The Creation Spirituality Lineage Calling All Social and Environmental Activists, Mystic Explorers, Justice Makers, Cosmic Thinkers, Earth Keepers Daily Meditations with Matthew Fox |
The
Moral Imagination & Holiness of Norman Lear 12/12/2023 |
Norman Lear was a champion of moral imagination, as all prophets are. |
I believe Norman Lear was a holy man employing a saintliness fit for our times. Simone Weil says: ...today it is not nearly enough to be a saint, but we must have the saintliness demanded by the present moment, a new saintliness… |
CBS correspondent Mo Rocca looks back on the life and career of producer and social activist Norman Lear. CBS Sunday
Morning |
I name four signs of holiness for our times: Joy, Justice, Generosity and Courage. Norman Lear was a man of joy and justice with plenty of generosity and courage thrown in. When it comes to Joy, Lear was committed to making people laugh. He said that even tragedy invariably includes
comedy within it. He found comedy and generated laughter even around difficult and divisive topics. |
Rob Reiner joins Chris Hayes to remember Norman Lear’s legacy: “He fought his entire life for democracy.” MSNBC | He touched that special trait of being human–our capacity to laugh at
ourselves and make room for Joy and meaningful discussion. Lear was fiercely committed to Justice and Healing. He established his organization, People for the American Way, with justice in mind. Lear saw |
racial injustice and gender injustice and put them on television for all to see and even laugh at and to elicit discussion among those who disagree. As a bomber pilot who flew 57 missions over Nazi Germany in WWII, Lear fought fascism and later he did so as a creator of
comedy. Interviewed last year at the age of 100, he expressed his concern that America elected an Archie Bunker as its 45th president. |
Generosity was at work in Lear’s gifting us unceasingly with his many talents. Just the number (and quality) of shows he created demonstrates his hard work and willingness to give his creative gifts away generously. As for Courage, Lear had to fight networks and censors and
many |
In a TED interview with Eric Hirshberg, Norman Lear
shares how his early relationship with “the foolishness of the human condition” shaped his life and creative vision. |
other entrenched and privileged forces to get his message on air. Plus his courageous piloting in WWII. Thank you, Norman, for your Courage and Generosity, your commitment to caring and healing, Justice and the spread of Joy. In short, for the holiness you
shared. |
Adapted from Matthew Fox, Original Blessing, pp. 108, 178-219, 257.
See Fox, “What Will Belief and Holiness Mean in a Postmodern Era?” in Fox, Confessions: The Making of a Post-denominational Priest, pp. 300-323.
Banner Image: Norman Lear, 2017 Kennedy Center Honoree, delivers
remarks after receiving his Kennedy Center Honor medal at the Kennedy Center Honor Dinner at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. on December 2, 2017. State Department Photo/ Public Domain on Wikimedia
Commons |
|
Queries for Contemplation Do you find Joy, Justice, Generosity and Courage playing a bigger and bigger role in your life and spiritual maturation? |
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. |
Original Blessing: A Primer in Creation Spirituality
Matthew Fox lays out a whole new direction for Christianity—a direction that is in fact very ancient and very grounded in Jewish thinking (the fact that Jesus was a Jew
is often neglected by Christian theology): the Four Paths of Creation Spirituality, the Vias Positiva, Negativa, Creativa and Transformativa in an extended and deeply developed way.
“Original Blessing makes available to the Christian world and to the human community a radical cure for all dark and derogatory views of the natural world wherever these may have originated.” –Thomas Berry, author,
The Dream of the Earth; The Great Work; co-author, The Universe Story |
|
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 church, society and the environment.
“The unfolding story of
this irrepressible spiritual revolutionary enlivens the mind and emboldens the heart — must reading for anyone interested in courage, creativity, and the future of religion.”
—Joanna Macy, author of World as Lover, World as Self |
|
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. "Matthew Fox does it again, here for our young ones, who so need a positive, cosmic
vision to thrive, or even survive, in a sad time." - Father Richard Rohr, Author of The Universal Christ "Matthew Fox offers a resounding affirmation of what our souls have always suspected: we are made for joy." - Mirabai Starr, Author of God of Love and Wild Mercy Receive a 20% discount when you buy this and one other book from Matthew Fox’s store! Use Promo Code 20% at checkout. |
|
________________________________________________________________ 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 |
|
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.
|
|
Inspired by this post? Share your insights on Universeodon, Instagram or Twitter using the hashtag #RevDrMatthewFox and tag Matt with @RevDrMatthewFox FOLLOW MATTHEW FOX: |
|
|
|
