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Speaking of Spiritual Warriorhood:
A Bishop Speaks Truth To Power 1/24/2025 |
As the results of the inauguration ripple out, learn the deeper stakes involved. Get your copy of Trump & the MAGA Movement as Anti-Christ: A Handbook for the 2024 Election today! Choose your format in the book block below. |
We have been meditating on the need for all of us to be true to our vocations as spiritual warriors or prophets. I have chosen this theme at this dangerous time in American, international, and planetary history because dangerous times call for inner strength—what the Zohar calls the “strength of the lion.” |
On Tuesday this week, the Episcopal Bishop of Washington DC, Mariann Edgar Budde, showed her lion side when she spoke some gospel truths to the new president and vice president during a prayer service at the National Cathedral that takes place regularly the day after inauguration day. |
Episcopal bishop Right Rev. Mariann Budde urged President Donald Trump to show mercy to the vulnerable during a Jan. 21 interfaith prayer service. Washington Post |
She ended her talk with a direct appeal to the president urging him to “have mercy upon the people in our country” who are feeling great fear at this time. Among them are “gay, lesbian and transgender children” along with immigrant “communities whose children fear that their parents will be taken away.” She also preached in a gentle but firm tone that “Christian nationalism is not only a distortion of the Gospel but also a grave threat to democracy and the common good.” She reminded the president that immigrants commit less crime than regular Americans—which is a proven fact—and that they pay taxes. This same bishop spoke out in
2020 when she condemned the photo op Trump created when he stood in front of St. John’s Episcopal Church and waved a bible aloft after clearing out peaceful protesters in a violent way. |
Rachel Maddow talks with Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde about her words to the new White House occupant and the responses that have followed.
MSNBC | Response to Bishop Budde speaking truth to power has been swift. Change.org offered a petition to sign to “support Bishop Budde and her courageous stand against hate.” By standing with her, “we send a clear message: leaders who fight for equality, compassion, and democracy will not be
intimidated.”* |
Rachel Maddow invited the bishop to her Wednesday broadcast where she spoke gently but firmly about her responsibility as a preacher of the Gospel. Maddow recognized how a new resistance and activism may be rising in churches in our time. Donald Trump called her words “nasty in tone,”
and demanded an apology and that she should be fired. Many MAGA people clutched their pearls and Rep. Mike Collins (R, GA) posted on X that “the person giving this sermon should be added to the deportation list.” |
To which Stephen Colbert responded, “Hell yeah! Let’s send her back to the hellhole she came from: New Jersey." He also observed that “Vance also seemed pretty annoyed to have to just sit there and take Jesus’ words.” Colbert, a serious practicing Roman Catholic,
actually teared up when talking about the |
Oligarchy vs. democracy: heckling Jesus during the Beatitudes. Anonymous meme on Starecat.com |
event. Not only was it beautiful, it took courage to stand up there and say something simple, something so kind, something so true to the example of Christ….And, even better, it made Trump super-uncomfortable because here’s the thing: Sermons aren’t a debate. Trump just had to sit there and listen to it. Might this be a sermon heard round the world that actually lights the fire under tired and bored citizens and believers? Can the evil of our time be a catalyst to wake people up to take their power back, demand a democracy, reject oligarchy, find their spine—politicians too—and their decency, and practice the values they say they believe in? Let us not be blind to this fact as well—I hope Pope Francis is listening –this prophet, spiritual warrior and bishop is a woman. Maybe it’s about time and past time to ordain women after all. |
* Change.org: Stand with the bishop who stood up to Trump today
See Matthew Fox, Sins of the Spirit, Blessings of the Flesh: Transforming Evil in Soul & Society,
pp.
See also Matthew Fox, “Spiritual Warriorhood,” in Fox, One River, Many Wells: Wisdom Springing from Faith Traditions, pp. 413f and pp. 377-422.
And Fox, “Spiritual Warriors” in” Fox, The Hidden Spirituality of Men: Ten Metaphors to Awaken the Sacred Masculine, pp.
77-104.
And Fox, Original Blessing: A Primer in Creation Spirituality, pp. 257-306.
And Fox, Trump & The MAGA Movement as Anti-Christ: A Handbook for the 2024 Election.
Banner Image: The Statue of Liberty: After
the Storm: May the Light win over the Darkness!” Image by Daniel
Arrhakis on Flickr. | For a list of organizations helping those affected by the devastating LA wildfires, please see this article from ABCNews HERE and the evolving AltadenaStrong hub page HERE. |
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. |
Queries for Contemplation |
What are your feelings about this sermon heard around the world? Might it serve as a catalyst to wake up people of many faith traditions (and none) to get serious about standing up for values that serve the common good? |
Sins of the Spirit, Blessings of the Flesh: Transforming Evil in Soul and Society
Visionary theologian and best-selling author Matthew Fox offers a new theology of evil
that fundamentally changes the traditional perception of good and evil and points the way to a more enlightened treatment of ourselves, one another, and all of nature. In comparing the Eastern tradition of the 7 chakras to the Western tradition of the 7 capital sins, Fox allows us to think creatively about our capacity for personal and institutional evil and what we can do about them.
