The Joy of Unity

That the sense of loving unity with one’s fellow-men, as well as unity with God, is essential for healing was plainly taught by Christ Jesus. In his Sermon on the Mount did he not tell his followers that if they brought their gift to the altar and there remembered that their brother had aught against them, they should leave their gift and first go and be reconciled to their brother?

Surely it is the desire of every earnest Christian Scientist to render daily offerings unto God, divine Love, even as our Leader, Mrs. Eddy, writes (Poems, p. 13):

“My prayer, some daily good to do
To Thine, for Thee;
An offering pure of Love, whereto
God leadeth me.”

It is evident, however, that in order to have our offering acceptable unto God, our thought must be right toward our brother; and we should make sure that we are honest, just, and merciful in all our relationships. We might ask ourselves, Have we shown charity enough to unsee the error in our own thinking? or have we attached it to another by being harsh, unkind, or critical? Have we given the word of comfort to him who has come to us with heavy burdens? or have we failed to see his need and withheld the friendliness, patience, and love which would have lifted him above his seeming want? Have we given our brother occasion to have aught against us? If so, let us get our thought so filled with good that it will result in such an outflow of kindliness that we shall find ourselves expressing habitual love and good will. In this attitude we shall find it impossible to think, say, or do anything that would harm anyone; for, as Mrs. Eddy writes (Poems, p. 6):

“The arrow that doth wound the dove
Darts not from those who watch and love.”

In Mark’s Gospel we read that Jesus said to his disciples: “Have faith in God For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.” Another condition was, however, added: namely, “and when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any.” Do not these statements show that any enmity in our thought toward another will keep our faith from being great enough to free ourselves or others from the mountains of selfishness, greed, fear, limitation, poverty, sickness, and the various other forms which evil claims to assume?

It is impossible to feel the presence of God, divine Love, and man’s oneness with Love, while our consciousness is clouded with criticism, resentment, or faultfinding. These thoughts are not true, because they come from the carnal mind, which Paul speaks of as “enmity against God.” We must not accept them or give them any power, for they are robbers, which would deprive us of the joy of communion with our Father-Mother God and the blessedness of unity with our coworkers, and limit our ability to demonstrate the healing of sin, disease, and death in the manner in which Jesus healed them.

That the importance of unity was also evident to Paul is shown in his letter to Philemon, in which he pleaded for his servant Onesimus. He besought Philemon to receive Onesimus, not as a servant but as a brother, “both in the flesh, and in the Lord;” and he added, “If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account.”

It often requires a big surrender of self and much overcoming on our part to see our brother with such love that we acknowledge nothing but the good as real. But oh, the joy when we, like Paul, are willing to have the faults of others charged to our account! If we have reached that state of spiritual understanding, we are ready to see the nothingness of these faults, because they are not of God. Then we behold the perfect man whom God made—free, upright, and altogether lovable.

The Psalmist writes: “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head.” May we as Christian Scientists be ever able to feel that the precious ointment of inspiration, which comes as a result of working harmoniously with those with whom we associate, is being poured into our consciousness. The reward is always great if we turn unfalteringly to the one God, divine Mind, for guidance, with perfect confidence in His government. Instead of wasting time in argument over mere differences of opinion, let us unite with our brother in true brotherliness, striving to blot out the common foe, self-will and all evil suggestions, which, if accepted, would seem to separate God’s children.

Mrs. Eddy writes in “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures” (p. 58), “Unity of spirit gives new pinions to joy, or else joy’s drooping wings trail in dust.” When we feel this unity of spirit, we shall begin to realize the sweet experiences of brotherhood, and the hallowed joy of unselfishness, goodness, and spiritual love. Thus, more unity will be expressed in our homes, in our churches, and with all mankind.