The Creation Spirituality Lineage Calling All Social and Environmental Activists, Mystic Explorers, Justice Makers, Cosmic Thinkers, Earth Keepers Daily Meditations with Matthew Fox |
Today's the day: Matthew Fox's video meditation is below! |
Jesus and
Democracy
according to Meister Eckhart 07/08/2024 |
We find ourselves these days in a time of soulful struggle over democracy, whether in France, Italy, Hungary, or other places. |
And certainly in a MAGA America and its UnSupreme Court eager to make kings of presidents and snatch decision-making about the environment from scientists—climate change and Mother Earth be damned—and give it to corporate powers. We also find silliness arising in
the |
“Thousands Take To The Streets In France To Protest Electoral Gains Made By The Far-Right.” Video by India
Today |
state of Louisiana, where so-called educators are demanding that the Ten Commandments be posted on walls of all public school classrooms from kindergarten through graduate school. In Oklahoma, we learn that the Bible is to be on the curriculum. As if the separation between church and
state did not exist in our constitution. One week ago today, I finished a 7-week class on Meister Eckhart and Compassion with the Shift Network. While Eckhart was our primary guide for the class, he was not an exclusive guide. We also invoked scientists (and the newly rediscovered emphasis on interdependence,
since that is key to all compassion) and feminist writers like Adrienne Rich and M.C. Richards and others, and how all religions of the world celebrate our god-like capacities for compassion. |
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern models true compassion when she visits members of the Muslim community at the Phillipstown Community Centre in 2019, less than 24 hours after a terror attack of two mosques left 50 people dead and dozens seriously injured. Photo by Kirk Hargreaves. Wikipedia. | For the last class, I talked about “Educating For Compassion” and led people through two of Eckhart’s very powerful sermons. One was actually an extended treatise entitled “Everyone an Aristocrat, Everyone a Noble Person.” In that treatise, he makes explicit a theological
grounding for democracy. He develops his ideas about democracy and the teachings of Jesus with a line from the Scriptures, “A man of royal birth went to a distant country to be appointed king, and afterward he returned.” (Lk 19:12) Eckhart comments this way. “Our Lord teaches us in these words
how |
royal people have been created in their nature, how divine is the state to which they can rise through grace and, in addition, how people are to reach that point. In addition, a large part of the Holy Scripture touches upon these words.” |
Thus Eckhart sees Jesus developing the rich theme of the dignity of each human being. He explains that the “inner person” who is “hidden within us” is called in Scripture “a new person, a heavenly person, a young person, a friend, and a royal person.” This is the person Jesus is referring to “when he says, ‘a person of royal birth went to a distant country to |
A Stunning Teaching from Eckhart: Soul as Compassion.” Video by Matthew Fox. |
be
appointed king, and afterward he returned.’”
~ To be continued |
Adapted from Matthew Fox, “’Sermon’ Thirty-Six: Everyone an Aristocrat, Everyone a Royal Person,” in Fox, Passion For Creation: The Earth-Honoring Spirituality of Meister Eckhart, pp. 510-530. See Matthew Fox, “Meister Eckhart and Karl Marx: The Mystic as Political Theologian,” in
Fox, Wrestling with the Prophets, pp. 165-198.
Banner image: Jesus preaching to contemporary youngsters. Black and white 1896 reproduction of Uhde's work, "Christi predigt am See" (Sermon on the lake, or Christ preaching at the sea). Artwork by Fritz von Uhde. Wikimedia Commons |
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Queries for Contemplation |
Have you reflected previously on how the teachings of Jesus lead up to an understanding of and appreciation for democracy? |
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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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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Wrestling with the Prophets: Essays on Creation Spirituality and Everyday Life
In one of his foundational works, Fox engages with some of history’s greatest mystics, philosophers, and prophets in
profound and hard-hitting essays on such varied topics as Eco-Spirituality, AIDS, homosexuality, spiritual feminism, environmental revolution, Native American spirituality, Christian mysticism, Art and Spirituality, Art as Meditation, Interfaith or Deep Ecumenism and more. |
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Meister Eckhart: A Mystic-Warrior For Our Time
While Matthew Fox recognizes that Meister Eckhart has influenced thinkers throughout history, he also wants to introduce Eckhart to today’s activists addressing contemporary crises.
Toward that end, Fox creates dialogues between Eckhart and Carl Jung, Thich Nhat Hanh, Rabbi Heschel, Black Elk, Karl Marx, Rumi, Adrienne Rich, Dorothee Soelle, David Korten, Anita Roddick, Lily Yeh, M.C. Richards, and many others.
“Matthew Fox is perhaps the greatest writer on Meister Eckhart that has ever existed. (He) has successfully bridged a gap between Eckhart as a shamanistic personality and Eckhart as a
post-modern mentor to the Inter-faith movement, to reveal just how cosmic Eckhart really is, and how remarkably relevant to today’s religious crisis! ” — Steven Herrmann, Author of
Spiritual Democracy: The Wisdom of Early American Visionaries for the Journey Forward |
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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 does it again, here for our young ones, who so need a positive, cosmic vision
to thrive, or even survive, in a sad time." - Father Richard Rohr, Author of The Universal Christ "Matthew Fox offers a resounding affirmation of what our souls have always suspected: we are made for joy." - Mirabai Starr, Author of God of Love and Wild Mercy |
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UPCOMING EVENTS See Matthew Fox's full calendar
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MONTHLY: 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. Last Tuesday of every month, 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 |
Join Matthew Fox as he discusses his book Prayer: A Radical Response to Life in an Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat, Thursday, July 18, 6:00 - 7:30 pm PT.
Register HERE. |
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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