A friend and I were having a conversation about this statement: “Clad in the panoply of Love, human hatred cannot reach you.”
This can be found in the Christian Science textbook, “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures” by Mary Baker Eddy, on page 571. Love capitalized is synonymous with God.
This sentence is part of an exegesis of an allegory from the book of Revelation. In the story, an evil serpent, symbolic of the devil, is chasing down an innocent woman. The serpent brings forth a flood so the woman might be carried away. But the earth consumes the water, and the woman is safe (see Revelation 12:15, 16). I remarked to my friend that it’s worth considering that the water, the evil, never even touched the woman.
My point was that the reason human hatred cannot reach us is because we truly are held in the arms of God, good, safe and secure. Divine Love, God Himself, is always caring for man, which includes each of us as we really are, wholly spiritual. Our need is to recognize this reality and trust it. With God as our preserver, we don’t need to fear.
My friend then shared her own inspiration about what God’s care means for us, that ultimately human hatred cannot reach anyone’s thought, even someone who might appear to be full of hate. What a great point. No one, in their spiritual identity as God’s precious child, can entertain or spew hatred, because each of us has been created to reflect and be animated by God’s love. Like the reflection in a mirror, as God’s reflection man loves because God is Love, as the Bible says (see I John 4:16). Consequently, hatred is inconceivable because God is the one Mind, who knows only love.
The Bible has numerous accounts where hatred and violence were defused by the power of divine Love. One example is Christ Jesus breaking up the imminent stoning of a woman accused of adultery (see John 8:1-11). Jesus said to those ready to kill her, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” All the accusers left. Then Jesus said to the woman, “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.”
As he always did, Jesus was turning to God, listening for Love’s direction in those moments. It’s clear to me that divine Love stopped the intended violence and fully protected and restored this dear woman.
Last summer, I had the opportunity to turn to this same divine Love to address ongoing crime. Significant car theft and vandalism had found its way to my neighborhood, and my car was one of those that was badly damaged. As disconcerting as this was at first, as a Christian Scientist I knew that the law of divine Love is always in operation, and a loving God would not create either a victim or a perpetrator of crime.
A week later, I cracked the front door open at night for some fresh air and was startled to see a young man sitting on my front porch. It seemed right to contact the police. An officer soon arrived, but he informed me that due to current policies, he wasn’t able to question this man. Shortly after, I heard some noise, looked out the window, and realized that this fellow’s partner had arrived, and they were starting to scout cars in the parking lots.
I began to pray, to know and trust that God was governing each one of His children, as well as the community at large. Gratefully, there weren’t any reports of vandalism the next day.
I continued to hold to this true view of the inherent goodness of the young man I had seen. I knew he was the upright child of God, free from wrong intent and criminal activity. There were times when I honestly felt as much love for him as if he had been my own son. Those moments were precious to me and brought joy and peace.
Very shortly thereafter, the rampant car theft and vandalism in my neighborhood ceased.
Every loving, Godlike thought makes a difference in resolving these sorts of situations. Any effort to cherish goodness and purity where they seem absent helps turn unacceptable circumstances around.
There are endless opportunities to heal through expressing divine Love. And Love is always there for us.
