7th Commandment and our relationship with God

The Bible:
Ex 20:1,2,14
Isa 54:5-8 thy Maker
Prov 6:32 whoso
Hos 3:1-5
Hos 4:1,12,6,13 (to :)
Hos 11:8,9
Hos 14:1,2,9
Jer 3:14,15,20-23
Jer 4:1,2
II Pet 2:9-12,14,15,18-20
Mark 1:14,15,34
Mark 6:56
Mark 7:5-9,14-16,21-23
Mark 8:34 Whosoever, 36,38
Matt 6:21,24
Heb 10:23
Titus 1:15,16
II Tim 2:19,22
II Cor 11:2,3
Eph 5:25-28,33

Science and Health:
56:18-3
330:25 The
85:23
52:3-13
140:16
405:5
272:19
58:7-12
371:27
60:16-28
59:27
58:31
59:17
241:5
346:29
462:9
223:2
323:28

Christian Science Hymnal:
Hymn 49
Hymn 380
Hymn 113

Spiritual growth and immortality

The Bible:
Ps 92:4 thou,5,12-15
Ps 16:8 (to :),9-11
Gen 5:23,24
Heb 11:5,6
II Kings 2:1,6-15
Isa 11:1 there,2
Luke 2:52 Jesus
Luke 3:21,22
Luke 4:1,2 (to .),14,15
Luke 13:6-13
Luke 22:1,2 (to ;),54 (to .)
Luke 23:33
Luke 24:1-9,36,39-46 (to ,),48,50-53
Acts 4:33
Eph 4:1,7 unto,8,12-15,17,20-24
I Pet 2:1-3
II Pet 3:18

Science and Health:
264:32-22
214:5
265:26-28,31-2
318:16
368:22-24
406:20-25 We
91:5
521:12
190:14-31
4:3-5
291:5-18
350:6-10
585:9
588:7
461:31
485:14-19
496:9
258:13-15

Christian Science Hymnal:
Hymn 64
Hymn 105
Hymn 207


Those of you who have the Concord Study package can just copy and paste these citations into the Citation Document pane in the program and view the readings that way if you'd prefer.

Thanks!

Spring has sprung!

It's here! Spring has sprung! I love this time of year when suddenly you start to see those changes - the bits of new, green growth creeping up and in all around. Tree limbs that seemed so barren suddenly have little green buds all over them. The hyacinth bulbs I planted last fall are starting to pop out of the ground - hurray! Crocus that has been around the house probably for a long time are stretching their green leaves toward the sky. And, as I look out my window these last few days, patches of green in the lawn are widening and spreading. All so beautiful - fresh and new with hope and promise.

And it seems that people are following suit. After a few months of hibernation, we are venturing out - testing the weather and exploring the paths we all had been running and walking just a few months ago. A little slower for those of us who really went into deep hibernation! But what great fun to see people out and about again - in the local park, walking along the nearby bike paths and river. Everything "coming to life" again. Ah, spring!

And our regular friends the robins and mourning doves are back. Great joy to see them working their waay around the yard looking for food, perching in branches and on gutter edges sunning themselves, and hearing the doves mournful coo.

Somehow, this time of year, it seems like you can just feel God's love, Her touch on everything, as the surround comes almost suddenly back to life. In celebration, here are some thoughts from Mary Baker Eddy's writings that are appropo:

"Beauty is a thing of life, which dwells forever in the eternal Mind and reflects the charms of His goodness in expression, form, outline, and color. It is Love which paints the petal with myriad hues, glances in the warm sunbeam, arches the cloud with the bow of beauty, blazons the night with starry gems, and covers earth with loveliness. " (Science and Health, 247:21)


"God fashions all things, after His own likeness. Life is reflected in existence, Truth in truthfulness, God in goodness, which impart their own peace and permanence. Love, redolent with unselfishness, bathes all in beauty and light. The grass beneath our feet silently exclaims, 'The meek shall inherit the earth.' The modest arbutus sends her sweet breath to heaven. The great rock gives shadow and shelter. The sunlight glints from the church-dome, glances into the prison-cell, glides into the sick-chamber, brightens the flower, beautifies the landscape, blesses the earth." (Science and Health, 516:9-19)

"Spring is my sweetheart, whose voices are sad or glad, even as the heart may be; restoring in memory the sweet rhythm of unforgotten harmonies, or touching tenderly its tearful tones.

