Show D dissolving is i n g indebtedness ynie IM subject ol of debt looms large T I 1 on the mental horizon of today quite apart from the manifold questions bound up with the consideration of 0 war debts those sad legacies of strife which so greatly concern the nations at this time there remains the fact that many individuals are facing a situation in which their assets seem inadequate to meet the liabilities they have incurred often as a result of depreciated currencies ren cies they see the value of their possessions continually diminishing and begin to question the stability they once accepted as a fixed stand ardit is helpful to examine jesus utterances on debt in the light which christian science throws upon them the first mention occurs in the prayer which he gave to his disciples in response to their request that tha t he should teach them to pray the masters words forgive u us s our debts as we forgive our debtors are wonderfully illuminated by the spiritual interpretation which mary baker eddy has given them in science and health with key to the scriptures p 17 t awl and love lore its is reflected reft eted in love love then is the primary solution of 0 this question of debt the love of god tor for his children reflected by them to one another jesus eviden evidently saw the need ot of amplifying this subject in ia a way that would bo be easily understood by his hearers bearers for he be later expounded it by means of a parable he told them of a servant who owed a vast sum which he was apparently unable to pay at his farnest request however his lord forgive forgave him this debt we reat read that this servant then wen tout and finding a fellow servant who owed him a comparatively small amount took him by the throat saying pay me that thou and disregarding the debtors plea tor for Pati parielee elee de cast him into prison their lor 1 however became cognizant of the he situation and v withdrew his pall pal li in requiring the creditor to pay his own debt it Is interesting to notice that neither of these debtors protested his inability to pay or asked for the amount to be reduced they both prayed the creditor for patience promising to pay the full amount owing in the first case it Is recorded that his lord had compassion on the servant and forgave him his debt while in the second the creditor took his fellow servant by the throat or metaphorically speaking established such a strangle hold upon him az as to render it impossible for him to tree free himself it la Is clear that the mental qualities of patience and compassion extended to one who Is in difficulties reassure and help hlin hin to wb via his freedom while a cruel arid aad altitude atil tude of thought only itis aa his bonds cr when we realize that all the love and devotion of which we are capable we owe to god who is love and the very source of all being the meaning of the parable becomes apparent our obligations to god cod can be fulfilled only in the me measure sure of our love and compassion for our fellow men the mental strangle hold of hatred misunderstanding misunderstand ins envy or pride expressed in ia our thought of our brother will hinder him from giving us the ampre appreciation clation which we believe to be due from him and from restoring that which he wes owes 0 if we tail fail to reflect the love 0 of t god to all about us the channels channel s of our own to give III li become blocked with selfishness and self seeking writes owe no man any thing but to love one another and christian science teaches its students that this debt of love must be paid by each and all who would find the unfailing stream ot of spiritual supply primarily marily then what is needed both by nations and by individuals today la Is the compassionate understanding which refuses to accept an I 1 erroneous viewpoint of 0 either a debtor or a creditor we are all debtors to god and as we begin to lay down oar sense of personal possession the tight grip which fastens on matter ard and material possessions will become less stringent and in the Pio proportion portion that we entertain divine ideas tha proper moans of 11 nl abing our ma is 11 i become appa ent guere ks great g fal f al i of clarifying our thinking an in ial alag ng to accept accept a tte sur su aoi ai annoyance or tear lear i our viewpoint 0 of one another blought Tl ought must bo be lifted to perceive perc elvo thy the infinitude of 0 spiritual ideas which are always at hadd to supply the human requirement to jesus the demand ot of the tax tai collector or the need deett ot of the multitude presented no because he be knear to so well the luj an nature ol of his fathers love he obtained what was waa y so BO conscious was wan be of what mrs eddy has called the delao law that supply invariably meets meeta daman dern l miscellaneous writings P 4 5 nut but would this nava have been ba the cast had be allowed bis thought to become clouded with resentment toward any 0 of those with whom ho he was associated associate dt the patiences Pati encis cu and compassion so BO continually manifested by carl christ st jesus are arc needed today in full measure and in addition to these cheso the quality of steadfast stead ast trust and assurance that our father will open to u us a the way to meet our human obligations a mrs eddy has made the inspired statement that the right way wins the right of way even the way of truth and love whereby all our debts are paid mankind blessed and god glorified glor ined the first church of christ scientist and miscellany the Chr christian shan science A |