… So, what if Christmas really were about more than a sharing of purchased gifts, a day or so of family happiness, some cards and carols, and then a plunge back into the world with its deathly struggles and ills and terrible news? What if it were about more, even, than a baby who grew up to be the New Testament’s incredibly loving and forgiving Jesus, the man the Bible describes as a healer of the sick and Savior from sin?
Click here to read the full article and find answers to this important question.
The Christ itself is now, and always has been, present for everyone, individually and collectively, across cultures and centuries.
This article was written by Mary Beattie, a member of the Canberra Christian Science community. It was published in the 22 December 2025 issue of the Christian Science Sentinel.
In Australia, where I live, Christmas comes at a time when the weather is warm and the mental atmosphere generally upbeat. It’s the beginning of summer, and people are looking forward to a change in their schedules. As it is the end of the academic year, students are assessing their progress. Politicians often take a break, and the daily news is more optimistic, reflecting on reasons for hope in the world. Our Christmastime is generally characterized by people taking time to care for their community and the planet.
While this constructive activity is welcome, the ideal of how to care for the community was set almost two thousand years ago in the way Christ Jesus operated. The selflessness, intelligence, love, and joy so clearly seen in Jesus’ daily activities are more than humanistic traits; they are Christly qualities sourced in Spirit, God. Jesus is the one who most consistently expressed this Christliness, although Christly qualities existed before Jesus’ birth and continue today. The Christ itself is now, and always has been, present for everyone, individually and collectively, across cultures and centuries. Click here to continue reading or to listen this article
This article, by Suzanne Riedel, was first published in the December 16, 2024 issue of the Christian Science Sentinel
For ages, many have acknowledged that practicing peace and goodwill is fundamental to human life. A few examples of this come to mind, such as the 2023 Academy Award-winning short animated film The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse (based on a book by Charlie Mackesy). In the film, the mole asks the boy what he wants to be when he grows up. The boy’s immediate answer is “Kind.”
Human gravitation toward goodwill, or benevolence, is also explored in Charles Dickens’ iconic A Christmas Carol. In it, Ebenezer Scrooge’s hardened rejection of good is transformed as he eventually feels the true spirit of Christmas. In such tales, the takeaway is often that kindness and goodwill are innate to the human heart and prevail even when people’s opinions and beliefs are threatened. They are qualities that are basic to a peaceful, thriving society.
Click here to read (or listen) to the rest of this article where Suzanne proves that Love is not just a feeling but a divine force that heals both physical and relationship problemsat Christmas time and always.
Christmas – one of the most important events in human history. This is a big statement to make. It’s a big statement because its message relates to us all – everyone. It’s relevant all year round, not just on one day. But what’s so big and important and relevant about Christmas?
The importance is the underlying message that Jesus’ birth ushered into the world. Yes, the details of the story are important, but it’s the underlying message that’s of the greatest importance, both then and today. It’s important because it was the beginning of a life lived with such love and dominion that it so transformed the experience of the people around him, that its legacy is still felt and celebrated over 2000 years later.
Jesus’ mission was to show us what makes life work right for us. We can see this by the effect he had on the people around him. He turned poverty into overflowing abundance; ill health into full health; even bad sinful behaviour into good honest characters. His life was entirely motivated by love – love for God and love for his fellowman.
Jesus was revealing a different, dynamic aspect to life that was not obvious to the senses but one that could bring practical healing solutions to life’s problems. He understood the tangible power of spirituality.
Spirituality relates to things of the spirit, or the non-physical. It’s all those qualities of thought that are good and true. It’s ideas that make life work right for us, like kindness, honesty, trustworthiness, intelligence, creativity, happiness. Spiritual thinking cares for all, never harming man nor beast nor the environment. It’s a living principle. If we think these are human qualities, they’re liable to human frailty and failure. Jesus showed us that these spiritual ideas and qualities have a divine source, not human. They’re sourced in God and so have divine authority and power.
Jesus continually turned to the divine, not anything material. He revealed to the world a non-physical power; a spiritual force for good, that could and did solve human need. He revealed to us that the true harmonising power underpinning our experience was God, but he showed us an entirely different way of thinking about that term God. He showed that the true concept of God was Love, as the Bible defines. He showed us that the true power, or Principle, in our lives and in our world, making existence harmonious, well and peaceful was Love, divine Love.
At Christmas, and all year round, don’t we all know that it is Love that makes the world go round. It’s Love that makes life worth living, it is Love and only Love that can bring ‘on earth peace, good will to men.’
This article was contributed by Beth Packer a member of the Wollongong Christian Science community.
This article was originally published in the Christian Science Monitor Daily 28 December 2023 issue. It is by Stephen Humphries a Monitor staff editor.
Is peace an attainable ideal? In a poem later adapted for the carol “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day,” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow lamented:
And in despair I bowed my head; “There is no peace on earth,” I said; “For hate is strong, And mocks the song Of peace on earth, good-will to men!”
I’m sometimes tempted to feel that way when I read the news. But when I recently interviewed Jeremy Arnold, author of “Christmas in the Movies,” he recommended a 2005 release that illustrates how peace can unexpectedly materialize.
