Episode:Last Ministry of the Master—Jesus' Final Tour (Part 11)
Jesus was a charming listener. He never engaged in the meddlesome probing of the souls of his associates. As he comforted hungry minds and ministered to thirsty souls, the recipients of his mercy did not so much feel that they were confessing to him as that they were conferring with him. They had unbounded confidence in him because they saw he had so much faith in them.
Keywords: Urantia, Jesus, As He Passed By, Parable of the Pounds, Parable of the Talents
Summary by Kermit
Commentary after Review
SoS explored some further thoughts on the idea of the grace of being a person—a part lovingly encompassed in the cosmic whole endowed with faculties of faith, reason and volition. Sharing various aspects of the cosmic concept frames in the 5th ER with our fellows is all too often met with formidable obstacles, not the least of which is a failure to acknowledge common foundational facts. Limited advancement in certain realms of human activity is possible in simpler times pursuing shared belief systems. Yet increasing complexity of human activities demands greater acceptance and accuracy of the factual foundations for meaningful conclusions and valuable considerations. The 5th ER presents us with numerous facts unattainable save by revelatory disclosure. An example of this is the field of psychology where today large segments of those who call themselves psychologists deny the existence of mind distinct from matter, while students of the revelation can validate the truths of many aspects of mind and spirit through actual experience. But it is we who must summon our curiosity and cultivate our God given hunger and thirst for the real to avail ourselves of these disclosures.
The “born again” and the “born again again” experiences were further distinguished in terms of the born again experience reflecting a more indirect penetration of spirit ministry recognition from above to the domain of adjutant mind, whereas the born again, again phenomenon refers to more direct engagement with mind-spirit ministry in the supermind domain of human and divine interrelationship.
171:7.5 “As Jesus Passed By” (cont.)
We picked up our reading in the middle of section seven. Departing from the sequential narrative, the section contains illuminating aspects of Jesus’ style of intimate ministry as he spontaneously responded to diverse individuals in varieties of circumstance, imbuing those he encountered with confidence, comfort, and increased capacity for solving their manifold problems. His techniques of serving those fortunate enough to be on the receiving end of his love and mercy stand as a master class in loving service to our fellows which we all are invited to strive to emulate.
171:8 Parable of the Pounds
This parable while similar to the parable of the talents was intended for the apostles and not the multitudes. The differences both in the two parables as well as the differences between the gospel version of the parable of the pounds and the midwayer version, are noteworthy and were discussed. Additionally, the issue of weights, measures, and currency in the two accounts was addressed. Listen to the archive to sort out the details.
For comparison we read [175:3.4] the parable of the talents, which the midwayers refer to but do not present until Jesus had entered Jerusalem the following week.
Clarification of the differences in the meaning of the two parables is attributed to Nathaniel in the after years and summarized by the midwayers, concluding with four points for reflection. I must confess a continued need for reflection as I am still unclear on the full meaning of Nathaniel’s teaching.
Our arc concludes with the Master, with cheerful dignity and a gracious majesty addressing his twelve apostles saying: “Come, my brethren, let us go on into Jerusalem, there to receive that which awaits us; thus shall we fulfill the will of the heavenly Father in all things.”
Notes by Brad
- How to talk to people who lack any of the 5th ER concept frame?
- Much less when they are materialists?
- It takes a revelation to inform us about the seven adjutant mind-spirits
- This author suggests one's interlocutor must as least hunger for truth and thirsting for righteousness.
- The first of the three cosmic intuitions is what can make you hungry and unsatisfied.
- Note that Jesus only comforted "hungry minds and thirsty souls" in [171:7.5]
- So long as you don't snuff it out with scientific dictation, social usage, and religious dogma. Or a search engine that returns such carefully crafted information.
- There is no website that call tell you what is true and false.
- Established authorities are not the sources for information about reality.
- It takes courageous and independent cosmic thinking, to found a relationship with reality
- But it's open to basically everyone. By grace, even a limited mind can become aware of a reality response.
- Can you let the still small voice of the 7th adjutant mind-spirit be heard?
- In turn it will lead you an even stiller, smaller voice in the inner life.
- Anything in the outer life being made vivid by your loud and shout-ey 6th adjutant... distracts you and blocks out the 7th adjutant.
- Said Fred Rogers, "I don’t think we give that gift anymore (the gift of silence). I’m very concerned that our society is much more interested in information than wonder. In noise, rather than silence…how do we encourage reflection? Oh my, this is a noisy world. I get up every morning at least by 5AM. I have a couple hours of quiet time, reflect about what is important. What can we do to encourage people to have more quiet in their lives, more silence? Real revelation comes through silence."
- Don't set the bar too low. If The Urantia Book says "God knowing," assume you aren't. Otherwise you stop seeking.
- Stay hungry and thirsty, my friends.
- Live in a house without a roof, just like an architectural world. Always be -ing (perfecting, etc)
- Be unquestioningly loyal to the will of the Father, and to the pursuit of truth. Inner life things. Nothing else.
- The sense of "Jesus smiled" here is not a mere upturning of the lips. It's that conferring of approval.
- He's not approving of someone's ideological specificity.
- He's saying (roughly) "See that shadow being cast by something in your upper domain of mind? Follow that light. I would lead you up."
- Jesus took Father love, reciprocated it to Mother love (the whole), and offered it to men. He engaged men in the context of the whole.
- If you have a true connection to the whole, it will provide you the way that you need. You don't need some other part out there to tell you what to do. You can be truly independent.
- Using insight, you can see past gross superstition and discern if someone truly has an initial born-again engagement with faith--with light shining down from the upper domain.
- If you truly have the whole in your inner life, you can face anything in the outer life.
- Until recent fast-changing times, religious dogma can probably seem to substitute for the whole in one's inner life. But not so these days.
- if you will seek first the kingdom of heaven, ministering "as you pass by" is innate—not some fancy technique you must be taught.
- Concerning parable of pounds versus talents:
- In the parable of the pounds, each of the steward was given the same amount--similar abilities.
- But for a more general audience (parable of the talents), there is differential ability among the general populace.
- We are not expected to exceed our ability, but we are expected to live up to our capacity.
- Faith is not the same as faithfulness. Read the text carefully and precisely.
- If you supply fuller favorable conditions, there is more ability to be grown.
- These parables seem fair in their telling of how the cosmos operates.
