Readings for December 15, 2021

From The Bible

... hear, O earth, the words of my mouth. ...

Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ...
(Deuteronomy 32:1 hear, 3 (to :))

As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
(Proverbs 25:25)

For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: ...
(Isaiah 55:10–12 (to :))

And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
(Matthew 4:23)

And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: ... and stood up for to read.

... And ... he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; ... to preach deliverance to the captives, ... to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. ...

And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
(Luke 4:16 (to :), 16 3rd and, 17 2nd And (to 2nd And), 17 2nd he, 18 (to ;), 18 4th to (to 3rd ,), 18 7th to, 19, 21)

And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? ...

And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. ...

But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, ... and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. ...

Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
(Luke 10:25, 27, 29–34 (to 2nd ,), 34 5th and, 36, 37)

Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: ...
(Matthew 7:12 (to :))

And seeing the multitudes, ...

... he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ...

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. ...

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
(Matthew 5:1 (to 1st ,), 2 he, 3, 6–9, 48)

... Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
(Mark 16:15 Go)

... Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. ...

... and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. ...

But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; ...
(Matthew 24:4 Take, 5, 7 2nd and, 13, 14 (to ;))

The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.
(Proverbs 10:22)

¶ Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
(Proverbs 3:5, 6)

Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
(II Corinthians 9:15)

... as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
(Romans 10:15 as)

Selections from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy

When God called the author to proclaim His Gospel to this age, there came also the charge to plant and water His vineyard. ...

In the spirit of Christ's charity, — as one who “hopeth all things, endureth all things,” and is joyful to bear consolation to the sorrowing and healing to the sick, — she commits these pages to honest seekers for Truth.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. xi:22; xii:23)

Jesus said: “These signs shall follow them that believe; . . . they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” Who believes him? He was addressing his disciples, yet he did not say, “These signs shall follow you,” but them — “them that believe” in all time to come. ...

... Jesus mapped out the path for others. He unveiled the Christ, the spiritual idea of divine Love. ... He taught that the material senses shut out Truth and its healing power.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 38:10–14, 24–26, 30)

He that decries this Science does it presumptuously, in the face of Bible history and in defiance of the direct command of Jesus, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel,” to which command was added the promise that his students should cast out evils and heal the sick.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 342:7–12)

Now that the gospel of healing is again preached by the wayside, does not the pulpit sometimes scorn it? But that curative mission, which presents the Saviour in a clearer light than mere words can possibly do, cannot be left out of Christianity, although it is again ruled out of the synagogue.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 55:8)

We have the gospel, however, and our Master annulled material law by healing contrary to it. We propose to follow the Master's example. We should subordinate material law to spiritual law.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 349:6–10)

... Subject sickness, sin, and death to the rule of health and holiness in Christian Science, and you ascertain that this Science is demonstrably true, for it heals the sick and sinning as no other system can. Christian Science, rightly understood, leads to eternal harmony. It brings to light the only living and true God and man as made in His likeness; whereas the opposite belief — that man originates in matter and has beginning and end, that he is both soul and body, both good and evil, both spiritual and material — terminates in discord and mortality, in the error which must be destroyed by Truth.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 337:29–8 Subject)

To-day the healing power of Truth is widely demonstrated as an immanent, eternal Science, instead of a phenomenal exhibition. Its appearing is the coming anew of the gospel of “on earth peace, good-will toward men.” This coming, as was promised by the Master, is for its establishment as a permanent dispensation among men; but the mission of Christian Science now, as in the time of its earlier demonstration, is not primarily one of physical healing. Now, as then, signs and wonders are wrought in the metaphysical healing of physical disease; but these signs are only to demonstrate its divine origin, — to attest the reality of the higher mission of the Christ-power to take away the sins of the world.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 150:4)

The spiritual sense of truth must be gained before Truth can be understood. This sense is assimilated only as we are honest, unselfish, loving, and meek. In the soil of an “honest and good heart” the seed must be sown; ...
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 272:3–7 (to ;))

... Christian Science demonstrates that none but the pure in heart can see God, as the gospel teaches. In proportion to his purity is man perfect; and perfection is the order of celestial being which demonstrates Life in Christ, Life's spiritual ideal.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 337:14 Christian)

... in Science one must understand the resuscitating law of Life. This is the seed within itself bearing fruit after its kind, ...

