

[Susie]

Caron,

Thank you so much for sharing those wonderful quotes on the idea of garment. An idea that has just taken life this week for me!


I have been reading Science and Health from cover to cover these days and came across this in the chapter Footsteps of Truth (a wonderful accompaniment for this weeks lesson):

Science and Health, Page 242:21
The vesture of Life is Truth. According to the Bible, the facts of being are commonly misconstrued, for it is written: "They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots." The divine Science of man is woven into one web of consistency without seam or rent. Mere speculation or superstition appropriates not part of the divine vesture, while inspiration restores every part of the Christly garment of righteousness.

That first sentence lines up with your sharing of: "Ye shall know the Truth and Truth shall make you free."

Two thoughts that have my attention this week: The idea of garment- and now the words vesture and raiment. In additon, "models," especially models of thought- a type of garment that we wear.



But in this week's Lesson, this line follows the account of the healing of the woman who had a problem that had lasted many years, who reached out in a crowd to touch Jesus' garment (hey, there's the robe again!)


I have been thinking about this situation as well. I was realizing this morning that the events which took place were unknown to the disciples at the time it happened. With all those people nobody would have noticed one more hand reaching for Jesus. The story is told in retrospect. So, to me, from "inside the fishbowl" Jesus turns and the following takes place: (Mark 5:30) " Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?" Well I got to thinking about how this woman had "worn a garment" of her own thought-model for many years. For whatever reason, she sensed a higher thought-model and reached out to it. Jesus didn't have to throw upon her a "truer reflection" as we read in the lesson. She reached for it and embraced it. I seriously doubt if her coming forward had anything to do with a confession of having touched his physical garment. She had touched a raiment far more powerful than a piece of cloth. Imagine her feeling Divine Truth putting on her that new garment. I looked up "virtue" the http://machaut.uchicago.edu/?resource=Webster%27s&word=virtue&use1913=on&use1828=on (Webster's 1813 Dictionary site) site and found: Active quality or power; capacity or power adequate to the production of a given effect; energy; strength; potency; efficacy; as, the virtue of a medicine. (I'll take divine medicine, please!) We are told Christ's awareness of the healing was instant - "immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him. Jesus felt the Truth freeing her and my guess is he knew exactly who it was. What joy he must of experienced when he saw that she knew it to!

Yesterday, I listened to a wonderful online chat http://www.spirituality.com/article.jhtml?ElementId=/repositories/shcomarticle/May2006/1148499573.xml&ElementName=Prayer%3A%20an%20effective%20resource% 20for%20health%20and%20healing (Prayer and effective resource for health and healing). For me it helped with understanding more about the idea of thought-models. If you get a chance you might enjoy it as well.

It is so nice to share with others on this site the insights we see, or think we see, and hear the same from others.

Again, thank you for sharing,

Susie

[Susie]

Jim,

I had just posted a response on this thread and saw your new posting. Thank you so much for addressing and elaborating on what I thought I was seeing.

You have given me new ideas to continue to explore.

I think my biggest challenge, and desire, is to be able to continually monitor my thought and know when I am "in the Spirit." My head knowledge knows that I am continually, in reality, only a spiritual being. I'm just waiting for the heart to be there always and the hands to move as directed by Divine Love.

Funny thing is (well, not really funny, but...) everywhere I go this week it is as if mortal thought is finding every way possible to say man is material. Every conversation I overhear in bank lines or just walking on the street seems to be focused on the importance and "grandeur" of the materiality of man. I am taking this as a cueing from God to correct my thought-model and claim my true reality and the true reality of man. Wear the garment if you will.

Okay, I'm rambling on. I have just been so inspired by this week's lesson.

Thanks for sharing,

Susie

[Mary Alyce]

Hello to all and Thanks to everyone for their most thoughtful comments. The thing I love about this week's Bible Lesson is that we can never be away from God. No matter what the material picture is telling us -- lack of finances, poor health, no job prospects -- we are never away from God because God is infinite Good.

Now, no matter what the picture seems to be -- the reality is we live, move, and have our being in God. This is not "pie in the sky" thinking. It is demonstrable Science. The comforter is here. As we turn our thoughts to what is true, we can demonstrate the Truth in our lives.

Since God is infinite -- all -- there is no lack. Infinite blessings are available for all. No one is outside of these blessings. Good cannot be taken from one to be given to another. God is infinite good and as such, there is no lack or limit to good.

Can you tell I have been thinking about what would help the world thought?

Again, thanks for all the sharing. I have enjoyed being part of the discussion when I get the chance. It is so nice to have a place to share ideas and get new views on topics I have thought I understood, but find that the new view brings new and better ideas. Thanks!

:)Mary Alyce

[free idea]

I also want to thank everyone for their
very clear thoughts in this thread. This
is one of my favorite threads so far!

I think of this as like updating files
on a computer. When I run across
a previously hidden human concept,
I just download the perfect thought
model from God's 24 hr a day
server, and override the previous
virus ridden product.
Always runs my mainframe
better. Usually much better. :-)

[needlepointer]

Did anyone else catch how often the word "fact"is used in this week's lesson? And a new sense of the '3 Rs' was presented. Instead of Reading, 'Riting, +'Rithmetic we have:
Reform
Remedy
Resurrection.
Much better things to learn. LOL

[Aslan]

To me the message of the story of the Prodigal Son is that of the Father's unconditional love. The prodigal removed himself from the Father's love, but found it waiting for him on his return. The brother never left it, but failed to recognize that he'd had it all along.

Is it the work of the Christ to open our understanding to the ever-presence of the Father's love? I think so.