The Creation Spirituality Lineage Calling All Social and Environmental Activists, Mystic Explorers, Justice Makers, Cosmic Thinkers, Earth Keepers Daily Meditations with Matthew Fox |
Week
of 12/18-23/2023:
Earth, a "Rare Gem" in the Universe,
Gay Marriage, Grace 12/24/2023 |
December 18, 2023: Science Calls Earth “A Rare Gem in a Universe Very Hostile to Life”
Physicist Marcelo Gleiser reminds us that science is asking this question: “Are we alone in the Universe?” He tells us that, with our current capabilities, we are at a point where we can actually begin to answer this question. "And it all points to our planet being a rare gem in a Universe that is very hostile to life."* Further, he says that lIfe is "enormously complex," and it has taken Earth “many truly mind-boggling
steps to go from non-life to the first living creatures, and then on to complex unicellular life and multicellular creatures.” We can't lose sight of the wonder of our Earth's existence or the fragility of life on Earth. It's time to act in such a way that life on the planet may continue. |
ScienceCasts explains recent innovations in monitoring the health of our “Blue Marble” from the Deep Space Climate Observatory. Video by ScienceAtNASA. |
December 19, 2023: Our Earth, a “Rare Gem” in the Universe, & Us
Astrophysicist Joel Primack concurs with physicist Marcelo Gleiser that Earth is a rare gem. He told Matthew, I did some research a couple years ago
showing that Earth is rare in a previously unknown way: Earth has just the right amount of radioactive heating from thorium and uranium radioactive decay!** He also tells us that humans are “at the center of all the possible sizes in the universe” because creatures much smaller than we are could not have sufficient complexity for our kind of intelligence…but intelligent creatures could not be much larger than we are either. Also, this time of cosmological discovery is
significant because the most distant galaxies “are disappearing over the cosmic horizon” and even with advanced telescopes, future humans “will never be able to see as many galaxies as we can see now.” |
December 20, 2023: Pope Francis Blesses Gay Unions
Recently Pope Francis approved the blessing of gay couples. The official Declaration called “Fiducia Supplicans” on “the Pastoral Meaning of Blessings” was signed by its new
prefect, Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez, the new head of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith. Pope Francis signed off on it and is cited 20 times in the formal document. Praising Pope Francis for his courage, one also looks ahead to further steps in the future as the word gets out that sexuality is not only a blessing, it is diverse, like so much else in creation. |
Indigenous people look to revive traditional LGBTQ terms and understanding. CBCSaskatchewan |
December 21, 2023: More on Gay Catholics, Pope Francis, Science
Why is the Pope courageous for okaying the blessing of gay marriages? Because some non-Catholic American “Christians” called the pope an instrument of Satan.
Plus, within the Catholic Church itself, Pope Francis is taking on his predecessors, Popes JP II and Benedict XVI, who wrote horrible things about homosexuals. But the pope is not alone. Last week the Anglican Church also allowed blessings of gay marriages. (Altough its American version, the Episcopal Church, has been doing that for decades, as well as ordaining gay clergy and bishops.) Though Pope Francis has demonstrated courage, Matthew reminds us that the future of religion is less with
giant institutions than with spirituality and conscience. December 22, 2023: On Grace
Recently a DM
reader asked Matthew to write on Grace. Happy to oblige, Matthew tells us about a time when he was asked by a group of Jewish women about the meaning of the word ‘grace.’ He replied, “Unconditional love, the flow of unconditional love.” He continues: “Grace is a blessing, a gift.” For instance, the previous night, there was a huge, pounding rainfall that the weather forecasters called “a river of rain.” Matthew stated what many people out West now recognize: rainfall in a world which has
seen increasingly horrifying wildfires is a great gift. He tells us that bad theologies have put a wedge between nature and grace but a mystic like Meister Eckhart recognizes that “nature is grace.” Humans, too, can be instruments of grace. |
Indigenous people look to revive traditional LGBTQ terms and understanding. CBCSaskatchewan |
December 23, 2023: Speaking of Grace, So Many Gifts, So Many Graces
On this day of Matthew’s 83rd birthday, he continues to write about Grace. He feels deeply that “life is a grace.” The Earth and all its lifeforms is
a grace. The cosmos and its two trillion galaxies is a grace. And, as Meister Eckhart said, “Nature is a grace.” Matthew expresses gratitude for the people in his life: family, friends, teachers, co-workers, students, and those with whom he has collaborated on Cosmic Masses. It is all Grace. |
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. |
Christian Mystics: 365 Readings & Meditations
As Matthew Fox notes, when an aging Albert Einstein was asked if he had any regrets, he replied, “I wish I had read more of the mystics earlier in my life.” The 365 writings in
Christian Mystics represent a wide-ranging sampling of these readings for modern-day seekers of all faiths — or no faith. The visionaries quoted range from Julian of Norwich to Martin Luther King, Jr., from Thomas Merton to Dorothee Soelle and Thomas Berry.
“Our world is in crisis, and we need road maps that can ground us in wisdom, inspire us to action, and help
us gather our talents in service of compassion and justice. This revolutionary book does just that. Matthew Fox takes some of the most profound spiritual teachings of the West and translates them into practical daily mediations. Study and practice these teachings. Take what’s in this book and teach it to the youth because the new generation cannot afford to suffer the spirit and ethical illiteracy of the past.” — Adam Bucko, spiritual activist and co-founder of the
Reciprocity Foundation for Homeless Youth.
|
|
The Coming of the Cosmic Christ: The Healing of Mother Earth and the Birth of a Global Renaissance
In what may be considered the most comprehensive outline of the Christian
paradigm shift of our Age, Matthew Fox eloquently foreshadows the manner in which the spirit of Christ resurrects in terms of the return to an earth-based mysticism, the expression of creativity, mystical sexuality, the respect due the young, the rebirth of effective forms of worship—all of these mirroring the ongoing blessings of Mother Earth and the recovery of Eros, the feminine aspect of the Divine.
“The eighth
wonder of the world…convincing proof that our Western religious tradition does indeed have the depth of imagination to reinvent its faith.” — Brian Swimme, author of The Universe Story and Journey of the Universe. |
|
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." - 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. |
|
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: |
|
|
|
