“Divine Love always has met and always will meet every human need” (S & H, 494:10 – Citation #10).
In his article with this quote as its title (CSJ, April, 1903), Joseph Mann shares his wonderful “new burst of light”:
“Recently, while earnestly conversing with a fellow-student about the urgent want, seen and felt everywhere outside of Christian Science, the above oft-repeated and overflowing quotation from our text-book brought to me a new burst of light. Having in mind relief from some pressing circumstances, – human necessities as judged from the standpoint of the physical senses, – my friend, with the usual complacent and selfish expectation, quoted this well-proved and unselfish promise. While in deep reflection and almost before realizing what I was saying, I answered: ‘Yes; divine Love meets every human need, and the human need is to love, and always to reflect Love.’ Would I could tell the unfolding to me of the spirit and substance of that text since this new dawning! The difference between my present sense of those inspired words, and my past, is the difference between selflessness and selfishness. Now my ‘every human need’ is to strive for, and to gain, that true sense of love which is the reflection of Love, – of God. . . . ‘Blessed is that mortal who seeth his brother’s need and supplieth it, seeking his own in another’s good’” (S & H, p. 518).
Such a crystal clear distinction between a seeming need of material substance – thinking our human need is for material “necessities” – as opposed to the real human need of spiritual substance – our need “to strive for, and to gain, that true sense of love” – to palpably express God’s infinite love towards our fellow immortals each and every day. Certainly, we find ourselves today in the same situation as when Joseph Mann wrote about “the urgent want, seen and felt everywhere outside of Christian Science.” I just heard again yesterday that many in need of organ transplants are being denied because they are exercising their unalienable right to refuse the “nameless nothing” protocols that the hospitals are requiring. God prepared Mrs. Eddy for many years, through untold trials, to receive the revelation of Christian Science, and she instructed us to “Know every day that the world is ready for Christian Science” (“Blue Book,” p. 98). It appears that our prayers are being answered, as it seems the world is collectively being similarly prepared, through such current trials and tribulations, to receive Christian Science. “Man’s extremity is God’s opportunity.” I am so grateful for the Plainfield instruction each and every week, that we may be better prepared and ever ready to supply our brother’s need whenever we see it; and to strive to “Give them a cup of cold water in Christ’s name, and never fear the consequences” (S & H, p. 570).
And, I must add that the following statement from another article by Joseph Mann (CSS, 8/8/1903 – “Seventeen Years a Witness”), closely reflects the rebuke I have felt ever since finding the “home” of the Plainfield C.S. Church, Independent, and witnessing the unceasing labors of the members to share Mrs. Eddy’s true Christian Science with the world: “Who that has spent one hour in the home of Mrs. Eddy has not had his own slothfulness rebuked by her indefatigable labors to bless others?” I suspect I’m not the only one who has felt this rebuke?!