In “Joyeux Noël,” set during World War I, soldiers shiver inside snowy trenches on a battlefield in France. It’s Christmas Eve. When a German soldier starts singing “Silent Night,” French and Scottish battalions across enemy lines perk their ears to listen. A Scottish bagpiper starts to accompany the German singer, who boldly clambers over the parapet and walks into no man’s land. Soldiers from each of the trenches cautiously follow. After negotiating a cease-fire, the soldiers show each other pictures of their spouses, share food, and play soccer.
“Joyeux Noël,” which is French for “Merry Christmas,” not only dramatizes the famous temporary truce of 1914, but also examines its aftermath.
“When the governments and the military establishments of … all three countries heard about this truce, they were livid,” Mr. Arnold says. “A lot of these soldiers were rotated out because now their enemies were humanized and they didn’t want to kill them anymore.”
The film movingly shows how thousands of men were transformed by the Christmas spirit, says the author.
When Longfellow wrote his aforementioned poem during the American Civil War, he acknowledged how easy it is to feel helpless about peace. But he countered it with a message of hope about how we may one day sing together.
Till ringing, singing on its way, The world revolved from night to day, A voice, a chime, A chant sublime Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
… Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: “God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; The Wrong shall fail, The Right prevail, With peace on earth, good-will to men.”
Sing, ye joyous children, sing, Glorious is the Christ, our king, Truth has come again to earth, Through the lowly Saviour’s birth. Men and angels, anthems raise; Hymns of joy and shouts of praise. Hear th’ angelic song again: Peace on earth, good will to men. Sing, ye joyous children, sing, Glorious is the Christ, our king.
When the stars together sang, Then the Truth triumphant rang: Be there light; And there was light. Gone are chaos, fear and night; Truth hath rolled the mists away; Dawns on earth harmonious day. Hear th’ angelic song again: Peace on earth, good will to men. Sing, ye joyous children, sing, Glorious is the Christ, our king.
Christmas is one of the most important events in human history. That’s a big statement to make. It’s a big statement because the real Christmas relates to Christians, Muslims, Eastern and Western religionists, believers and non-believers. The real Christmas message is relevant all year round, not just on one day. So, what’s so big and important and relevant about Christmas?
It’s all about the underlying message that Jesus’ birth ushered into the world. Yes, the details of the story are important. That whilst Joseph and Mary were travelling she gave birth to Jesus in a stable (which was actually a cave rather than a barn). His birth had been long prophesied – he was the one who would save the Jewish people from oppression. But it’s the underlying message that’s of the greatest importance, both then and today. It’s important because Jesus’ birth was the beginning of a life lived with such love and dominion that it transformed the experience of the people around him, and its legacy is still felt and celebrated over 2000 years later.
Jesus’ mission was to show us what makes life work right for us. Maybe that doesn’t sound like such a big statement but look at the effect he had on the people around him. He turned poverty into overflowing abundance; ill health into full health; bad sinful behaviour into good honest character. His life was entirely motivated by love – love for God and love for his fellow man.
Jesus was revealing a different dynamic aspect to life that was not obvious to the senses but one that could bring practical healing solutions to life’s problems. He understood the tangible power of spirituality.
What is spirituality? Simply, spirituality pertains to things of the spirit, or the non-physical. It’s all those qualities of thought that are good and true. It’s ideas that make life work right for us, like kindness, honesty, trustworthiness, intelligence, creativity, happiness.
Spiritual thinking cares for all, never harming man nor beast nor the environment. It’s living the Golden Rule, the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes that Jesus, Moses and others have given us. These rules, when understood and lived, make our lives happy and successful. But here’s the big difference in Jesus’ message to us. If we think these are human qualities they are liable to human frailty and failure. Jesus showed us that these spiritual ideas and qualities have a divine source, not human. They’re sourced in God and so have divine authority and power.
The principle that Jesus continually turned to was divine, not material. He revealed to the world a non-physical power; a spiritual force for good, that could and did meet all human need. He revealed to us that the true governing harmonising power underpinning our experience was God, but he showed us an entirely different way of thinking about that term God. He showed that the true concept of God was Love, as the Bible states. He showed us the true power or Principle in our lives and in our world, that makes existence harmonious, well and peaceful, is Love, divine Love.
At Christmas, and all year round, don’t we all know, Christian, Muslim, Eastern, Western, believer and non-believer, that it is Love that makes the world go around. It’s Love that makes life worth living, it is Love and only Love that can bring ‘on earth peace, good will to men.’
This article was contributed by Beth Packer a member of the Christian Science Church in Wollongong. You can study these ideas in depth in the textbook of Christian Science, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. You would be most welcome to attend our services (details are at the top of this page.)
O peace of the world, O hope in each breast, O Bethlehem star that ages have blest, A day of fresh promise breaks over the land, Gaunt warfare is doomed, and God’s kingdom at hand!
(Christian Science Hymnal 236 by Irving C Tomlinson)
Most of us will be travelling during the Christmas holidays, even if we’re simply driving to the local mall and negotiating parking. Whichever mode of transport we take, we’ll be affected by the actions of others.