"Spring passes over mountain and meadow, waking up the world; weaving the wavy grass, nursing the timid spray, stirring the soft breeze; rippling all nature in ceaseless flow, with 'breath all odor and cheek all bloom.' Whatever else droops, spring is gay: her little feet trip lightly on, turning up the daisies, paddling the watercresses, rocking the oriole's cradle; challenging the sedentary shadows to activity, and the streams to race for the sea. Her dainty fingers put the fur cap on pussy-willow, paint in pink the petals of arbutus, and sweep in soft strains her Orphean lyre. 'The voice of the turtle is heard in our land.' The snow-bird that tarried through the storm, now chirps to the breeze; the cuckoo sounds her invisible lute, calling the feathered tribe back to their summer homes. Old robin, though stricken to the heart with winter's snow, prophesies of fair earth and sunny skies. The brooklet sings melting murmurs to merry meadows; the leaves clap their hands, and the winds make melody through dark pine groves. ...

"When gentle violet lifts its blue eye to heaven, and crown imperial unveils its regal splendor to the sun; when the modest grass, inhabiting the whole earth, stoops meekly before the blast; when the patient corn waits on the elements to put forth its slender blade, construct the stalk, instruct the ear, and crown the full corn in the ear, — then, are mortals looking up, waiting on God, and committing their way unto Him who tosses earth's mass of wonders into their hands? When downtrodden like the grass, did it make them humble, loving, obedient, full of good odor, and cause them to wait patiently on God for man's rich heritage, — 'dominion over all the earth'? Thus abiding in Truth, the warmth and sunlight of prayer and praise and understanding will ripen the fruits of Spirit, and goodness will have its springtide of freedom and greatness." (Miscellaneous Writings 1883-1896, pp. 329-330)

Ah, spring! Thank you, Father-Mother God!

Lifting those burdens and finding release

I was remembering a healing I had recently when I was praying this morning. It was one of those resolutions that sort of snuck in. Not sure why it was coming to thought today, except that I probably had not fully expressed gratitude and appreciation for it - which is important to do, I've found, for those good things that happen in life.

So here's what happened: A few week's ago, I was going to a meeting one evening. I had my purse - which in the winter seems to get bigger and heavier with stuff - and a canvas bag with folders for the meeting, a couple of books, etc., so kind of heavy. I remember shifting these both to my left hand as I walked along toward the buidling. As I looked at these bags in my hand, I thought, "Hmmm, maybe I shouldn't carry these two heavy things in one hand." Okay - yes - here's what started it, and I didn't think any further about this at the time, but went on into the building for the meeting.

As you may have guessed, not long into the meeting, my shoulder began to ache a bit, to start feeling stiff, somewhat inflexible. By the next morning, I could barely move the shoulder and arm except with quite alot of pain and discomfort. "Argh," I thought, "what did I do??" I remembered the two heavy bags and that niggling little thought I had when walking in for the meeting. And I knew I had to pray about this situation.

Which I did. I wasn't totatlly clear on what I needed to learn from this experience. Seemed like a few things to clarify in my thought! But I knew that whatever it was that I needed to learn about God, myself, and our relationship, it would heal this problem.

One thing stood out as obvious - that thought about how heavy the bags were and, at least unexpressed directly, that carrying them together like that could cause harm, it couldn't have been from God. He made me and all things to express Him. He is infinite Spirit, so I and all real creation express Him spiritually, and there is no weight to Spirit or spiritual things. So how could God tell me to be careful of how heavy something is and that it could harm me? He couldn't, and didn't, so I should have dismissed that suggestion right away. I didn't, but it wasn't too late! I could dismiss and reverse it right then. And I did.

But relief wasn't coming immediately. Okay, what else do I need to learn, Father?

Then I remembered a little situation I was facing. I was supposed to be helping organize an event for a group. It wasn't going in the direction I felt it should, or that seemed like the original intent. And I wasn't really being included in the process like I thought I should (Yeah, yeah. Boo hoo! Poor me, huh?? :). "Ah," I thought, "there's another type of burden I've been carrying around! Putting weight on me, making myself responsible for something." It got really clear as I considered this idea, that I wasn't responsible for this event, didn't really even have to have a hand in it - and I got really okay with this. I could let it go because it wasn't up to me - as always it was up to God. And I knew that the others who were working on this idea were good people, had good intententions, were striving to listen to God for the best way to bless all with this activity. So it all was in the best hands - God's.

I just felt so free and grateful for this insight! A real release of falsely-claimed responsibilities. And just more joyful.

