"The spiritual resurrection"

Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou?" (John 20: 15.) In this manner Christ Jesus addressed Mary at the graveside after his resurrection. Mary, grief-stricken at the supposed loss of her friend and Saviour, not realizing that the questioner was Jesus, asked him where the Master's body had been taken. Then we read, "Jesus saith unto her, Mary." Mary, obviously greatly stirred, "turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say. Master."

Mortal belief, belief in which Mary had concurred, held Jesus as dead. But his spiritual understanding of his Father, divine Life, Truth, and Love, and of his eternal nature as God's Son, enabled him to rise above the claims of mortal mind and to emerge from the tomb with the same body that he had before the crucifixion. His God-assigned work among humankind had not been finished. He needed to prove to doubting disciples the eternality of Life. During his stay among men after the resurrection, he stirred and gladdened the hearts of his close followers.

Speaking of the occasion at the tomb, Mrs. Eddy gives us this counsel (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 179): "We must lay aside material consciousness, and then we can perceive Truth, and say with Mary, 'Rabboni!'—Master!" Earlier on that same page she says, "We can only come into the spiritual resurrection by quitting the old consciousness of Soul in sense."

Here is the true resurrection for each one of us as set forth in Christian Science. This Science requires that we cease believing that Soul is in sense, that Life and Mind are in matter, and that we gain a spiritual vision of the possibilities of real life in God. The true resurrection involves the spiritualization of thought.

The resurrection is a step-by-step journey which each individual must take until the belief of intelligence and substance in matter is completely overcome and one gains a clear view of the kingdom of heaven, harmony, right at hand and within.

In the resurrection, thought is purged of error by Truth, and the individual rises in the understanding of real being. Through this experience a clearer and clearer understanding of God as Spirit is gained until finally here or hereafter the individual is completely transformed by Truth.

The pathway of resurrection is one in which we are called upon to abandon not only the pains, but also the so-called pleasurable beliefs of mortal sense and glimpse ever clearer views of infinity. We cannot understand Truth or let go of error unless we prayerfully study and demonstrate the truths of divine Science. The pilgrim on the resurrection road must understand that God is All-in-all, that He is Principle, Life, Truth, and Love, and that He is ever-presence, omnipotence, omniaction. The all-pervading nature of God must be understood as furnishing man with spiritual perfection by reflection.

Man is the spiritual expression of God. He is idea, not matter. He manifests only the qualities of God. Man's God-created nature cannot be materialized. But our false concept of man can be corrected, and that is what occurs in the resurrection.

The resurrection journey might be likened to a mountain climber intent on reaching a high peak. The higher he climbs the more expansive and extensive the view. Until he reaches the top, however, his view is restricted by the yet unconquered mountain above him. But he continues on. When the summit is gained, all the struggle to get there ceases. At that point the climber looks about and sees the glorious beauty of the surrounding areas spread out in all directions.

In the resurrection we overcome with the truths of divine Science the errors of material sense which hamper our upward journey until we finally reach the ultimate spiritual heights of understanding. Then we see and enjoy the beauties of heaven which appear in all their glory before us.

In Science and Health, Mrs. Eddy writes (p. 34): "Through all the disciples experienced, they became more spiritual and understood better what the Master had taught. His resurrection was also their resurrection. It helped them to raise themselves and others from spiritual dulness and blind belief in God into the perception of infinite possibilities."

From the summit—the heights of Mind—the infinite possibilities of heaven come clearly into view. The journey upward need not be a burdensome struggle, but even if it is arduous at times, it should be continued with ever-increasing devotion.

Through divine Science we discern that we are perfect, spiritual individual expressions of God, good. Sooner or later we must completely abandon all belief of Soul in sense, of Mind in matter. We shall then fully recognize the real man, God's image and likeness, and our hearts within us will burn with the maximum of joy which Mary no doubt felt when she cried out to the risen Saviour, "Rabboni!"

John J. Selover