When man is governed by God, the ever-present Mind who understands all things, man knows that with God all things are possible. The only way to this living Truth, which heals the sick, is found in the Science of divine Mind as taught and demonstrated by Christ Jesus.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 180:8–10 in (to ,), 25)

When we realize that there is one Mind, the divine law of loving our neighbor as ourselves is unfolded; whereas a belief in many ruling minds hinders man's normal drift towards the one Mind, one God, and leads human thought into opposite channels where selfishness reigns.

Selfishness tips the beam of human existence towards the side of error, not towards Truth. Denial of the oneness of Mind throws our weight into the scale, not of Spirit, God, good, but of matter.

When we fully understand our relation to the Divine, we can have no other Mind but His, — no other Love, wisdom, or Truth, no other sense of Life, and no consciousness of the existence of matter or error.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 205:22–3)

The test of all prayer lies in the answer to these questions: Do we love our neighbor better because of this asking? ... If selfishness has given place to kindness, we shall regard our neighbor unselfishly, and bless them that curse us; but we shall never meet this great duty simply by asking that it may be done. There is a cross to be taken up before we can enjoy the fruition of our hope and faith.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 9:5–7, 11)

When will Jesus' professed followers learn to emulate him in all his ways and to imitate his mighty works? ... It is possible, — yea, it is the duty and privilege of every child, man, and woman, — to follow in some degree the example of the Master by the demonstration of Truth and Life, of health and holiness. ... Hear these imperative commands: “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect!” “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature!” “Heal the sick!”
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 37:16–17, 22–25, 27)

We cannot choose for ourselves, but must work out our salvation in the way Jesus taught. In meekness and might, he was found preaching the gospel to the poor.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 30:30–1)

If all who seek his commemoration through material symbols will take up the cross, heal the sick, cast out evils, and preach Christ, or Truth, to the poor, — the receptive thought, — they will bring in the millennium.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 34:13)

“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature!”
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 37:29–30)

Millions of unprejudiced minds — simple seekers for Truth, weary wanderers, athirst in the desert — are waiting and watching for rest and drink. Give them a cup of cold water in Christ's name, and never fear the consequences.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 570:14–18)

The footsteps of thought, rising above material standpoints, are slow, and portend a long night to the traveller; but the angels of His presence — the spiritual intuitions that tell us when “the night is far spent, the day is at hand” — are our guardians in the gloom. Whoever opens the way in Christian Science is a pilgrim and stranger, marking out the path for generations yet unborn.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 174:9)

As Paul asked of the unfaithful in ancient days, so the rabbis of the present day ask concerning our healing and teaching, “Through breaking the law, dishonorest thou God?”
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 349:3–6)

This human sense of Deity yields to the divine sense, even as the material sense of personality yields to the incorporeal sense of God and man as the infinite Principle and infinite idea, — as one Father with His universal family, held in the gospel of Love.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 576:31–4)

Hymns from the Christian Science Hymnal

Hymn 42
Come, Thou all-transforming Spirit,
Bless the sower and the seed;
Let each heart Thy grace inherit;
Raise the weak, the hungry feed;
From the Gospel, from the Gospel
Now supply Thy people's need.

O, may all enjoy the blessing
Which Thy holy word doth give;
Let us all, Thy love possessing,
Joyfully Thy truth receive;
And forever, and forever
To Thy praise and glory live.
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 42)

Hymn 504
I want to know the truth that Jesus taught us,
To taste the liberty his promise brought us.
In Life we see that fear and death are not found.
We know as Mind is knowing: We are God-crowned!

The master Christian gave us his pure teaching
And guided us in healing and in preaching.
Love's gospel casts out sin, and brings us healing,
Whereby we all are blessed by Truth's revealing.

Forever, we have Truth, as Jesus stated,
The Soul that gives the joy we've all awaited,
And Principle to guide our pathway upward,
The light and harmony that moves us forward.
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 504)

Hymn 362
To us a Child of Hope is born,
To us a Son is given;
Him shall the tribes of earth obey,
And all the hosts of heaven.

His name shall be the Prince of Peace,
Forevermore adored;
The Wonderful, the Counsellor,
The great and mighty Lord.

His power, increasing, still shall spread;
His reign shall never cease;
For justice ever guards his throne,
And all his paths are peace.
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 362)