I'm not sure if my shoulder followed in its release right away - might have been the next day. But it happened naturally and quickly, I know that. After about two days of stiffness and intense discomfort it was all gone. I barely remembered this all happened until a few days later, and then this morning. And I'm happy to feel that rush of gratitude for some deeper insights into God's presence and power that will surely continue to help along this path Spirit-ward.

I'm thinking this passage from Science and Health reflects some of what I was consdering in my prayers for this difficulty:

"The body seems to be self-acting, only because mortal mind is ignorant of itself, of its own actions, and of their results, — ignorant that the predisposing, remote, and exciting cause of all bad effects is a law of so-called mortal mind, not of matter. Mind is the master of the corporeal senses, and can conquer sickness, sin, and death. Exercise this God-given authority. Take possession of your body, and govern its feeling and action. Rise in the strength of Spirit to resist all that is unlike good. God has made man capable of this, and nothing can vitiate the ability and power divinely bestowed on man.

"Be firm in your understanding that the divine Mind governs, and that in Science man reflects God's government. Have no fear that matter can ache, swell, and be inflamed as the result of a law of any kind, when it is self-evident that matter can have no pain nor inflammation. Your body would suffer no more from tension or wounds than the trunk of a tree which you gash or the electric wire which you stretch, were it not for mortal mind." (393:4-24)

Live and die by the sword, or live by the Word

A look at the Sixth Commandment.

The Bible:
Ex 21:12,14,24,25
II Sam 2:1 David inquired,4 (to.),8,9,10 But,12,13 (to :),17-23 (to 2nd :),26 (to 2nd ?),32 (to .)
II Sam 3:1,6,12,13 (to :),20,21,23,24,26-29 (to ;),30,31,33,34,37
I Kings 1:1 (to ;),5 (to :),7,32-34
I Kings 2:28-34
Ex 20:13
Lev 19:18
Prov 10:12
Matt 4:23 Jesus,25
Matt 5:1,2,5,8,9,21,22,38,39,43-48
John 13:34,35
Matt 26:3,4,47 Judas,49-52
Matt 27:1,35 (to :),39-44,50,57-60
Matt 28:1,2,5,6,18-20
Rom 12:10,17 (to .),19-21
Rom 13:8-10

Science and Health:
327:8-12
22:31-1
405:2-11
595:3
563:1-7 (to ?)
374:5-6
243:25-26 Love
454:9-10 (to 2nd .)
30:14
39:1-2
48:17
51:6-11,28
52:9
43:11-23,27-32
54:1
542:18
444:13-22
17:6-7

Christian Science Hymnal:
Hymn 126
Hymn 163
Hymn 30


As always, with these Bible and Science and Health references, you can copy and paste the citations into the citation document pane in the Concord Study Package program and view the references there is you wish.

The Canaanite Woman

I’ve long been intrigued by the healing story in Matthew 15:21-28 – where the Canaanite woman pursues Jesus and his disciples, wanting healing for her daughter who is possessed with a devil. I just love her exchange with Jesus! How sharp and quick she was to respond in the way she did! And thereby she won the healing she wanted for her daughter.

Several things struck me about this story as I read it this week:

o She was bold – she asked for what she wanted. Here she was, a woman, and from a non-Hebrew culture (The Hebrews were actually supposed to wipe out the Canaanites when they were brought to the Promised Land – so not a lot of great feelings between these groups!), pretty low on the scale to get any sort of notice, much less to ask a favor of someone so important.
o She loved – she must have loved her daughter so dearly, enabling her to put herself in this position of begging for help

o She was perceptive – she recognized that Jesus was the Messiah. Note that she addressed him right up front as the “son of David” – one of the ways the Messiah is referred to. She’d probably seen his healing work, or at least heard about it and this meant Christ to her.

o She was so persistent – to the point of driving Jesus’ disciples crazy! They wanted him to get rid of her, likely by giving in and giving her what she wanted. And she kept asking, and was rewarded for this persistence.
o She was clever – she picked up on an opening Jesus gave her when he did respond to her pleas. He said “it is not meet to take the children’s bread, and cast it to the dogs.” Yes, she was the dog; she understood the inference. Probably wasn’t the first time she’d been referred to in this way. But she also got that he wasn’t referring to stray dogs, those that roam the streets looking for scraps. No, he was referring to the household dogs. Some Bible translations use “little dogs” or “household dogs.” So pets, animals that already had a place in the household, though lower than the family members (well, people family members as some of us look at our pets as our children!). It was the custom of the time to wipe one’s hands on bread while eating – no napkins – and to let these pieces of bread drop on the floor for such household pets to scavenge. So she perceived that this was the image Jesus was describing, and latched onto it and responded in a way that indicated her apprehension: “Truth, Lord, yet the dogs eat of the crumbs that fall from the master’s table.”

