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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Thomas Berry's Invitation to Praise the Earth |
In our recent daily meditations, we have been reflecting on Praise as in Rabbi Heschel’s observation that “praise precedes faith.” |
We have addressed the joy and necessity of praising the element of Air that is so specially fine-tuned and renders life so diverse and marvelous on earth. And that obviously human life depends on—so much so that many religious traditions identify Spirit and Air. Air makes our
lives possible and the Earth and her creativity possible. The elements that make up our bodies and the Earth and all her creatures were birthed in a supernova explosion five billion years ago. They and make up the stuff of
stars as well as the stuff of our planet and our bodies. | |
Surely we want to thank these elements and not take them for granted. Thus, to praise them. Thomas Berry does this wonderfully when he underscores that this is what distinguishes humans from other species on our planet. They participate in the wonder and beauty and joy of living, but they do not reflect on it. They praise in their own way, we in another way. Here is how he puts it. |
| Everything is here for the same reason, for manifestation and celebration. But the humans articulate this. The others cannot articulate it reflectively. They can be a manifestation, but they cannot reflect on that. |
Humans can, therefore our role is to be spokespersons for the universe and to appreciate the universe as the context in which the Divine and human meet. In another place, Berry puts it this way: In the end the universe can only be explained in terms of celebration. It is all an exuberant expression of existence itself. Do you, do we, do our institutions from education to politics to religion to business to media experience the universe as celebration and an exuberant expression of existence itself? If not, why not? What is holding us back? Does this not have everything to do with COP22 and our efforts, whether feeble or real, to save the Earth from climate change and human degradation? |
| To view today's video, please click the image. You will be taken to today's post on the Daily Meditations with Matthew Fox website, where you can see the meditation in a larger version and also view and post your Comments. In the sharing that follows, a kind of community is developing around the DM.
If you can't reach Matthew's video on the website, try his Vimeo channel HERE. |
See Matthew Fox, Christian Mystics: 365 Readings and Meditations, p. 365. Banner Image: “Sun Over Earth (NASA, International Space Station, 07/21/03) This view of Earth’s horizon as the sun sets over the Pacific Ocean was taken by an Expedition 7 crewmember onboard the International Space Station (ISS). Anvil tops of thunderclouds are also visible.” Photo from NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center on Flickr. |
Queries for Contemplation How well is humanity doing, do you think, in being spokespersons for the universe that wants to manifest and celebrate? How can we get better? |
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 leads a new course hosted by The Shift Network: Answer the Call for an Uncommon Life Through the Mystical Teachings of St. Hildegard. New 16-module video training with two live Q&A events starts Monday,
November 28, 12:00 PM PT. Register HERE. Join Matthew Fox for the monthly Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat, discussing Christian Mystics: 365 Readings and Meditations. Thursday, December 15,
4:00pm-6:00pm PT Register HERE. Creation Spirituality Conversations |
In a podcast episode with the Earth and Spirit Center, Matthew Fox reflects on how creation-centered spirituality, and the marriage of the divine feminine and sacred masculine, can help us respond with hope
to the troubles of our apocalyptic times. Listen HERE. | |
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