The Creation Spirituality Lineage Calling All Social and Environmental Activists, Mystic Explorers, Justice Makers, Cosmic Thinkers, Earth Keepers Daily Meditations with Matthew Fox |
Can
Grace Mark this New Year, 2024? 01/01/2024 |
We have been meditating on Grace lately. Such meditations are very worthwhile, especially when ongoing wars in the Ukraine, Middle East, Sudan—display not our “better angels” but our darkest ones. |
We considered the grace of a 70-year-old fish seller in a market in Iran who invited people to sing and dance, and initially paid a price for it (along with young men who sang and danced in response to him). The fish seller was eventually released from police custody, because so many of his countrymen and women joined in the dance and joyful protest. |
Another Dance in Protest: A Russian ballerina dances a scene from Swan Lake on the frozen Gulf of Finland, to protest the planned construction of a part at a popular beach, hoping to protect the natural wildlife there -- including real swans. Video by BBC News. |
We
have shared a letter from Kurt Vonnegut encouraging young people to practice art as meditation, in order to get to know themselves more deeply. We all have creativity and powers of self-expression within us—and art allows us to get in touch with and share grace that way. |
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heard Jesuit theologian Karl Rahner equate grace and Christmas, the Incarnation story being a story of pure Grace. And we heard Dominican theologian M. D. Chenu celebrate a “continuous creation” and a “continuous incarnation”, all of it filled with grace. Rahner reminds us that Grace “divinizes the essence, powers and activity of
humans.” Is that a possibility—still—for our species, as we |
enter a New Year fraught with many challenges, including the ongoing wars alluded to above; the ultimate war against Mother Earth; and so much else? Maybe as a New Year resolution we can all commit to calling in Grace, and awakening one another to the divinity lurking in all of us.
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In the midst of many troubles, our species is also achieving a new understanding of creation and this unique planet that has birthed us into this graced universe of two trillion galaxies, all of which we learn more about daily. |
Stars in the Sagittarius constellation, as captured by the Hubble Space Telescope. The color of a star can reveal many of its secrets. Photo by ESA/Hubble & NASA. Wikimedia Commons. |
Let
us begin this New Year with that perspective and move forward from it. The universe is a blessing and bestower of grace. An Original Blessing, an Original Grace. It is a privilege to be here. |
See Matthew Fox, Original Blessing: A Primer in Creation Spirituality. Banner image: Art as Meditation, as depicted in the “Kingdom of the Shades” scene from Marius Petipa’s La Bayadère. A hypnotic vision of a peaceful nirvana, dance critics have written, “it seems to go on
forever, and very nearly does.” Photo of the Polish National Ballet by Ewa Krasucka. Wikimedia Commons. |
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For the video, see: Oversized Ancient Galaxy Isn't What Astronomers First Thought |
Queries for Contemplation Do you recognize your existence and the universe and Earth as an Original Blessing and an Original Grace? What follows from
that? How can that perspective alter the way we humans interact with one another and Mother Earth and future generations? |
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 |
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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 |
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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Inspired by this post? Share your insights on Universeodon, Instagram or Twitter using the hashtag #RevDrMatthewFox and tag Matt with @RevDrMatthewFox FOLLOW MATTHEW FOX: |
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