Ken Cooper’s “POETIC POSTLUDE” shares Bible EXAMPLES of IMMORTAL-MAN DEMONSTRATIONS!
Sunday, May 8th, 2022
By Ken Cooper, poet from Great Britain
Ken Cooper’s “POETIC POSTLUDE” shares Bible EXAMPLES of IMMORTAL-MAN DEMONSTRATIONS!
from the Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lesson on “Mortals and Immortals”
for Sunday, May 15, 2022
- In the shared sentinel article “The Rosebud” each bud is unique, as we are, for each of us have our own role to fulfil.
- “In the poem “The Good Shepherd: You Are Mine” , we see that … the deep desire to do what is right turns us to divine Love, not Love to us. In that seeking is finding and fulfilment.”
- “The monologue “ANANIAS” poses questions that we are asking even now regarding world affairs,”
[Ken writes:] “What a contrast exists between mortal man, as seen last week influenced by a talking serpent to do his bidding and starting off in disobedience to God, and immortal man, the full representation of Christ, who can do nothing but express the infinity and boundless Love of his creator. One subject to lies and limitation, the other the representative of Truth. The story of Saul / Paul is so inspiring. In his reaching out with the Christ a model for us all, for we each have our unique role to play and fulfill.
“We are now ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us to each one of you, that you too be fully reconciled to Him, being fully at peace with Him.” Golden Text, combined translations. When we are fully at peace with God, we are aligned with all that God is, – Life Truth, Love, Mind, Soul, Spirit, Principle. These are perfect qualities, expressed by perfect, immortal man.
“We have the joy of knowing that all we do is governed by God, – the image in perfect sync with its Divine Source. The Responsive Reading delightfully expands on this relationship, knowing that all we ever need has already been supplied. Immortal man cannot be tempted because there is nothing can tempt what is perfect to start with. We are the natural and ongoing witness to all that God is:
“Don’t believe that we can do anything of ourselves, for our true competence flows from God’s empowering presence and wisdom.”
“Now the Lord is that Spirit, they are one and the same, and wherever that Spirit exists, when it resides in our hearts, we have complete freedom from every kind of bondage.
We are indeed at one with God, shining with His glory face to face, our lives becoming ever more beautiful as God enters our every action, and we perceive in glorious transfiguration our spiritual reality with Him.”
“God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has now commanded that light to shine in our hearts to reveal His glory through the life of Jesus Christ which we all now know.” (Responsive Reading, combined translations).
“The glory of God shone through the life of Jesus Christ, and his example gives witness to the role that we are each asked to play, not as the mirror image of Jesus, but, in the infinity which is God, in the individualisation of the role we are each expected to play. In the shared sentinel article “The Rosebud” each bud is unique, as we are, for each of us have our own role to fulfill
“To gently unfurl and present perfect bloom.”
Our unfurling is the beautiful demonstration of infinite good, unfettered by mortality. So,
“No need for anxiety, for His wondrous plan
Is for me to express what already I am.”
“This is only possible for the immortal man of God’s reflecting, in the way that God is sourcing and directing / governing. This is perfection, immortality. Mortal man cannot touch this splendour. Mortality has no place or history in God’s kingdom.
“The story of Saul / Paul is one of the most stirring and inspiring in the Bible. It shows that no matter what one has done, it is what one is doing now that counts, and the inner motive which is the guiding influence. The scene is set in section 1:“But now [in spite of past judgments for Israel’s sins], thus says the Lord, the one who created you, O Jacob, and He Who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you and set you free; I am calling you by your name; you belong wholly to me, and are Mine.” (B Citation 2 Isaiah 43:1 Combined translations)
“God shepherds every moment of our lives, and we are inseparable from that Love. Should we be drawn astray, it is false belief that fakes the dream. God never changes. In the poem “The Good Shepherd: You Are Mine” , we see that nothing can stop Love form being what it is, and the deep desire to do what is right turns us to divine Love, not Love to us. In that seeking is finding and fulfilment. ng me, my cup You ever fill,
“It does not matter where you are, what desperate things you’ve done:
My Love is unconditional – I love you as my Son.”
“I feel Your goodness holding me, my cup You ever fill,
For I DO DWELL IN PERFECT LOVE as I reflect Thy will.”
“When we know that we are at one with God, that “You are Mine”, our lives are fulfilled. The story of Saul resonates for in this material dream we all make mistakes, but Love only sees the Truth of all activity, which is spiritual. Saul’s motive was to do the right thing, and the recognition of what he had in fact been doing struck him as blind as was Jona in the belly of the whale. He had to wait for Ananias, a Christian, to save him, to release him to perform what God had prepared. His new name of Paul later reflected his repentance, and power with God.
“The monologue “ANANIAS” poses questions that we are asking even now regarding world affairs, and shows the importance of every one of us to hold fast to the great commandments, the 100% adherence to God. But this is not easy: “A group of us got together, seeking and yearning to understand the words that Jesus gave us to pray: “Our Father”….Who did this include? If He is the Father, are these murderers of Christians His children too? God their Father? This must include Saul, – But dear God, do we really have to love our enemies?? What are you seeing that we can’t? How do You see us? Do I truly love God, do I love myself, as He requires?? This is the commandment Jesus gave.” The response of Ananias was to pray, to turn to God, and in this new receptivity, he heard God speak to him, calling his name “ANANIAS”.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word is always speaking. It is saying “Thou Art Mine” It is expressing the Love that we reflect, that all of us reflect. The challenge of Ananias was to answer the command of God, to actually go and heal the very man wo had been leading fellow Christians to their imprisonment and slaughter.
“God has said to “Go thy way”. I must do what HE has commanded, and I knew this was the only way forward. It wasn’t for me to outline, but to obey. A thought flashed again through my reasoning, – “Love thy neighbour as thyself”. Love Saul as God sees Him, as God sees me,…”
“Ananias was led to Saul, and his first word as “Brother” . The power of Love was evident: “Love filled the room. It was tangible. Saul stood, the scales fell, and he saw! His eyes focused on mine with awe and gratitude. In that
heavenly moment we both felt our lives transformed with renewed purpose.”
“Ananias had called Saul “Brother” and that surely is the logic of when we pray “Our Father”. When we love God with all our heart and mind, so must we love one another and ourselves. Love is calling us:
“One Father, one infinite Love, – that was the answer!
Behold what one man can do when Love leads!
I had heard God call my name. Love is calling yours.”
LOVE IS IN CONTROL, FOR IMMORTAL MAN IS THE IMAGE OF LOVE, AND WE ARE THAT MAN.
LET LOVE LEAD. LISTEN AND RESPOND.
Copies of Ken’s poems are available in pdf format in color and B&W as DOWNLOADS at the bottom of the online version of this Poetic Postlude to this week’s Bible Lesson. CedarS online Met and its audio version for this week was posted and emailed before Ken’s poetic offerings were submitted. The full range of Ken’s videos on YouTube can be found on KenGCooperPoetry. All Ken’s poetry and other writings can be found on Ken Cooper Poetry. (Links work on Metaphysical page).
Write to Ken on kengcooper@btinternet.com.