When studying this Lesson, I couldn’t help but remember a conversation I once had with my father. I thought I would share what he told me, hoping you’ll find it interesting as I did.
I was twelve years old, and making myself a sandwich to eat when my father, (a Christian Scientist), said, “Today is Yom Kippur. If you were a Jewish girl, you wouldn’t be able to eat that.” I asked him, what in the world he was talking about? He said, that it was “Yom Kippur” or “The Day of Atonement,” the holiest day of the year for Jewish people. (My father often told me about Jewish traditions and customs. He knew a lot because his father had been raised Jewish, but converted to Christian Science when he met my grandmother). He told me that I would have had to fast(no food, or drink) for 25 hours. Boys fast at age 13. He said, on Yom Kippur, Jewish people go to temple for most of the day. No one works, no one can handle money. Many people wear white to symbolize purity and grave cloths. Also, you may not engage in any pleasurable activities,(sex)). Bathing or washing is not allowed, and the wearing of perfume and leather is forbidden. In temple, you listen to chanting and long prayers from the Torah and the Rabbi. The Rabbi holds two books. One is the “Book of Life”. The other book, is the “Book of Death.” Every person’s name is in one of those two books. If you are in the “Death” Book, you’re given ten days before Yom Kippur to make amends and get your name switched over to the “Life Book”. My father said that some people will wail and chant and beat their chests in order to (symbolically) revive themselves from death. If you can get your name changed to “The Book of Life,” your slate is cleared until the following year.
For many years I taught at two different, private, “Christian,” church affiliated schools. It was there and through my friends as well, I learned about their “Day of Atonement.” They also fast, (but water is allowed). They reflect on the past year and all their sins. They go to church to pay homage to Jesus Christ whom they believe suffered and shed his blood on the cross in their place. He was the “sacrificial lamb” so that they could be saved. I remember my friend telling me,”It should have been me on the cross! Jesus took my place so I can be saved and my sins be forgiven. Then, I can enter the Kingdom of God and dwell with him forever, because nothing unclean can enter heaven”. (I was sorry I asked her about it), and I was pretty confused. They also go to church, get Baptized and Confirmed, ask forgiveness of their sins, and try to live a “Christianly” way of Life.
In Christian Science, we believe in the “AT-ONE-Ment” or Unity between God and Man. The Day of Atonement isn’t just ONE day. It is every day. We recognize Jesus as “The Way Shower”, the Savior of the World. Jesus came, died and rose to prove his One ship with God and mastery over death. We follow his teachings and strive to be “perfect, even as our father in heaven is perfect” We promise to have no other god’s but the One God. We promise to daily Watch and Pray. We should often “check ourselves”and ask God if there is anything we could have done better? If there is a mistake or a wrong that needs to be righted?.. We ask Him to show us how to right the wrong, make amends if necessary, ask for forgiveness. We listen and obey God’s voice. We need to make sure we never repeat the offence. Whatever the sin, we “dig it out” take responsibility, then destroy it! God will direct our way. When we draw nearer to God, and are “at one” with Him, we strive to stay connected to God, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Mary Baker Eddy says in Science and Health, “Every pang of repentance and suffering every effort; for reform, every good thought, and deed, will help us to understand Jesus’ atonement for sin and aid its efficacy; but if the sinner continues to pray and repent, sin and be sorry, he has little part in the atonement-in the “at-one-ment” with God ,-for he lacks the practical repentance, which reforms the heart and enables man to do the will of wisdom”.
I am grateful for Christ Jesus,for Mary Baker Eddy, and for the “clear, correct, teachings” of Christian Science, as taught and demonstrated in the Plainfield Church.