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How
Our Creativity, Morality, & Divinity Flow Side by Side 02/23/2024 |
We are considering Meister Eckhart’s powerful sermon on emptying (the Via Negativa) and creating (the Via Creativa) about a “rapid river that divinizes us” in light of the gifting that Sister Dorothy Stang and Alexei Navalny bestowed on us by their
martyrdoms. |
Every moral decision we make belongs in the Via Creativa section of our spiritual journey—Sr. Dorothy, Navalny, MLK Jr., and Jesus bear testimony to this. As does the image from yesterday’s DM of being carried along a rapid river sans oars and not being in charge. |
Followers of Alexei Navalny reflect on his legacy, the succession of his widow Yulia, and next steps in opposition to Putin. Reuters. |
Leonard Bernstein speaks of creativity that way and he touched me many years ago when I was writing the chapter on “Creativity” in my book A Spirituality Named Compassion. Says Lenny: I can sit long nights all by myself and don’t have a thought in my head. I’m
dry. I’m blocked, or so it seems…The mind, where all this creativity takes place, is an immensely complicated circuit of electronic threads….but every once in a while, there is something like a short circuit; two of them will cross, touch and set off something called an idea. This is the most exciting moment
that can happen in an artist’s life. And every time it happens…I say ‘Gratias agimus tibi…’ …Eventually those two strands will come together, a spark will fly, and I’ll be off, sailing: my ego gone. I won’t know my name. I won’t know what time it is. Then, I’m a composer. |
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| Meister Eckhart instructs us that to ignore our capacity to give birth, to run from our responsibility to create, is to run from goodness itself: If human beings have something that they do not bestow on
others, they are not good. To choose to create is to choose to tap into our divine likeness, it is to |
participate in our god-like powers and our divinization. Thomas Aquinas says that although a created being tends to the divine likeness in many ways, this one whereby it seeks the divine likeness by being the cause of others takes the ultimate place. Hence Dionysius says, that ‘of
all things, it is more divine to become a co-worker with God’ in accord with the statement of the Apostle: ‘We are God’s co-workers’ (1 Cor. 3:9). Creativity bespeaks the Divinity within us. |
Adapted from Matthew Fox, A Spirituality Named Compassion: Uniting Mystical Awareness with Social Justice, p.129.
And from Fox, Sheer Joy: Conversations with Thomas Aquinas on Creation Spirituality, p. 245.
And Fox, “Sermon 26: The Holy Spirit, Like a Rapid River,
Divinizes Us,” in Fox, Passion For Creation: The Earth-Honoring Spirituality of Meister Eckhart, pp. 363-379.
See also: Matthew Fox, Creativity: Where the Divine and the Human Meet.
Banner Image: Rafting the Davao River rapids, Bukidnon Province, Northern Mindanao Davao Region, Philippines. Wikimedia Commons |
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Queries for Contemplation Do you resonate with Bernstein’s description of the most exciting moment that can happen in an artist’s life? And with
Aquinas and St. Paul saying we are “God’s co-workers” and therefore godlike? And with Eckhart’s teaching that to be good is to bestow our goodness on others? |
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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Sheer Joy: Conversations with Thomas Aquinas on Creation
Spirituality
Matthew Fox renders Thomas Aquinas accessible by interviewing him and thus descholasticizing him. He also translated many of his works such as Biblical commentaries never before in English (or Italian or German of French). He gives Aquinas a forum so that he can be heard in our own time. He presents Thomas Aquinas entirely in his own words, but in a form designed to
allow late 20th-century minds and hearts to hear him in a fresh way.
“The teaching of Aquinas comes through will a fullness and an insight that has never been present in English before and [with] a vital message for the world today.” ~ Fr. Bede Griffiths (Afterword).
Foreword by Rupert Sheldrake
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Passion for Creation: The Earth-Honoring Spirituality of Meister Eckhart
Matthew Fox’s comprehensive translation of Meister Eckhart’s sermons is a meeting of true prophets across centuries, resulting in
a spirituality for the new millennium. The holiness of creation, the divine life in each person and the divine power of our creativity, our call to do justice and practice compassion–these are among Eckhart’s themes, brilliantly interpreted and explained for today’s reader.
“The most important book on mysticism in 500 years.” — Madonna Kolbenschlag, author of Kissing Sleeping Beauty
Goodbye. |
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Creativity: Where the Divine and Human Meet
Because creativity is the key to both our genius and beauty as a species but also to our capacity for evil, we need to teach creativity and to teach ways of steering this God-like power in
directions that promote love of life (biophilia) and not love of death (necrophilia). Pushing well beyond the bounds of conventional Christian doctrine, Fox’s focus on creativity attempts nothing less than to shape a new ethic.
“Matt Fox is a pilgrim who seeks a path into the church of tomorrow. Countless numbers will be happy to follow his lead.” –Bishop John Shelby Spong, author, Rescuing
the Bible from Fundamentalism, Living in Sin
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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 |
Join Matthew Fox as he discusses his book Passion for Creation: The Earth-Honoring Spirituality of Meister Eckhart in an Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat, Thursday, March 21, 4:00-5:30 pm PT.
Register HERE. |
Join Matthew Fox as he discusses his book Sheer Joy: Conversations with Thomas Aquinas on Creation Spirituality in an Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat, Thursday, April 18, 4:00-5:30 pm PT.
Register HERE. |
Creation Spirituality Conversations |
Matthew Fox speaks on "What the Mystics Tell Us About Dying" at the 2024 Symposium on Death and Bereavement Studies. To listen, click the video thumbnail at right. |
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