In our recent daily meditations, we have been reflecting on Praise as in Rabbi Heschel’s observation that “praise precedes faith.”
We have addressed the joy and necessity of praising the element of Air that is so specially fine-tuned and renders life so diverse and marvelous on earth. And that obviously human life depends on—so much so that many religious traditions identify Spirit and Air. Air makes our lives possible and the Earth and her creativity possible.
The elements that make up our bodies and the Earth and all her creatures were birthed in a supernova explosion five billion years ago. They also make up the stuff of stars as well as the stuff of our planet and our bodies.
Surely we want to thank these elements and not take them for granted. Thus, to praise them.
Thomas Berry does this wonderfully when he underscores that this is what distinguishes humans from other species on our planet. They participate in the wonder and beauty and joy of living, but they do not reflect on it. They praise in their own way, we in another way. Here is how he puts it:
Everything is here for the same reason, for manifestation and celebration. But the humans articulate this. The others cannot articulate it reflectively. They can be a manifestation, but they cannot reflect on that. Humans can, therefore our role is to be spokespersons for the universe and to appreciate the universe as the context in which the Divine and human meet.
In another place, Berry puts it this way: In the end the universe can only be explained in terms of celebration. It is all an exuberant expression of existence itself.
Do you, do we, do our institutions from education to politics to religion to business to media experience the universe as celebration and an exuberant expression of existence itself? If not, why not? What is holding us back? Does this not have everything to do with COP22 and our efforts, whether feeble or real, to save the Earth from climate change and human degradation?
See Matthew Fox, Christian Mystics: 365 Readings and Meditations, p. 365.
To read a transcript of Matthew Fox’s video teaching, click HERE.
Banner Image: “Sun Over Earth (NASA, International Space Station, 07/21/03) This view of Earth’s horizon as the sun sets over the Pacific Ocean was taken by an Expedition 7 crewmember onboard the International Space Station (ISS). Anvil tops of thunderclouds are also visible.” Photo from NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center on Flickr.
Queries for Contemplation
How well is humanity doing, do you think, in being spokespersons for the universe that wants to manifest and celebrate? How can we get better?
4 thoughts on “Thomas Berry’s Invitation to Praise the Earth”
Matthew, In our recent daily meditations, we have been reflecting on Praise as in Rabbi Heschel’s observation that “praise precedes faith.” We have spent time joyously praising air–air that is so specially fine-tuned and renders life so diverse and marvelous on earth. And human life depends on—so much so that many religious traditions identify Spirit and Air. Thomas Berry says: “Everything is here for the same reason, for manifestation and celebration. But the humans articulate this. The others cannot articulate it reflectively. They can be a manifestation, but they cannot reflect on that. Humans can, therefore our role is to be spokespersons for the universe and to appreciate the universe as the context in which the Divine and human meet. Then you ask us: “Do you, do we, do our institutions from education to politics to religion to business to media experience the universe as celebration and an exuberant expression of existence itself?” I can’t speak for everyone, but it seems that most do not celebrate the universe–however scientists do, and we do!!! How well is humanity doing, do you think, in being spokespersons for the universe that wants to manifest and celebrate? Here are a few spokespersons: Carl Sagan, Neil DeGrasse Tyson, Brian Swimme and Rupert Sheldrake–I think they have done a great job for “those who have ears to hear…”
I don’t think the human race necessarily needs to be berated. We are all unfolding like the caterpillar through the chrysalis to the butterfly. Thomas Berry and others are awakening to the true divine meaning of what it is, and means, to be alive. One would like to think there is a more general spurt of awakening now taking place but we haven’t yet reached critical mass. But we can tip the scale and instead of berating each other, in our joy and celebration we will see beauty in each other because all we will truly see is the divine. Success breeds success on that score.
Sacred relationship, this is our heritage… to FEEL, to REFLECT, to ARTICULATE, to CELEBRATE, the manifestation of the existence of the living presence of the Divine, within the all and the everything of creation; and the awe, reverence, joy and wonder of it all. This is the Beauty Way!
The Indigenious people have been the spokespersons for this Beauty Way for many, many generations and they protected the wisdom of this; in the midst of those whom had ears, but did not hear and eyes, but did not see… what they have always known and lived within their hearts, minds, souls and spirits. The mystics, the scientists and many others are beginning to see, the unfolding, evolving emergence of this Beauty Way.
I pray that this Great awakening may become truly felt, deeply reflected upon, creatively articulated, joyously celebrated and individually and collectively made manifest within all our relationships… that reverence may arise from within our hearts, minds, souls and spirits for the essence of the Divine, present in its presence within all that which exists.
Unfortunately I don’t think we’re doing very well as being spokespersons for Mother Earth, the Universe, and the Cosmos… We have even been polluting and destroying Mother Earth, Her Living precious abundance, and All Her living creatures, including ourselves with our egocentricity and modern Western industrial ‘civilization.’ We’ve been separated for a long time from the Living and Sacred Presence of the Loving Oneness within and among us in the Creation of our Creator…
I loved the music video of the Sacred Song/Prayer by the two Native Americans in today’s DM. Maybe all we have left to do is to have Faith/Hope/Prayer for our Creator’s Loving Mercy and Compassionate Healing Transformation of humanity and Mother Earth….
🔥💜🌎🙏