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Aquinas on Compassion & Politics, continued 06/19/2024 |
In
his commentary on the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew’s gospel, Aquinas defines compassion this way: |
To be compassionate is to have a heart that suffers from the misfortune of others because we think of it as our own…..You are truly compassionate when you are eager to repel the misfortune of others. We see
in this passage a |
Forced to flee Israeli attacks on Rafah, Gazan pizza chef Mohammed Israeli is now working with World Central
Kitchen to find creative ways to feed war-stricken Palestinians from his car. |
source of Meister Eckhart’s definition of compassion when he says, “what happens to another, whether it be a joy or a sorrow, happens to me.” In a sermon, Aquinas says, “One must first of all love one’s neighbor in order to love God worthily.” In his Commentary on Job, he remarks: |
Dorothy Day, co-founder of the Catholic Worker Movement, holding up her prison dress, signed by her fellow prisoners. Photo by Chris Payden-Travers, posted by Jim Forest on Flickr. | Job teaches that ‘he who robs his friend of compassion in the time of misery leaves fear of the Lord behind,’ that is, the reverence that he ought to have for God, on account of whom and in whom his neighbor must be loved. ‘He who does not love his brother whom he sees, how can he love God whom he does not see?’ as is said in the first letter of John. Notice how “fear of the Lord” for Aquinas is about the reverence have for God and our neighbor. Interdependence lies at the heart of Aquinas’ teaching on
compassion. |
One looks at another’s distress as one’s own, and if all things are united with all things, it is necessary that all things come together into one whole. And thus, all things will share in one thing, as parts share in the shape of the whole. He gives an example from our bodies:
A member naturally exposes itself for the safety of the whole, as when without hesitation up goes the arm to ward off a blow. |
A similar tendency is displayed in the political virtues, as when the good citizen risks death for the safety of the commonwealth: this is a natural motion if we suppose that people are born to belong to a state….The human being is a social animal and one’s desire is not satisfied in providing for |
The Hero: How disarming the Monterey Park gunman gave Brandon Tsay renewed purpose in life. Los Angeles Times. |
oneself, but one wants to be in a position to take care of others. This, however, must be understood within limits. This is how meaning and morality enter into politics. Indeed, in Aquinas’s understanding, “Aristotle’s work on the Politics [is] a conclusion to
the whole work of the Ethics.” Aquinas wrote commentaries on each. |
Adapted from Matthew Fox, Sheer Joy: Conversations with Thomas Aquinas on Creation Spirituality, pp. 392f.
See also Fox, Passion for Creation: The Earth-Honoring Spirituality of Meister Eckhart
Banner Image: “To Be Strong Means To Be United.” A handful of activists call for
solidarity on the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Sheffield, England. Photo by Tim Dennell on Flickr.
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Queries for Contemplation |
Consider how Aquinas recognizes Aristotle’s work on the Politics as a “conclusion” to his work on Ethics. How do politics and ethics interact in our current politics? In how the media covers politics? Can we do
better? |
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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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 |
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UPCOMING EVENTS See Matthew Fox's full calendar
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Join Matthew Fox in a new, live, 7-week video course hosted by the Shift Network, Cultivating Compassion in Spirituality: What Meister Eckhart & Other World Mystics Can Teach Us About Navigating Collective Turmoil. Tuesdays, May 7 – June 25, 5:00pm - 6:30pm PT. Register HERE. |
Join Matthew Fox and 11 other speakers for a 6-week course on Cosmic Water: The Radical Roots of Mystical Christianity hosted by Advaya.Life (Matthew speaks on June 18). Tuesdays, May 28 - Thursday, July 4, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm PDT Register HERE (for 10% discount use code
FOX-WOW) |
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Creation Spirituality Conversations |
Matthew Fox speaks on "Preserving Things in the Good" at the Unity of Walnut Creek Earth Day worship service held on April 21, 2024. |
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