“A scholarly
masterpiece embodying a better vision and depth of perception far beyond the grasp of any one single science. A breath-taking analysis.” — Diarmuid O’Murchu, author of Quantum Theology: Spiritual Implications of the New Physics |
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One River, Many Wells: Wisdom Springing from Global Faiths
Matthew Fox calls on all the world traditions for their wisdom and their inspiration in a work that is far more than a list of theological
position papers but a new way to pray—to meditate in a global spiritual context on the wisdom all our traditions share. Fox chooses 18 themes that are foundational to any spirituality and demonstrates how all the world spiritual traditions offer wisdom about each. “Reading One River, Many Wells is like entering the rich silence of a masterfully directed retreat. As you read this text, you reflect, you pray, you embrace Divinity. Truly no words can fully express my respect and
awe for this magnificent contribution to contemporary spirituality.” –Caroline Myss, author of Anatomy of the Spirit |
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The Hidden Spirituality of Men: Ten Metaphors to Awaken the Sacred Masculine
To awaken what Fox calls “the sacred masculinity,” he unearths ten metaphors, or archetypes, ranging
from the Green Man, an ancient pagan symbol of our fundamental relationship with nature, to the Spiritual Warrior….These timeless archetypes can inspire men to pursue their higher calling to connect to their deepest selves and to reinvent the world.
“Every man on this planet should read this book — not to mention every woman who wants to understand the struggles, often unconscious, that shape the men
they know.” —Rabbi Michael Lerner, author of The Left Hand of God |
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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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Trump & The MAGA Movement as Anti-Christ: A Handbook for the 2024 Election Matthew Fox tells us that he had always shied away from using the
term “Anti-Christ” because it was so often used to spread control and fear. However, given today’s rise of authoritarianism and forces of democracide, ecocide, and christofascism, he turns the tables in this book employing the archetype for the cause of justice, democracy, and a renewed Earth and humanity. For immediate access to Trump
& The MAGA Movement as Anti-Christ: A Handbook for the 2024 Election, order the e-book with 10 full-color prints from Amazon HERE. To get a print-on-demand paperback copy with black & white images, order from Amazon HERE or IUniverse HERE. To receive a limited-edition, full-color paperback copy, order from MatthewFox.org HERE. Order the audiobook HERE for immediate download. |
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The Return of Father Sky: A Cosmic Mystery for Kids of All Ages
The second book in the Father Fox’s Fantastical Fables series, The Return of Father Sky helps boys and girls to celebrate a new relationship with the masculine by way of Father
Sky, whose return excites joy and wonder and possibility that enlarge the soul to welcome others and all creation. Written in a rhyming Dr. Seuss-like style, this full-color, beautifully illustrated book, written by world- renowned theologian Matthew Fox weaves together modern science and classic spirituality in a whimsical, entertaining format to illustrate important truths to readers aged 4 and up. 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. |
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UPCOMING EVENTS See Matthew Fox's full calendar
HERE |
Join Matthew Fox and cosmologist Brian Thomas Swimme in a new 7-week live video course hosted by The Shift Network: “The 4 Paths of Creation Spirituality: Embracing Awe, Chaos, Creativity & Transformation With the Universe as Your Guide.” Tuesdays, December 3 –
January 28 (except Dec 24 and 31), 5:00pm - 6:30pm PT Register HERE. |
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Join Matthew Fox as he discusses his book, A Spirituality Named Compassion: Uniting Mystical Awareness with Social Justice, in an online Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat. Thursday, February 20, 4:00pm-5:30pm PT. Register HERE. Join Matthew Fox as he discusses his book, Creation Spirituality: Liberating Gifts for the People of the Earth, in an online Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat. Thursday, March 20, 4:00pm-5:30pm PT. Register HERE. 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 |
Creation Spirituality Conversations |
Hear a conversation between Matthew and Ana Otero of The Desert Rose Mystery School in "Mystical Pathways. A Sacred Talk with Matthew Fox, founder of the Creation Spirituality Movement." |
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Inspired by this post? Share your insights on BlueSky, Instagram, Universeodon, or Facebook using the hashtag #RevDrMatthewFox and tag Matt with @RevDrMatthewFox FOLLOW MATTHEW FOX: |
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