All who have been nurtured in the Christian faith

All who have been nurtured in the Christian faith can recall the story of Mary’s flight into Egypt. Many artists during many centuries have been inspired by the dramatic aspect of this incident, and a well-known modern picture represents Mary holding the child Jesus in her arms and resting between the paws of the mythical Sphinx, while Joseph sleeps on the ground and the stars glitter in the eastern heavens. But what could have induced a Hebrew mother to take her child into Egypt for safety? Of all places of refuge surely this was the most unlikely to provide shelter and security to a child of Israel of tender years. Still a metaphysical explanation of this seeming paradox is at hand which contains a lesson and an inspiration for those striving Spiritward.

The familiar facts which led up to Mary’s flight into Egypt are these: the wise men from the east had come to Jerusalem, “saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews?” This had aroused Herod’s apprehension, but before he could take measures to discover Jesus, a very strange message came to Joseph “in a dream”: “Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word; for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.”

The author of the Christian Science text-book, “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,” has revealed to humanity the true meaning of Jesus’ birth. No religious writer has ever explained Mary’s conception of Jesus with such profound spiritual insight and such loving solicitude as has Mrs. Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science. On page 29 of her epoch-making text-book we find these words: “Jesus was the offspring of Mary’s self-conscious communion with God;” and also, “The Christ dwelt forever an idea in the bosom of God, the divine Principle of the man Jesus, and woman perceived this spiritual idea, though at first faintly developed.” It was “this spiritual idea, though at first faintly developed,” which Mary sought to safeguard by fleeing into Egypt. Now, every scientific Christian must be ready to rescue his own conception of the Christ from the grasp of the would-be destroyer. Who has not, among those consecrated to Christian Science, experienced the moment when Herod was groping about in the darkness of intrigue to seize upon and destroy the young child. Is not this spiritual idea, when born to human consciousness, the most precious of possible possessions, and is there any earthly sacrifice too great to insure its safety and to keep it inviolate?

The hour of choice sometimes strikes unexpectedly. The scientific Christian may find himself amid surroundings of material ease which appeal to the drowsy sense of personal satisfaction. In such an environment the spiritual idea does not grow and wax strong. Perhaps persecution of a particularly subtle sort tries to stifle the spiritual idea, lest it take its rightful place on the throne of righteousness in the kingdom of consciousness. A substitute is then sometimes suggested which will be wholly acceptable to false belief and will not outrage material sense. Again there may come the time when the cares of this world and the loud cries of its hollow mockeries seem to cause neglect of the Christ. Indeed, the very conscientiousness in which merely human goodness takes, pride may become an occasion for neglecting the spiritual idea. A Martha “careful and troubled about many things” in church organization, may overlook the presence of the Christ who comes to save, to heal, and to raise the dead. Therefore when a choice seems necessary between Christ and the persecutions of a Herod, let there be not a moment’s hesitation. In order to rescue spiritual understanding, it is sometimes necessary to flee into Egypt itself, even to the extent of going into any place, any condition, where the spiritual idea may best be protected. There should be no tarrying even for one instant; every inducement to parley or make terms should be resisted. One thing only is required of the scientific Christian, namely, to possess the Christ-consciousness; having that, salvation is at hand, the sick are healed, the sad are comforted, the bound are set free.

Should the hour ever come when those who have the name but have not preserved the understanding of the Christ, attempt to separate the scientific Christian from the Son of God, let not even this secret sin, designed to deceive the elect, deceive him. He will follow faithfully the spiritual idea, nourish it, cherish it, abide by it, and steadfastly obey it. When we have chosen the one thing needful, the better part, Christ, Truth, will lead us out of every danger, break every yoke, lighten every burden, and dissipate every doubt.

Then, when the danger is passed, when Herod has fulfilled the destructive belief he held in reserve for others, there will come another angel or messenger, “saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child’s life.” Be certain that no paying tithe of mint and anise and cummin, required by pharisaical observance, no unguided human goodness, no precision of personal affairs, no mere avoidance of disagreeable matters, no smoothness of tongue or outward conforming, will save the sick or raise the dead. But Christ is sufficient for all things. Through good and evil report the Christian Scientist learns to safeguard his perception of the Christ and not to be afraid of Egypt, for truly even seeming darkness may be turned into a temporary abode of safety by the consciousness of “God with us.”