Responsive Reading: Isaiah 61 : 1-3  •  Ephesians 3 : 14, 15, 17-19

1.     The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

2.     ... to comfort all that mourn;

3.     ... to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.

14.     For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

15.     Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

17.     That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

18.     May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

19.     And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

1. John 1 : 1-5, 12, 13

1     In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2     The same was in the beginning with God.

3     All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

4     In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

5     And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

12     But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

13     Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

2. I John 4 : 7 (and every), 8 (for), 20, 21

7     ... and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

8     ... for God is love.

20     If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

21     And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

3. Luke 6 : 9 (to Jesus), 32 (if), 37, 47, 48

9     Then said Jesus ...

32     ... if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.

37     Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:

47     Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:

48     He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.

4. Luke 7 : 36-48

36     And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat.

37     And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,

38     And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

39     Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.

40     And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.

41     There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.

42     And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?

43     Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.

44     And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.

45     Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.

46     My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.

47     Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.

48     And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.

5. Luke 17 : 1 (to 1st ,), 10 (when) (to 2nd ,), 10 (we have)

1     Then said he unto the disciples,

10     ... when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, ... we have done that which was our duty to do.

6. Matthew 5 : 16, 20, 23, 24, 44 (I), 45 (to :)

16     Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

20     For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

23     Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;

24     Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

44     ... I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

45     That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven:

7. Ephesians 5 : 2 (to 2nd ,), 8 (walk)

2     And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us,

8     ... walk as children of light:

8. Colossians 3 : 1, 12, 14

1     If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

12     Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

14     And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

9. I Corinthians 13 : 4, 7, 8 (to :)

4     Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

7     Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

8     Charity never faileth:

1. 113 : 5-6

The vital part, the heart and soul of Christian Science, is Love.

2. 35 : 19 (Our church)-25

Our church is built on the divine Principle, Love. We can unite with this church only as we are newborn of Spirit, as we reach the Life which is Truth and the Truth which is Life by bringing forth the fruits of Love, — casting out error and healing the sick.

3. 496 : 5-8, 9 (Ask)-12

You will learn that in Christian Science the first duty is to obey God, to have one Mind, and to love another as yourself.

Ask yourself: Am I living the life that approaches the supreme good? Am I demonstrating the healing power of Truth and Love?

4. 454 : 17-22

Love for God and man is the true incentive in both healing and teaching. Love inspires, illumines, designates, and leads the way. Right motives give pinions to thought, and strength and freedom to speech and action. Love is priestess at the altar of Truth.

5. 362 : 1-7

It is related in the seventh chapter of Luke's Gospel that Jesus was once the honored guest of a certain Pharisee, by name Simon, though he was quite unlike Simon the disciple. While they were at meat, an unusual incident occurred, as if to interrupt the scene of Oriental festivity. A "strange woman" came in.

6. 364 : 16-19, 22-31

Here is suggested a solemn question, a question indicated by one of the needs of this age. Do Christian Scientists seek Truth as Simon sought the Saviour, through material conservatism and for personal homage? ... If Christian Scientists are like Simon, then it must be said of them also that they love little.

On the other hand, do they show their regard for Truth, or Christ, by their genuine repentance, by their broken hearts, expressed by meekness and human affection, as did this woman? If so, then it may be said of them, as Jesus said of the unwelcome visitor, that they indeed love much, because much is forgiven them.

7. 462 : 1-8

Some individuals assimilate truth more readily than others, but any student, who adheres to the divine rules of Christian Science and imbibes the spirit of Christ, can demonstrate Christian Science, cast out error, heal the sick, and add continually to his store of spiritual understanding, potency, enlightenment, and success.

8. 460 : 18-23

If Christian healing is abused by mere smatterers in Science, it becomes a tedious mischief-maker. Instead of scientifically effecting a cure, it starts a petty crossfire over every cripple and invalid, buffeting them with the superficial and cold assertion, "Nothing ails you."

9. 365 : 31-2

The poor suffering heart needs its rightful nutriment, such as peace, patience in tribulation, and a priceless sense of the dear Father's loving-kindness.

10. 366 : 12-21, 30-9

The physician who lacks sympathy for his fellow-being is deficient in human affection, and we have the apostolic warrant for asking: "He that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?" Not having this spiritual affection, the physician lacks faith in the divine Mind and has not that recognition of infinite Love which alone confers the healing power. Such so-called Scientists will strain out gnats, while they swallow the camels of bigoted pedantry.

If we would open their prison doors for the sick, we must first learn to bind up the broken-hearted. If we would heal by the Spirit, we must not hide the talent of spiritual healing under the napkin of its form, nor bury the morale of Christian Science in the grave-clothes of its letter. The tender word and Christian encouragement of an invalid, pitiful patience with his fears and the removal of them, are better than hecatombs of gushing theories, stereotyped borrowed speeches, and the doling of arguments, which are but so many parodies on legitimate Christian Science, aflame with divine Love.

11. 451 : 2-7

Christian Scientists must live under the constant pressure of the apostolic command to come out from the material world and be separate. They must renounce aggression, oppression and the pride of power. Christianity, with the crown of Love upon her brow, must be their queen of life.

12. 192 : 30-31

Whatever holds human thought in line with unselfed love, receives directly the divine power.

13. 365 : 15-24

If the Scientist reaches his patient through divine Love, the healing work will be accomplished at one visit, and the disease will vanish into its native nothingness like dew before the morning sunshine. If the Scientist has enough Christly affection to win his own pardon, and such commendation as the Magdalen gained from Jesus, then he is Christian enough to practise scientifically and deal with his patients compassionately; and the result will correspond with the spiritual intent.

14. 572 : 12-17

Love fulfils the law of Christian Science, and nothing short of this divine Principle, understood and demonstrated, can ever furnish the vision of the Apocalypse, open the seven seals of error with Truth, or uncover the myriad illusions of sin, sickness, and death.

15. 6 : 17-18

"God is Love." More than this we cannot ask, higher we cannot look, farther we cannot go.