I noticed a lot in this lesson about seeing God’s face—that is experiencing God’s presence. What reveals God to be ever-present is the Christ light of the spiritual sense shining in thought.  We discover and radiate this growing glow of spiritual sense or light of Christ, Truth as we choose to let go of the mortal model — that which is limited and destined to die — and embrace immortal reality — full of life and limitless vitality.  This spiritual sense of all being meets us where we are, and reveals the freedom of man as made in the image of God.

I noticed a lot in this lesson about seeing God’s face—that is experiencing God’s presence. What reveals God to be ever-present is the Christ light of the spiritual sense shining in thought.  We discover and radiate this growing glow of spiritual sense or light of Christ, Truth as we choose to let go of the mortal model — that which is limited and destined to die — and embrace immortal reality — full of life and limitless vitality.  This spiritual sense of all being meets us where we are, and reveals the freedom of man as made in the image of God.

Nothing could bless each of us, our loved ones, our country or the whole world more than a moment-by-moment keeping of a “promise to watch, and pray for that Mind to be in us which was also in Christ Jesus…” (S28) The solemn, sincere, part of this 6th Tenet pledge to think and act with the Mind of Christ is brought out by Proverbs 8:17 that speaks of seeking wisdom early. The original Hebrew translated here as early has an implication of seeking earnestly or diligently or solemnly. We can do that all the time — throughout the day. We know that Mary Baker Eddy searched the Scriptures to truly discern God’s nature. When we see how many references there are in the Bible to the wisdom of God, it’s easy to see why Mind was chosen as one of the seven synonyms of God.

Notice how much is said in this Lesson about abiding, persisting, striving, continuing, etc.  Walking in Truth isn’t always easy.  We may often slip and fall — or be distracted and start down dead-end paths.  But, don’t give up!  Truth liberates!  Truth makes us free!  Joyfully watch thought and do the best you can to keep thought aligned with God’s law, which reveals Truth.  Christ, Truth, is continually coming to you with grace, mercy and love enabling you to remain in the light where the lasting goodness of reality can be clearly seen!

How fun that this Lesson will be shared in churches around the world the morning of Christmas Eve! There is much to be considered in it about prophecy and the appearing of the promised Savior — the Messiah or Christ. To me, it speaks clearly of the eternal nature of Christ — but also of the significance of the uniqueness and completeness of the appearance of this Savior in the individualized form of Christ Jesus. There is much to learn about what prophecy really is, the ongoing nature of it, and the role that we continue to play in it. The more I worked with the Lesson, the more I recognized the importance of not looking at the Bible as a linear explanation of human events, but as the unfoldment of spiritual ideas revealing the over-arching theme of the supremacy of good over evil — and God’s revelation of His saving and caring power.

The first thing I noticed about this Lesson was the many references to eyes and seeing. Some of us may feel the need to apply the references to the literal opening of blind eyes. But, regardless of our supposed visual acuity, we all need to be praying to have our eyes opened to behold more of the infinite universe that is the realm of Spirit, and to fully recognize Christ (“The divine manifestation of God, which comes to the flesh to destroy incarnate error”; “the ideal Truth”). We never need to change reality. We can perceive what God has created by depending on spiritual sense in order to “look deep into realism” and to see and experience perpetual harmony!

By my count, the word righteous or righteousness appears 11 times in the Lesson between the Golden Text and the end of the 4th section. Might be important to understand what those words mean. I checked the original Hebrew and Greek, as well as Bible dictionaries and regular dictionaries. I loved discovering that in its earliest form, the idea of righteousness sprang from “to be innocent.” In simple terms, righteousness can be thought of as a state of “what is right” or “what ought to be.” We can think of righteousness as that which is in conformity to the Divine will, and the Law which reveals that will. Doing what is “lawful and right” — and obeying God’s law — is being righteous. I was interested in this insight: Paul’s writings often describe “not the righteousness required by God, but the righteousness bestowed by God and accepted by faith in Christ.” (Hastings Bible Dictionary, p. 800) This applies to the idea of grace that appears in the last two sections this week. Certainly we learn through our study of Christian Science that all good comes from God — and the perfect man reflects that goodness (innocence and righteousness.) As we instruct mortal mind out of itself, we are free to follow the path of righteousness (innocent, right thought — and action) that allows us to live a life that is in accord with divine, eternal Life! As we strive to walk in this “way of righteousness,” we will face trials, otherwise known as periods of probation. And these times will inevitably strengthen us — and reveal more to us about our relationship to God … to Life. The path we are walking is not a linear path, but a path of unfoldment and revelation — the revelation of good and harmony! Righteous thinking allows us to see this unfoldment which has nothing to do with “before” or “after” what mortal mind calls death. There is just one continuous path — the path of Life!