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Holiness and Generosity:
The Wave of the Future 06/06/2023 |
We have been identifying signs of holiness for the 21st century. So far we have named Joy and Courage as sure signs of holiness, a holiness that is not just of a personal kind but
extends to community as a whole. |
Today we propose another sign, that of generosity. The older I get, the more I am impressed with generosity as a sure sign of the spirit (and the more I recognize hoarding as the opposite of spirit). Where there is generosity, there is spirit. | Mini-documentary exploring some of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s acts of charity, kindness and generosity that inspired millions of people to follow his example and serve their
communities. Unreal Documentary |
You ask me, “Who is a spiritual person?” And I reply, a “joyful and courageous and generous person.” Generosity is about giving of yourself. Stretching yourself. What Native Americans call a “giveaway.”
Look for generosity. Look for it in yourself. Sister Jose Hobday told a wonderful story (she told many of them actually). She was invited to speak to a large gathering of nurses and the head nurse inviting her said she should zero in on “burnout” and how awful it is. She was very controlling and eager to dictate to Jose what she should and should not say. |
A Tribute to Sister José Hobday: photos of her life, work and travels in service to the People. Video by Ty Cody; Jane Siberry sings. | Jose, however, always thought for herself. And her opening line went like this: ”It’s better to have burned
out than never to have burned at all.” And she went on to praise nurses for their work of generosity in helping the sick and what to do about protecting oneself. |
Think of the people you most admire—whether
public figures or personal acquaintances. How often is generosity a part of their character? Think of Gandhi or Jesus, of Martin Luther King, Jr., or Dorothy Day; of Maya Angelou or Hildegard of Bingen. Of your parents or your grandparents; of a teacher or counselor in your life. A good teacher is generous—giving time and self to students; a good monk is generous; a good politician; a good parent; a good spouse; a good carpenter; a good artist. |
It seems to me that they all have generosity in common. Generosity is about giving from one’s abundance, from the depth of one’s heart, from one’s very soul. Generosity is
about giving without a guaranteed return; it is | “Dorothy Day and the Holy Family of the Streets.” Painting by iconographer Kelly Latimore. Published with permission; to purchase,
click HERE. |
about “give away.” About working “without a why.” Generosity takes trust; it takes a willingness to fail. Generosity and Spirit go
together. Love calls forth generosity. To be continued. |
Adapted from Matthew Fox, Sins of the Spirit, Blessings of the Flesh: Transforming Evil in Soul and Society, pp. 379f. Banner Image: Feeding the hungry in Shanti community, Nepal. Photo provided by Marianne Grosspietsch. Published with permission. Learn more about the work of the Shanti community in service to the desperately poor, HERE. Donations are
welcomed. |
Queries for Contemplation What examples of generosity have you experienced receiving in your life and what difference did it make? |
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Sins of the Spirit, Blessings of the Flesh: Transforming
Evil in Soul and Society
Visionary theologian
and best-selling author Matthew Fox offers a new theology of evil that fundamentally changes the traditional perception of good and evil and points the way to a more enlightened treatment of ourselves, one another, and all of nature. In comparing the Eastern tradition of the 7 chakras to the Western tradition of the 7 capital sins, Fox allows us to think creatively about our capacity for personal and institutional evil and what we can do about them.
“A scholarly masterpiece embodying a better vision and depth of perception far beyond the grasp of any one single science. A breath-taking analysis.” — Diarmuid O’Murchu, author of Quantum Theology: Spiritual Implications of the New Physics
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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 | |
See Matthew Fox's full calendar
HERE |
Join Matthew Fox for an online lecture and Q&A on “Letting Our Minds be Remade Regarding Religion,” hosted by The World Community for Christian Meditation, Tuesday, June 13, 11:00am-12:30pm PT. Learn more:
https://wccm.org/events/metanoia/ Join Matthew Fox as he discusses “The A.W.E. Project – Reinventing Education, Reinventing the Human” in an online Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat, Thursday, June 15, 4:00-6:00 pm PT. Register HERE. Join Matthew Fox for a Cosmic Mass and Panel Forum at the 2023 Parliament of the World’s Religions - A Call to Conscience: Defending Freedom & Human Rights, August 14-18 in Chicago, IL Wed., 8/16, 7:00pm CT - The Cosmic Mass - Honoring Gaia, Solidarity for Our Earth Thurs., 8/17, 1:00pm CT – Panel and Response to The Cosmic Mass Register here: https://parliamentofreligions.org/ |
Creation Spirituality Conversations |
Tikkun Magazine releases a new Interview of Matthew Fox by Andrew Harvey regarding Matthew Fox: Essential Writings on Creation Spirituality (Orbis, 2022) edited by Charles Burack. Read the interview HERE. | |
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