o She had faith – she believed what Jesus could do for her daughter. This strengthened her persistence. This Jesus must have perceived easily – based on her persistence and her willingness to place herself in this type of situation where she was unwelcome, unwanted, another Pariah. And she was rewarded for this faith. Her daughter was healed.

She’s a good reminder on how to pursue a healing. So I think I am going to be checking myself more regularly – am I being persistent, importunate in my prayers? Here are a couple of thoughts from Science and Health about persistence and its importance in working out our salvation:

400:18

By lifting thought above error, or disease, and contending persistently for truth, you destroy error.

462:13

Whoever would demonstrate the healing of Christian Science must abide strictly by its rules, heed every statement, and advance from the rudiments laid down. There is nothing difficult nor toilsome in this task, when the way is pointed out; but self-denial, sincerity, Christianity, and persistence alone win the prize, as they usually do in every department of life.

He finds those lost sheep

I’ve been thinking a lot about Jesus’ parable of the lost sheep from Luke 15 this week. (Those of you who study the Christian Science Weekly Bible Lesson will recognize it from the Responsive Reading – hence the impetus to thinking about this one this week! Anyone who is unfamiliar with the Weekly Bible Lesson can check it out a little bit on eBibleLesson.com. Unfortunately you have to subscribe to read, hear or view all of it, unless you look locally – it may be on TV or radio in your area – or it is certainly available at your nearby Christian Science Reading Room.)

More than anything, what strikes me about this parable is the amazing tenderness of the shepherd for the lost sheep. He cared so much for that one individual (and he would/did for each sheep individually), that he left all the rest to go find it. And then the joy in bringing that lost sheep home! He wanted everyone to celebrate with him, he was so happy for its return!

But what stood out to me as really emphasizing this tenderness was that the shepherd himself went to go find the lost sheep. He didn’t send one of his hired workers. He does the work of bringing back the lost one. But who else really would care as much as the shepherd? Jesus points this out in his conversation with the Jews at the Temple in John 10 – where he describes himself as the Good Shepherd. He says that the hireling flees in the face of problems and danger because he doesn’t care for the sheep, but the Shepherd cares. He cares so much that he lays down his life for the sheep. Wow! That’s love. And it certainly was demonstrated by Jesus.

Another aspect of the shepherd’s tender care for the lost sheep in this parable is the manner in which he brings the sheep back. No dragging, no pushing it along, no lecturing and admonishing – no! He laid it “on his shoulders, rejoicing.” What closeness this precious one is given with the Shepherd, even though he strayed. He doesn’t have to walk back to the fold. He is carried back by someone who loves him dearly. One Bible commentator shares that this intimacy gave the Shepherd time with the lost one to reform the sinner and to heal him. Yes, certainly closeness with our Shepherd brings reform and healing. Love does that.

You might like to check out Wycliffe’s translation of this parable, too. Note what he uses in place of “lost” – “perished.” He goes after them that are perished. Well, desert environment. Certainly if a sheep wandered off, it is quite likely that, without the shepherd’s immediate care and attention, he will perish. The Greek word translated as lost in the KJV is “apollumi” and means, according to Strong’s lexicon “to destroy fully or (reflexively) to perish or lose.” I just thought this was really interesting. It says to me how imperative it is for the Shepherd to find the lost sheep. If he doesn’t’ they perish. But, even if they do, He can and will bring them back.

And this relates to the word “lost” used in Luke 19:10 – “…the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (It’s this week’s lesson’s Golden Text.) So the Son of man seeks out those that perished, according to Wycliffe. Okay, the good news – he seeks the lost out – seeks them out! And it is never too late. He’s seeking that which is perished – past tense. To me, the comfort I am feeling from this is that he can and will always find me or anyone who has strayed, and it is never too late. No matter what, he can bring us back, even if perished – and He will do it.

There’s a hope we can all cherish and a promise we can all count on!

You might also like to check out Laura Matthew’s post on Luke’s Gospel. It touches on this parable and especially one that Jesus shared after it – the Prodigal son.