The Creation Spirituality Lineage Calling All Social and Environmental Activists, Mystic Explorers, Justice Makers, Cosmic Thinkers, Earth Keepers
Daily Meditations with Matthew Fox
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John of the Cross on the Sacredness
of Creation, Part II |
In light of the Webb Telescope and the potential for humanity awakening anew to a new and shared cosmology, we continue our meditations on the sacred cosmos and Earth as seen through the poetry of John of the Cross, sixteenth century reformer and
mystic. |
He instructs us that “the most exalted delight of all” that the soul enjoys is “the whistling of love-stirring breezes,” occurring as an “unveiling of truth about the divinity and a
revelation of divine secrets.” A “tranquil” night comes along—not a “dark night”–in which “the spirit elevated to the divine light is in quiet.” | View of the cosmos and mountains at night. Photo by Benjamin Voros on Unsplash. |
He calls this “the rising dawn” that occurs “at the break of day.” One’s eyes are opened to an “unexpected light.” There follows “silent music” in which ...the soul becomes aware of Wisdom’s wonderful harmony and sequence in the variety of God’s creatures and works. Each of them is endowed with a certain likeness of God and
in its own way gives voice to what God is in it. |
“Dawn Chorus: Birds Singing Like There's No Tomorrow.” Video by Aden Films. | It follows that creatures are not an obstacle to the divine, but become ...for
the soul a harmonious symphony of sublime music surpassing all concerts and melodies of the world. |
A “sounding solitude” is “almost identical with silent music” because human faculties “can receive in a most sonorous way
the spiritual sound of the excellence of God, in Himself and in His creatures.” “Each of the blessed in its own degree of glory gives” gratitude and praise “continually to God." This praise is like music since “each one possess God’s gifts
differently, each one sings His praises differently, and all of them together form a symphony of love, as of music.” |
Indeed, all creatures, higher and lower ones alike, according to what each is in itself has received from God, raise their
voice in testimony to what God is. Indeed, each in its own way, bearing God within itself according to its capacity, magnifies God. And thus all these voices form one voice of music praising the grandeur, wisdom, and wonderful knowledge of God. | In 1992 Jim Wilson got the idea to slow down a recording of chirping crickets. The revealed sound simply was called “God’s cricket chorus”. Video by Rick Grunwald. |
John recognizes these teachings as “the meaning of the Holy Spirit in the Book of Wisdom, when He said: “The spirit of the Lord filled the whole earth” and “this world which contains all things has knowledge of the voice.” In
fact, “all things give testimony to God. Thus the “silent music” and “sounding solitude” are the “Beloved” also. But so too is “the supper that refreshes, and deepens love.” For “supper affords lovers refreshment, satisfaction, and
love.” |
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Queries for Contemplation
What teachings found here from John of the Cross move you to love and to action? Adapted from Matthew Fox, One River, Many Wells: Wisdom Springing From Global Faiths, pp. 110-113. Translation from Kieran Kavanaugh, OCD and Otilio Rodriguez, OCD, The Collected
Works of St. John of the Cross, pp. 462-474. Banner Image: Flowering desert in the spring, Namaqualand, Goegap Nature Reserve, Northern Cape, South Africa. Photo by Winfried Bruenken on Wikimedia Commons |
One River, Many Wells: Wisdom Springing from
Global Faiths Matthew Fox calls on all the world traditions for their wisdom and their inspiration in a work that is far more than a list of theological position papers but a new way to pray—to meditate in a global
spiritual context on the wisdom all our traditions share. Fox chooses 18 themes that are foundational to any spirituality and demonstrates how all the world spiritual traditions offer wisdom about each.
“Reading One River, Many Wells is like entering the rich silence of a masterfully directed retreat. As you read this text, you reflect, you pray, you embrace Divinity. Truly no words can fully express my respect and awe for this magnificent
contribution to contemporary spirituality.” –Caroline Myss, author of Anatomy of the Spirit | |
Responses are welcomed. To add your comment, please click HERE
to go to our website and scroll down to the Comments field. See Matthew Fox's full calendar HERE
Join Matthew Fox as he offers a new, 12-week advanced course on the Shift Network:
7 Mystics on Recovering the Sacred and
Forging a New Story for Humanity: Timeless Wisdom to Deepen, Heal & Inspire Your Life Journey. NOTE: There is a prerequisite: In order to take this 12-week advanced course, one must have taken any prior shift course with Matthew Fox (not just the 7-week 7
Mystics course). Tuesdays, August 16-November 1, 5:00pm-6:30pm PT (GMT/UTC-7). Register HERE. Join Matthew Fox in a 6-week virtual course on “Mystics, Mysticism and Ourselves as Mystic-Prophets,” hosted by Creation Spirituality Communities. Wednesdays, 8/24, 8/31, 9/7, 9/14,
9/21, and 9/28, 4:00pm-6:00pm PT. Register HERE. Join Matthew Fox for the monthly Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat, discussing The Coming of the Cosmic Christ, Thursday, September 15, 4:00pm-6:00pm PT. Register HERE. |
Creation Spirituality in Conversation |
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Host Sandie Sedbeer welcomes Matthew Fox in a discussion of Creation Spirituality: Fresh Perspectives and Approaches to the Most Vital Issues of Our Time on WHAT IS GOING OM. Navigate to the podcast page by clicking the image on the left. |
Announcing Matthew Fox's Newest Book!
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Matthew Fox: Essential Writings on Creation Spirituality
Selected with an introduction by Charles Burack
“This collection of Fox’s most life-giving insights blesses the connection between caring for our Mother-the-Earth and lifting up marginalized voices, between waking up from the dream of separation and stepping up to mend the net of creation.”
—Mirabai Starr, author, God of Love and Wild Mercy
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