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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Our Giving Birth to the Christ, continued 12/29/2022 |
With Meister Eckhart, we are asking in this Christmas season, “When do we give birth to Christ?” Whenever we create from the depths of ourselves. In this way we imitate Mary and undergo a parallel process that she
underwent in birthing the Christ with the help of the Holy Spirit. |
“God is always
needing to be born,” Eckhart reminds us and he is explicit in relating our powers of imagination and creativity to the work of the Holy Spirit that came over Mary to bring her to conceive Jesus as we saw in yesterday’s DM. | |
Eckhart repeats this theme often, for example when he says: “This is the fullness of time, when the Son of God is begotten in you.”
The “fullness of time” means eternity for Eckhart and is also a reference to the messianic times that begin now, when humans get real about birthing
God, the prince of peace, rendering compassion and justice incarnate. Eckhart tells us, “when the time was fulfilled, grace was born.” Indeed, “the Father begets his only begotten Son in a present now, and the soul is born
again in God.” |
Invitation to co-create with the Divine: “The Annunciation” by Henry Ossawa Tanner, 1896. Wikimedia Commons. | Our Lady said: ‘How can it be that I should become the Mother of God?’ Then the angel said: ‘The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee from above.’ David said: ‘This day have I begotten thee.’ What is today? Eternity…. |
Today
is eternity. And eternity is among us. Presence. “Kingdom/queendom of God.” Now is the hour and this is the place for birthing the Son as Mary once did. And birthing the Cosmic Christ. Eckhart
asks: What help is it to me that the Father gives birth to his Son unless I too give birth to him? It is for this reason that God gives birth to his Son in a perfect soul and lies in the maternity bed so that he can give
birth to him again in all his works. |
The phrase in all his works is profoundly telling. The Cosmic Christ is being born in all God’s works and all human works–in all
creation. The Cosmic Christ is present in all beings (as is the Buddha and the image of God, Tselem). All shine with divine light inside. | Jolene Moffatt reads Mary Oliver’s poem, “Sometimes.” TheGardenOnlineVid |
Thomas Merton put it this way: We do not see the Blinding One in black emptiness. He speaks to us gently in ten thousand things….He shines not on them but from within them. To be continued. |
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Adapted from Matthew Fox, “Passion For Creation: The Earth-Honoring Spirituality of Meister Eckhart, pp. 336, 334. And Fox, A Way To God: Thomas Merton’s Creation Spirituality Journey, p. 232. And Fox, Meditations with Meister Eckhart, pp. 65-88. Banner Image: And the light shone in the darkness: “Ukraine – Angels And Mothers of Courage.” Image by Daniel Arrhakis on Flickr. |
Queries for Contemplation Is it your experience that the Blinding One speaks to you and us gently in ten thousand things? And that he/she shines not on things but from within them? Do you think this what Mary Oliver means by defining prayer as “paying attention?” |
Responses are welcomed. To add your comment, please click HERE
to go to our website and scroll down to the Comments field. |
Passion for Creation: The Earth-Honoring Spirituality of Meister
Eckhart Matthew Fox’s comprehensive translation of Meister Eckhart’s sermons is a meeting of true prophets across centuries, resulting in a spirituality for the new millennium. The holiness of creation, the divine life in each
person and the divine power of our creativity, our call to do justice and practice compassion–these are among Eckhart’s themes, brilliantly interpreted and explained for today’s reader. “The most important book on mysticism in 500 years.” — Madonna Kolbenschlag, author of Kissing Sleeping Beauty Goodbye. | |
A Way to God: Thomas
Merton’s Creation Spirituality Journey In A Way to God, Fox explores Merton’s pioneering work in interfaith, his essential teachings on mixing contemplation and action, and
how the vision of Meister Eckhart profoundly influenced Merton in what Fox calls his Creation Spirituality journey. “This wise and marvelous book will profoundly inspire all those who love Merton and want to know him more deeply.” — Andrew Harvey, author of The Hope: A Guide to Sacred Activism
Goodbye. | |
Meditations with Meister Eckhart: A Centering
Book 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. “These quiet presentations of spirituality are remarkable for their immediacy and clarity.” –Publishers Weekly. | |
See Matthew Fox's full calendar 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
(UTC/GMT-7). 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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