Yesterday we considered how we all give birth to the Cosmic Christ not unlike how Mary gave birth at Christmas time. We meditated on Thomas Merton’s words that the Creator “speaks to us gently in ten thousand things….He shines not on them but from within them.”
One dramatic occasion when Jesus “shone from within” was the experience recalled in the Gospels that is named the “Transfiguration.” It happened when three of Jesus’s friends accompanied him to a mountain top and saw dazzling light emanating from him. (Mk 9.2-9)
It was an experience we all can have on occasion, taking in the radiance of all creatures and all creation. Surely Webb telescope assists us with that spiritual practice to take in the light of the heavens.
We can experience the Blinding One in the people we meet and the beings we encounter–in all our relations therefore. In all those beings who reveal themselves to us whether in daytime or in nighttime.
Nighttime it is usually the “heavens,” the sky, the cosmos that reveals itself to us. Darkness renders the lights bright.
In daytime it is usually the Earth and her creatures, the city and its wonders, our workplaces and relaxing places that reveal themselves to us and shine from within. If, as Mary Oliver advises us, we pay attention and then pay attention some more.
One of the many universal meanings and archetypes of Christmas is that we ourselves are born or reborn as other Christs. That we come alive as sons and daughters of the Divine.
Here is how Eckhart puts it:
It would mean little to me that the ‘Word was made flesh’ for man in Christ, granting that the latter is distinct from me, unless he also was made flesh in me personally, so that I too would become the Son of God (Daughter of God, Wisdom of God).
Eckhart links this insight directly to the following passage of the Scriptures which he cites on many occasions: “Think of the love that the Father has lavished on us by letting us be called God’s children, and that is what we are.” (1 Jn. 3:11)
Part of the passage of the Book of Wisdom invoked in the Christmas liturgy includes this phrase: “this people to be son of God.” (Wisdom 18:13). It follows that the “Son” or “Daughter” of God can refer to a group, not just to an individual.
To be continued.
Adapted from Matthew Fox, “Passion For Creation: The Earth-Honoring Spirituality of Meister Eckhart, p. 311.
See also Matthew Fox and Bishop Marc Andrus, “The Transfiguration,” in Stations of the Cosmic Christ, pp. 83-88.
And Fox, The Coming of the Cosmic Christ, pp. 102f.
To read the transcript of Matthew Fox’s video teaching, click HERE.
Banner Image: “People in Bokeh, street of London.” Photo by Iakov Kalinin, Adobe Stock
Queries for Contemplation
What does the Transfiguration story mean to you?
Recommended Reading
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.
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
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.
“This book is a classic.” Thomas Berry, author of The Great Work and The Dream of the Earth.
10 thoughts on “The Transfiguration and Birthing of the Cosmic Christ”
Matthew, Yesterday we meditated on Thomas Merton’s words that the Creator “speaks to us gently in ten thousand things….He shines not on them but from within them.” One dramatic occasion when Jesus “shone from within” was the experience recalled in the Gospels that is named the “Transfiguration.” It happened when Peter, James, and John accompanied him to a mountain top and saw dazzling light emanating from him (Mk 9.2-9). There they saw the revelation of the Cosmic Christ. Then you say that the “Webb telescope assists us with that spiritual practice to take in the light of the heavens.” And you ask us: “What does the Transfiguration story mean to you?” I see it as a miniature revelation of the Coming of the Cosmic Christ. Peter, James, and John are the witnesses of the coming, Moses represents those who are dead and yet will be raised at his coming, and Elijah represent those who will not see death before he comes in Doxa–Glory !!!
What resonates with me in today’s DM, regarding what transfiguration means to me is the words, “We can experience the Blinding One in the people we meet… in all those who REVEAL themselves to us, whether in daytime (the light) or in the nighttime (the dark)…. For behind the painfear etched on the faces… SOMETHING is shining like gold but – better – Rumours of Glory.”
