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Meditations with Matthew Fox
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Albert Nolan, OP, Prophetic Activist & Author, continued |
I am recalling my encounter with my Dominican brother Albert Nolan on the occasion of my dismissal from the Order under pressure from Cardinal Ratzinger, a story I tell in my autobiography, Confessions: The Making of a Post-denominational
Priest. |
In our one conversation together, he told me that the Vatican’s intention was to isolate me, that I should do whatever it takes to stay with a larger community. The Episcopal decision made all
the sense in the world. Indeed, he was excited about that possibility! This very much confirmed my own convictions, and at the same time it reminded me of a statement to me from Cardinal Arns when I had a private 45 minute meeting with him in Brazil
and he said to me: the future of the church is in ecumenism | |
Cardinal Arns was a holy and intelligent man who stood up against the military dictatorship of Brazil for years. He
also supported liberation theologians like Leonardo Boff for years against Vatican attacks. Albert Nolan was deeply involved in ecumenical work among churches and other religions in his activism and in his writings. |
Albert Nolan also taught me another and very blunt lesson born no doubt from his experience fighting apartheid and powers that be in South Africa for
years. He said that the reason for my marginalization by the American Dominicans was that “North Americans don’t know a goddamn thing about solidarity.” |
Video segment from Reality Asserts Itself with Matthew Fox sharing about his experience being targeted by the Vatican. Originally posted to YouTube by The Real News Network. | This was a lesson that is very much worth meditating on in the current crisis of fascism vs. democracy in America. How schooled are we in solidarity? (as opposed to power-over and patriarchal dynamics whether in religion or economics or politics?) Is
Individualism a more important value in America than solidarity? Are we more schooled in competition and envy than in compassion? |
Albert Nolan’s witness and actions as well as his writings tell us a lot of how we might be behaving at this perilous time for democracy in the United States. |
Among his teachings are these: Jesus set out to liberate Israel from Rome by persuading Israel to change. Without a change of heart within Israel itself, liberation from imperialism of any kind would be impossible.... As Jesus saw it, the only way to be liberated from your enemies was to love your enemies, to do good to those who hate you, to pray for those who treat you badly (6:27-28). | |
This is not a matter of resigning oneself to Roman oppression; nor is it a matter of trying to kill them with kindness. It is a matter of reaching down to the root cause of all oppression and domination: man’s lack of compassion....If the Jews continued to live off the world values of money, prestige, group solidarity and power, would the Roman oppression not be replaced by an equally loveless Jewish
oppression? |
| 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. |
Adapted from Matthew Fox, Confessions: The Making of a Post-denominational Priest, pp. 275f., 438f. See Albert Nolan, Jesus before Christianity, pp. 92-95. See also, Fox, A Spirituality Named Compassion Banner Image: A Scene in Johannesburg with poster of Nelson Mandela, a leader in the anti-apartheid movement, a struggle that Fr. Albert Nolan was involved in. Photo by Gregory Fullard on Unsplash. |
Queries for Contemplation Is it your experience that Americans are very weak when it comes to solidarity? And that individualism reigns supreme for many? And that “man’s lack of compassion” lies at the root cause of all oppression and domination? |
Responses are welcomed. To add your comment, please click HERE
to go to our website and scroll down to the Comments field. |
Confessions: The Making of a Post-Denominational Priest (Revised/Updated Edition) Matthew Fox's stirring autobiography, Confessions, reveals his personal, intellectual, and spiritual journey from altar boy, to Dominican priest, to his eventual break with the Vatican. Five new chapters in this revised and updated edition bring added perspective in light of the author's continued journey, and his reflections on the current
changes taking place in the Catholic church. Confessions tells the inside story of what it was like "standing in front of the train" when the Vatican was on the attack. It also reflects on the meaning of the encouragingly healthy papacy of Pope Francis, but holds little hope for the institutional church. Rather, this book points to the main
interest and accomplishments of the author's work to bring spirituality and prophetic warriorhood alive again in society and religion. Fox draws inspiration from great mystics of the past, such as Hildegard of Bingen (a champion of the Divine Feminine) and Meister Eckhart (a profoundly mystical and ecumenical champion of those without a voice), and the return of the archetype of the Cosmic Christ alongside the teachings of the historical Jesus and the bringing forth of the wisdom traditions from
all the world's spiritual traditions to stand up for eco-justice, gender justice, economic justice and social justice. | |
A Spirituality Named Compassion:
Uniting Mystical Awareness with Social Justice In A Spirituality Named Compassion, Matthew Fox delivers a profound exploration of the meaning and practice of compassion. He establishes a spirituality for the future that promises
personal, social, and global healing. Using his own experiences with the pain and lifestyle changes that resulted from an accident, Fox has written a challenging book on that promise that Jesus and Isaiah, Buddha and Mohammad all teach: Our capacity for compassion. Fox marries mysticism with social justice, leading the way toward a gentler and more ecological spirituality and an acceptance of our interdependence which is the substratum of all compassionate activity. He treats the topics of
the Meaning of Compassion, Science, Nature and Compassion, Sexuality and Compassion, Psychology and Compassion, Creativity and Compassion, Economics and Compassion, Politics and Compassion. A road map to fulfillment for the coming century. Fox defines compassion as the working out of our shared interdependence and he calls for creativity put to the service of justice. He argues that we can achieve compassion for both humanity and the environment as we recognize the interconnectedness
of all things. Working toward the creation of a gentler, ecological, and feminist Christianity, Fox marries mysticism and social justice, emphasizing that as we enter a new millennium society needs to realize that spirituality's purpose is to guide us on a path that leads to a genuine love of all our relations and a love for our shared interdependence “Important, well-written, and disturbing.” --Milwaukee Journal; “Well worth our deepest consideration…Puts compassion into its proper focus
after centuries of neglect.” –The Catholic Register | |
See Matthew Fox's full calendar HERE Join Matthew Fox for the monthly online Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat, discussing Original Blessing. Thursday, October 20, 4:00pm-6:00pm PT. Register
HERE. |
Join Matthew Fox for the monthly Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat, discussing Matthew Fox: Essential Writings on Creation Spirituality. Thursday, November 17,
4:00pm-6:00pm PT. Register HERE. Creation Spirituality in Conversation |
| Join Matthew Fox and other prominent leaders for The grieving, Healing & Hope Retreat project Fall 2022 to shift from the hurt and anger making us more susceptible to violence and trauma, to one of comfort, connection and healing. Tuesdays
Oct 25 - Nov 15, 2022 Register HERE |
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