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Meditations with Matthew Fox
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Advent, Solstice and the Apophatic Divinity 12/19/2022 |
We have spoken about the feminine side to advent, a time of waiting, of pregnancy, of gestating in the dark. The Godhead is feminine and is grounded in mystery more than history. It
speaks, if it speaks at all, to the apophatic dimension of divinity. |
The apophatic dimension of divinity is called by Meister Eckhart “superessential darkness that has no name and
will never be given a name.” What does that tell us? What does that mean? | |
That we should entertain the possibility that much God talk is too much talk and not enough listening. We can easily deceive ourselves by projecting our or our tribes’ wishes upon a deity who is far from divine at all. A good example is the Roman emperor wrapping himself in language of being filius dei, the “son of
God.” (A temptation facing many emperors or aspiring emperors since as well.) Eckhart prayed this way: "I pray God to rid me of God." |
| That is very much a prayer to the apophatic Divinity. That we move beyond one’s culture’s or tribe’s version of Divinity to
a deeper place, that we allow the deeper Divinity to arise from a place of deep darkness and mystery. Early Christians fought the blasphemy and idolatry of the Roman emperor proclaiming himself the “son of God” and paid a price for their
resistance in the coliseums of Rome and elsewhere in the empire.They felt that a true “son of God” ought to be such not by the decree of earthly kingdoms but by being “nearest to the heart of God” (Jn 1.18). |
It was their calling to represent the God-heart which is about love and compassion and service and not power for power sake. “No one has ever seen God” they declare, (Jn. 1.18)--an apophatic statement indeed. This can translate (it hasn’t always done so) into the flourishing of the mammal brain of kinship and caring and resisting the reptilian brain of “I win, the empire wins, power-over wins,” and “you obey our orders.” A history that the Jews and many other minorities were subjected to in Jesus’ day under the empire. And, sad to say, under so-called Christian empires. The repose and darkness of Advent invite us into the mystery of the Godhead but also into the apophatic Divinity, the holiness of darkness. To be continued. |
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Adapted from Matthew Fox, “The Apophatic Divinity: Meister Eckhart Meets Buddhism via Thich Nhat Hanh,” in Meister Eckhart: A Mystic-Warrior for Our Times, pp. 35-56. See also Fox, Meditations with Meister Eckhart, pp. 36ff. Banner Image: A black hole, the focal point of everything and nothing at the same time. Photo by Jacob Granneman on Unsplash. |
Queries for Contemplation How do you practice the presence of the apophatic Divinity in a season of solstice, advent and darkness? And beyond? What gods do you pray to be rid of at this time of history? |
Responses are welcomed. To add your comment, please click HERE
to go to our website and scroll down to the Comments field. |
Meister Eckhart: A Mystic-Warrior For Our Time
While Matthew Fox recognizes that Meister Eckhart has influenced thinkers throughout history, he also wants to introduce Eckhart to today’s activists addressing contemporary crises. Toward that end, Fox creates dialogues between Eckhart and Carl Jung, Thich Nhat Hanh, Rabbi Heschel, Black Elk, Karl Marx, Rumi, Adrienne Rich, Dorothee Soelle, David Korten, Anita
Roddick, Lily Yeh, M.C. Richards, and many others.
"Matthew Fox is perhaps the greatest writer on Meister Eckhart that has ever existed. (He) has successfully bridged a gap between Eckhart as a shamanistic personality and Eckhart as a post-modern mentor to the Inter-faith movement, to reveal just how cosmic Eckhart really is, and how remarkably relevant to today's religious crisis! " — Steven Herrmann, Author of Spiritual Democracy: The Wisdom of Early American Visionaries for the Journey Forward | |
Meditations with Meister Eckhart: A Centering
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A centering book by Matthew Fox. This book of simple but rich meditations exemplifies the deep yet playful creation-centered spirituality of Meister Eckhart, Meister Eckhart was a 13th-century Dominican preacher who was a mystic, prophet, feminist, activist, defender of the poor, and advocate of creation-centered spirituality, who was condemned shortly after he died.
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Join Robert Holden and Matthew Fox for A WINTER OF IMAGINATION – a mystical journey in
three 75-minute webinars that reveal the spiritual invitation and deeper meaning of Advent, the Solstice, and Christmas time. 12/19 ("A Solstice Meditation"), and 12/22 ("Soul of Christmas"), 12 pm PT/3 pm ET/8 pm UK. Register HERE. Join Matthew Fox as the Center for Contemporary Mysticism hosts him in a Conversation on “Creation Spirituality: Birthing a New World.” Sunday, January 8, 2023, 11 am PT
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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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