Transfiguration unfolds, evolves and emerges when we risk being vulnerably seen and when we are willing to reveal both the light and the dark truths of what we have experienced and encountered within our life experiences. The story of our souls journey, where we come from, what we’ve been through, what we’ve learnt from what we’ve encountered is etched deep within, and we often attempt to hide not only the pain and the fear, but also the SOMETHING shining like gold but – better – the Rumours of Glory, which are awaiting to be claimed. These are the hidden gems, the pearls of great prize that are birthed out of the grist and grind of suffering.
For me, transfiguration and transparency are two sides of the same coin. When we risk vulnerably revealing ourselves and our souls journey, both the light and the dark within our life stories that we embody, through relationship with; what is seen, what unfolds, evolves and emerges from this is understanding, compassion, forgiveness, love and mercy towards are shared humanity and our divinity… the something shining… the Rumours of Glory.
Jeanette, You write today: “What resonates with me in today’s DM, regarding what transfiguration means to me is the words, “We can experience the Blinding One in the people we meet… in all those who REVEAL themselves to us…” When I was studying to be a minister, I took a class which was to prepare me for working with those who were dying, as well as their families. In this class, each time I was with a patient, as soon as I was done, I had to try to write a “verbatim.” What this meant was that I had to try and recall exactly, everything I said, and the patient said, so that the others in the class could critique how I had done. In all of this our professor said he was teaching us to “read the human document.” We can see God in people just as in sacred writings, and they are thereby transfigured by their being divine like the sacred writings themselves.
The Transfiguration story/experience/message of Jesus is one that all mystics in our universal human mystical traditions tell us, that the Divine Nature/Spirit of Love~Wisdom~Peace~ Creativity~Transformation~Joy… is always Present within our hearts/souls and among us in All of ongoing co-Creation~Evolution in our multidimensional/ multiverse Cosmos, especially here on Sacred Beautiful Mother Earth with-in All Her abundances, creatures, and beings (Body of Christ) on our eternal spiritual journeys of Loving Compassionate Diverse Oneness… Cosmic Christ Consciousness….
🔥💜🌎🙏
Ponder the Universal Christ of Divine LOVE…cosmic inclusivity. }:- a.m.
We can experience the “Blinding One” in the people we meet. Exactly. During the height of the pandemic, I would put on my mask, go to the grocery store, gas station, etc., and my encounter at the cash register, that was my social life. Sometimes we just smiled at each other, and light radiated from inside to each other. I learned to stick around when the clerk said “have a good day!” and take the time to say “thank you, you too!” Sometimes there was a little repartee, brought on by an unusual name on a name tag or unusual weather, and we would end up chuckling, maybe involving the next customer in line. And there definitely was light shining, but no “blinding.” On the contrary, we all were opening up and seeing better and more clearly. This is the world we have to negotiate, these are the people we must learn to get along with, no miracles, just life.
Bertina, You speak of the challenge to see the shining faces of those covered in masks during the pandemic. And then you conclude: “This is the world we have to negotiate, these are the people we must learn to get along with, no miracles, just life.” Check out what I wrote in reply to Jeanette’s comment above on “reading the human document”–no masks can impede when you read a person this way–its like lectio divina or studying sacred writings except with a person instead of a book…
Mystical union and radiances are definitely welcome and powerful, but they MUST be integrated into inner psyche and action, and I regard LOVE as the primary act demanded by them. Otherwise they seriously risk becoming merely playthings of the ego and distractions from deeper soul-growth.
Daily, we’re given opportunities to stretch our souls into more acts of kindness and compassion. There and then, love unites strangers into its interwoven flow as we pass it along. We change the world in our little moment of space and time.
Love heals when it dances the spark of unified connection.
Thank you, Melinda, for that gentle reminder that we all need to hear…
Dear Bertina,
Your experience at the grocery store during the pandemic was mine exactly. The familiar cashier and the grocery bagger were so precious to me. They did seem radiant. I have tried to retain that appreciation of those around me as life has settled down some.
Isabel