The Creation Spirituality Lineage Calling All Social and Environmental Activists, Mystic Explorers, Justice Makers, Cosmic Thinkers, Earth Keepers Daily Meditations with Matthew Fox |
The
Roundness to the Recent Synod in the Vatican 12/04/2023 |
Recently I was interviewed by Franciscan Sister Ilia Delio, scientist, theologian, author of The Emergent Christ, The Unbearable Wholeness of Being, and other good books. One question she posed was what I thought of Pope Francis’s recent Synod held last month in the Vatican. |
My spontaneous response—I had never been asked that question before—was this: That the most important part in my estimation was the round tables. All participants sat at round tables—Pope, bishops, archbishops, religious sisters, laywomen and laymen, some young, some old. This was significant. Why? |
Round Tables foster a feeling of cooperation between equals. The table and chairs used at the 2016 G7 Summit, are now on display in the Ise-Shima Summit Memorial Museum in Japan. Photo by Miyuki Mainaka. Wikimedia Commons. |
I devoted a chapter in my book, A Spirituality Named Compassion, published 44 years ago, to moving “From Climbing Jacob’s Ladder to Dancing Sara’s Circle.” To move one’s consciousness, and that of a large organization, from patriarchal ladder-climbing to circle dancing, matters. |
Step By Step: Gail Ransom teaches a Circle Dance at the First United Methodist Church of Pittsburgh, PA. Video by RUMC Worship Jam. | Sitting at round tables and seeing each other eye to eye, one can see the
joy that is there, and the suffering that is there. It renders compassion much easier than operating from the top of skyscrapers or hierarchical ladders of any kind. There, one is isolated and alone. Being unable to look another |
person in the eye, renders it almost impossible either to laugh with or to grieve with that other. The same is true of dropping bombs from above at 40,000 feet. |
Once, when giving a talk about “Climbing Jacob’s ladder vs. Dancing Sara’s Circle,” a woman came up to me afterwards and said, “my husband is vice president of a large corporation, and what you say is true. A ladder is very precarious. I don’t know anyone on the ladder who feels secure or even happy. And that includes their families as well.” |
Dancing Off The Ladder: A diagram excerpted from A Spirituality Named Compassion, p. 63. |
Meeting at round tables holds promise. Working with people eye-to-eye and listening and being heard, holds promise. It may signify a first step in deconstructing the hierarchical mindset that, for too long, has dominated religious and other patriarchal structures. One can hope.
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Adapted
from Matthew Fox, “Sexuality and Compassion: From Climbing Jacob’s Ladder to Dancing Sarah’s Circle,” in Fox, A Spirituality Named Compassion, pp. 36-67. Banner image: King Arthur’s Round Table has long been considered a symbol of
equality and cooperation, as distinct from hierarchy. Detail from Lancelot (1470), attributed to either Gaultier Moap or Michel Gantelet. Wikimedia Commons. |
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Queries for Contemplation How important do you think it is to move from ladder-like hierarchical thinking and practice, to circle practice? Is a both/and dynamic and consciousness possible, once one recovers the circle? |
Responses are welcomed. To add your comment, or read other comments and enter into dialog, please click HERE to go to our website and scroll down to the Comments field. |
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. Establishing a spirituality for the future that promises personal, social, and global healing, 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.
“Well worth our deepest consideration…Puts compassion into its proper focus after centuries of neglect.”
–The Catholic Register |
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In the Beginning There Was Joy: A Cosmic Celebration for Kids of All
Ages
The first book in the Father Fox’s Fantastical Fables series tells the story of the big bang and how humans fit into the awesome, fantastical, cosmic picture! With artwork curated from illustrators around the world, this book expresses the joy and wonder of all peoples and cultures, planting seeds of respect, cooperation and hope to work together for the healing of our planet. "This delicious book for children of all ages celebrates joy as the essential truth of reality." - Andrew Harvey, Author of The Hope and Radical Regeneration "I absolutely LOVED reading this beautiful, creative, stirring story—a charming, whimsical, powerful, parable." - Robert Holden, Author of Happiness NOW! and Higher Purpose Receive a 20% discount when you buy this and one other book from Matthew Fox’s store! Use Promo Code 20% at checkout. |
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_____________________________________________________________________________________ UPCOMING EVENTS See Matthew Fox's full calendar HERE |
SPECIAL EVENT: 5-DAY WORKSHOP IN AQUINAS’ HOMETOWN OF ORVIETO, ITALY
WITH MATTHEW FOX, MESHI CHAVEZ, AND CLAUDIA PICARDI
JUNE 9-14,
2024
LEARN MORE HERE. |
Join Matthew Fox as he discusses his book “Confessions: The Making of a Post-Denominational Priest ” in an Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat.Thursday, January 18, 4:00-6:00 pm PT Register HERE |
Join Matthew Fox as he lectures on “What the Mystics Tell Us About Dying “ at the Conference on Death, Grief and Belief, “Emerging Spiritualities: Death and Bereavement Across the Spiritual Spectrum,” Saturday, January 20, 9:00am – 5:00pm
PT Register HERE |
Join Matthew Fox as he discusses his book “The Lotus & The Rose” in an Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat. Thursday, February 15, 4:00-6:00 pm PT Register HERE |
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Creation Spirituality Conversations |
Hunger for Wholeness: What is Wholeness in the Midst of Crisis with Matthew Fox (Part 1) In the midst of increased violence between Israel and Palestine, Ilia Delio
and theologian Matthew Fox discuss the state of the world today and how to have courage in Part 1 of their conversation. Ilia and Matt discuss his mentor, Marie Dominique Chenu, the influence of liberation theology on social justice in the church today, and what can still be learned.
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