The Creation Spirituality Lineage Calling All Social and Environmental Activists, Mystic Explorers, Justice Makers, Cosmic Thinkers, Earth Keepers Daily Meditations with Matthew Fox |
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Resurrection Appearances: The Heart
of the Resurrection Story 04/03/2024 |
In yesterday’s DM, we considered Resurrection stories today and yesterday from the perspective of appearances of the deceased. |
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Aedicule in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, containing the Angel’s Stone and the tomb itself. Photo by Jorge Láscar on Flickr. |
He attributes this “obsession” to the fundamentalist wing of Christianity that arose in the late 19th century and has grown in influence since. An emphasis on the empty tomb ignores “the substance of the claims of Jesus’ disciples, that they encountered him after his death.” Thus the “appearances” that we emphasized in yesterday’s DM. Chilton asks the question whether the resurrection should be “considered historical in the first place?” A changed view of history has occurred in our time. |
Attempts to bridge scripture and history: title page of the collected works of Jewish-Roman historian Flavius Josephus, first published in 1602. Wikimedia Commons. | History arises precisely when events are not fully explained ....History is the record of reactions to unique events in a plurality of forms, not of successful efforts to explain events away, on whatever ground. The plurality of explanations of Christ’s resurrection
in the gospels and Acts and Paul reveal this. What is witnessed, in one way or another in all the texts—however they are presented—is the awareness that Jesus is alive after his public execution. The execution is public, as are |
consequences of the resurrection, but the resurrection itself is not. The conviction that those consequences result from God raising Jesus from the dead is not in itself an historical event but an interpretation that involves experiencing him alive after death. Chilton proposes
that while the resurrection is not itself a historical event, it “becomes historical when Jesus’ agency exerts itself among his followers,” and we know much about what those followers underwent, whether in their writings and sharing of the story, or in their organizing community and pursuing their lives, including their often-violent deaths akin to that of Jesus. Deaths triggered by their acts of faith challenged an empire and are historically
verified. |
Chilton summarizes their story this way: Within the movement of Jesus itself, believers conceived that Jesus, alive after his death, appeared in visions, conveyed purity, assured the promise of the coming age, provoked an extension of the |
“The Christian Martyrs’ Last Prayer,” painting by Jean-Léon Gérôme, ~1873. Wikimedia Commons. |
message beyond historic Israel by means of baptism...* To be continued |
*See Bruce Chilton, Resurrection Logic: How Jesus’ First Followers Believed God Raised Him from the Dead, pp. 185-188, 196.
See also Matthew Fox and Bruce Chilton, “Resurrection: Conversations with Matthew Fox and Bruce Chilton.”
See “Resurrection” in Matthew Fox and Bishop Marc
Andrus, Stations of the Cosmic Christ, pp. 128-132.
And Fox, Sheer Joy: Conversations with Thomas Aquinas on Creation Spirituality, pp. 359-364.
And Fox, The Tao of Thomas Aquinas, pp. 167-172.
And
Fox, The Coming of the Cosmic Christ, pp. 144-151.
Banner Image: “Stoning of St. Stephen,” c. 1100 C.E. Fresco transferred to canvas, Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya. Wikimedia
Commons. |
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Queries for Contemplation Do you see the appearances of Jesus after his death to have impacted history? And yourself in a deep way? How do you
experience the Resurrection today? |
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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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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The Tao of Thomas Aquinas: Fierce Wisdom for Hard Times
A stunning spiritual handbook drawn from the substantive teachings of Aquinas’ mystical/prophetic genius, offering a sublime roadmap for spirituality and
action.
Foreword by Ilia Delio.
“What a wonderful book! Only Matt Fox could bring to life the wisdom and brilliance of Aquinas with so much creativity. The Tao of Thomas Aquinas is a masterpiece.”
–Caroline Myss, author
of Anatomy of the Spirit |
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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.
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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 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 leads worship services and a workshop to mark Earth Day 2024, hosted by Unity of Walnut Creek, CA, Sunday, April 21: 9:30am & 11:30am – Worship Service –
Earth Day, 2024: Preserving Things in the Good 1:30-3:00pm – Workshop – How the Earth Crisis of Our Time Can Move Humanity to Its Next Stage of Evolution Register HERE. Join Matthew Fox, Mariko Middleton, and Skylar Wilson of the Order of the Sacred Earth in a
free virtual meeting for connection and networking with other mystic warriors, Tuesday, April 30, 4:00-5:00pm PT.
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88665302478 Meeting ID: 886 6530 2478 Learn more at www.orderofthesacredearth.org |
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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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