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Friday, 2024: A Meditation on Death 03/29/2024 |
As I write this, my sister-in-law lies very near to death, having just received the last rites of the Catholic Church. Her family has gathered in a vigil at her hospital bed, playing the music of Leonard Cohen to whom she was very devoted. |
Two weeks ago, I went to say Goodbye to my brother in a Veterans’ Hospital near Las Vegas, as he too is in an advanced stage of dying from Alzheimer’s disease. I was pleased that he did recognize me for a short while, and we were able to communicate simply. Two months ago, a housemate of mine died suddenly in the living room. Death of course is always with us, especially at my age, having spun around the Sun 83 times. It is with us from parents, grandparents, and all who precede us— |
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in the daily news, such as the six immigrants who died this week while working on the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. Young men who were earning money to send back home to Central America. |
Norah O’Donnell reports on the catastrophic failure of Baltimore’s Key Bridge, comparing it to a similar accident over Tampa Bay in 1980. Video by CBS Evening News. | Of course, it is with us when we learn news from
Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan, or anywhere where wars rage. So the crucifixion of Jesus at only 30 years old, purposely violent amidst torture—reminds us of the omnipresence of death as a reality. Today’s science tells us |
that stars, galaxies, and planets also die. Buddhists tells us that all things are impermanent and the crucifixion does the same. |
Many philosophers of old believed the planets were eternal, but science teaches us that they too live, die, and resurrect. Such seems to be a habit or “law” of the universe. In Christianity, there has often been too much emphasis on the crucifix and the death of Jesus (after all, the cross was not a symbol until the fourth or
fifth century—which was the very time Christianity took over the empire). A cross can easily be turned on its side and become weaponized as a sword—which a lot of Christians’ history bears witness to, from Christians having upended other peoples, religions, and cultures around the world. |
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Jesus was
killed by the reigning powers of the Roman empire. Killed as a troublemaker and enemy of the empire, who dared to preach about compassion and the dignity of the poor, with a critical attitude toward the privileged and powerful in religion and society. To be
continued. |
See Matthew Fox and Bishop Marc Andrus, Stations of the Cosmic Christ, pp. 123-128. And Fox, Original Blessing, pp. 157-172. And Fox, "Creativity and Compassion: From a Fetish with the Cross to an Exploration of the Empty Tomb" in Fox, A Spirituality Named Compasssion, pp. 104-139.
Banner Image: Oil painting depicting the crucifixion of Christ at Calvary (Golgotha) outside the city walls of Jerusalem by Pietro Sassi, circa 1870. Wikimedia Commons. |
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Queries for Contemplation What does the death of Jesus mean to you? |
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. |
Stations of the Cosmic Christ
By Matthew Fox and Bishop Marc Andrus.
This is a book of meditations on the Cosmic Christ, accompanying the images of
16 wonderful clay tablets by Javier Ullrrich Lemus and M.C. Richards. Together, these images and meditations go far beyond the traditional Stations of the Cross to inspire a spirit awakening and understanding of the cosmic Christ Consciousness, Buddha consciousness, and consciousness of the image of God in all beings, so needed in our times.
“A divinely inspired book that must be read by every human being devoted to
spiritual and global survival. It is cosmically brilliant.” — Caroline Myss, author of Anatomy of the Spirit |
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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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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. "Matthew Fox has created a narrative, for every parent and grandparent, both spiritual and
scientific, that is a gift for all elders who recognize their responsibility in initiating the young ones into the grandeur of existence." Cosmologist Brian Swimme, Author of Cosmogenesis and The Universe Story "Matthew Fox has given all of us, children included, a wondrous and enchanting view of creation
and all that humanity should aspire to." - Caroline Myss, Author of Anatomy of the Spirit and A Time for Grace 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 speaks on “The Deep Feminine and the Deep Masculine and their importance in elevating consciousness and healing our world” at the The Heart of Nature 7-Day Summit with Jane Fonda, Marianne Williamson, Paul Hawken, Nina Simons and over 30 leading experts,
Tuesday-Monday, April 16-22. 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. |
Join Matthew Fox as he discusses his book Natural Grace: Dialogues on Creation, Darkness and the Soul in Spirituality and Science in an Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat, Thursday, May 16, 4:00-5:30 pm PT.
Register HERE. |
Creation Spirituality Conversations |
Ilia Delio and theologian Matthew Fox pick up on their conversation about the viability of contemporary religious institutions in an evolutionary world. They discuss death and resurrection—the enduring challenge of modern approaches to the subject and what we can learn from mystics, past generations and ancient peoples alike. To listen, click HERE. |
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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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