Although travel can be frustrating at times, I’m finding there are always affirmative, upbeat things to notice as we go: the excited faces of children, the courtesy of others, and the patience of parents and travel staff. However, the presence of harmony in human affairs is not something that happens by mere accident, in a universe of chance. It is actually evidence that the underlying power that governs the universe is Love.
The birth of Jesus Christ beautifully illustrated that power. Despite threat of harm by King Herod, Love provided for the travellers and the ensuing birth, comfort and care in a very safe and private place.
The more consciously we acknowledge that divine Love is governing us and everyone, the more harmony we will experience, too.
Jesus’ profound mission was to make plain our divine nature as “the children of God.” So, whenever we glimpse ours or another’s true nature, we have, in effect felt “the Christ”, “the divine message from God to men…”, as thought-leader Mary Baker Eddy defines the Christ in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures.
That voice speaks to everyone, and at all times of the year. When we have done the right thing instead of the wrong, we have been directed by the Christ. When we have been patient instead of irritable, we have conceded to the dynamism of the Christ. When we have made a sound choice among several tempting options, we have listened to the Christ and we have seen the true love that’s characteristic of Christianity in action. (from The Love and Dynamism of the Christ, G J Barratt)
During the Christmas Season many of us revisit the life of Jesus, who so completely demonstrated this power of the Christ to bring out harmony in everyday life. The wonder of his virgin birth was not an isolated miracle but evidence of a spiritual law in operation that was confirmed by the healing works later evident in his adult life. Today, more and more people are recognising that his life, although unique and especially blessed, points to a way of living and thinking that’s actually available to each of us.
Indeed, seeing beyond the limits of nationalism and religiosity to the universal Christ is at the heart of Christianity. Truly supranational, the message of “the Christ,” in Jesus’ words, was for us to be “of one mind,” “love your enemies,” “bless them that curse you,” and realise “the kingdom of God is within you” and within all.
From this viewpoint, we can claim that same spiritual nature Jesus exemplified as ours also, and that of every man, woman and child we meet in our travels this Christmas.
There’s really no secret to experiencing harmony in the carpark, on a long-haul flight or during a family get-together. It may largely depend on how we think of ourselves and others.
Kay Stroud writes on the connection between consciousness, spirituality and health, and trends in that field. She practices Christian Science healing and is the Committee on Publication, spokesperson for Christian Science in NSW, QLD, ACT, NT. Blog: www.health4thinkers.comTwitter: @KayJStroud
The Festive Season is kicking in once again and many are anticipating travelling for Christmas holidays and to visit family.
But it won’t always be plain sailing! Whether it’s by coach, train, plane or car we are affected by the actions of others.
I’ve had my fair share of travel difficulties over the years, missing interstate meetings because of flight delays, standing in long queues, losing luggage, battling with tired children, being stuck in traffic jams and losing my patience on more than one occasion.
However, although travelling can be frustrating at times, I’m finding there are always affirmative, upbeat things to notice: the excited faces of children, the courtesy of others, the patience of parents and travel staff.
And I’m increasingly realising that the presence of good in human affairs is not something that happens by mere accident, in a universe of chance. It is actually evidence that the underlying power that governs the universe is Love.
On a recent interstate short-break I was delighted and thankful not to experience a single hold-up, flight delay, argument or problem of any description.
Had I done something differently?
Yes, I feel I had. The truth is that I’m learning the more I consciously acknowledge the power of divine Love, governing me and everyone, the more harmony I experience. And that is what I had been doing on this trip – acknowledging and understanding that good governs in my life – not because of any personal entitlement, but because of the availability of that same abundant good for everyone.
I have also been learning that whenever we glimpse the truth about man’s divine nature, we have, in effect felt the Christ – “the true idea voicing good, the divine message from God to men…” – as spiritual thought-leader Mary Baker Eddy defines the Christ in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures.
That voice speaks to everyone, and at all times of the year. When we have done the right thing instead of the wrong, we have been directed by the Christ. When we have been patient instead of irritable, we have conceded to the dynamism of the Christ. When we have made a sound choice among several tempting options we have listened to the Christ and we have seen the true love that’s characteristic of Christianity in action. (See The love and dynamism of the Christ, by Geoffrey Barratt.)
During the Christmas Season many of us revisit the life of Jesus, who so perfectly demonstrated this power of the Christ to bring out harmony in our lives. The wonder of his virgin birth was not an isolated miracle but evidence of a spiritual law in operation that was confirmed by the healing works that animated his adult life. Today, more and more people are recognising that his life, although unique and especially blessed, points to a way of living and thinking that’s actually available to each of us.
Truly supranational, the message of the Christ in Jesus’ words was to be “of one mind,” “love your enemies,” “bless them that curse you,” and realise “the kingdom of God is within you” and within all.
From this viewpoint, we can claim that spiritual nature Jesus showed us as our own true nature, and that of every man, woman and child that we meet in our travels this Christmas.
There’s actually no secret to trouble-free travel. It may largely depend on how we think of ourselves and others.
This article was submitted by Kay Stroud who is a health writer drawing connections between consciousness, spirituality and health, and trends in that field. Blogs atwww.health4thinkers.com
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