To talk of divinization and the Cosmic Christ is to talk of the numinosity in all things. And meaning. And creativity. The inherent creativity and “intelligence” of the universe as cosmologist Brian Swimme talks about.
Hildegard of Bingen, now a saint and doctor of the church, talked a lot about this same reality, especially when developing her “Word of God” theology. “Without the Word of God no creature has meaning,” she says. But with it? Lots of meaning. “Every creature becomes illuminated by the brightness of his (the Christ) light,” she says.
“Every creature” includes us humans. All of us and each of us. But we are not alone, we are in communion with and connection with all the other beings of the universe which are also illuminated by this Christ light. (Or Buddha light; or Tselem light.)
She repeats herself here: “There is no creature that does not have a radiance. Be it greenness or seed, blossom or beauty, it could not be creation without it.” Is that your experience too? Do you see the radiance in others? Other humans? Trees? Stones? Galaxies? Planets? Winged ones? Finned ones? Waters and waterfalls?
Isn’t it wonderful that we are made for seeing radiance? And eager to see it everywhere? Has humankind, through inventions like Webb Telescope enhanced our capacity for experiencing radiance in the universe? And way, way back in time? Can that make a difference?
Can that change us profoundly? Can that shock us out of our narcissism as a species and beyond wars, between vying ideologies, to work together to save the planet as we know it and as it cares for us and for all the amazing species we share with it? Can we put the health of Mother Earth ahead of our human agendas?
Adapted from Matthew Fox, The Coming of the Cosmic Christ, pp. 110f.
Also see Matthew Fox, Illuminations of Hildegard of Bingen.
Banner Image: Recognizing the Buddha nature: “Monk and elephant.” Photo by Sirisakboakaew, Adobe Stock
Queries for Contemplation
What is the role of radiance in your life? In your way of seeing the world? Seeing others, human and more than human?
Recommended Reading
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.
Illuminations of Hildegard of Bingen
An introduction to the life and work of Hildegard of Bingen, Illuminations reveals the life and teachings of one of the greatest female artists and intellectuals of the Western Mystical Tradition. At the age of 42, she began to have visions; these were captured as 36 illuminations–24 of which are recorded in this book along with her commentaries on them.
“If one person deserves credit for the great Hildegard renaissance in our time, it is Matthew Fox.” – Dr Mary Ford-Grabowsky, author of Sacred Voices.
6 thoughts on “Hildegard of Bingen on Our Divinization & the Cosmic Christ”
Seeing ‘the radiance in all’ evolves as our Christ consciousness, our soul consciousness evolves and deepens. Radiance is not an object of discussion or intellectual knowledge, rather one of experiential absorption. We become receptive and in tune with the frequency of light and vibration of the ‘living truth’. Our joy, peace and wonder are wrapped up in a ‘radiance’ that is neither seen nor heard. — BB.
The role of radiance in life for me, is being open and receptive to sensing the authentic and unique beauty inherent in all things and in everyone. It’s much easier to sense this in Nature, but much harder to sense in human beings, including myself. Why is this so I ask myself? In Nature, there’s no pretense, there’s no hiding. In Nature, for example a tree is simply a tree, it simply lives out the radiance of itself, it’s beingness, never trying to be something other than what it is, what it is created to be.
The role of radiance in Nature, mirror reflects this possibility of awakening to my own authentic and unique beauty inherent within myself and the freedom I actually have to live this out. As I awaken to really sensing this radiant reality, this authentic, unique beauty inherent within… it begins to unfurl and emerge; like the petals of a rose, converging with the warmth of the light of the sun, or the moist water of the morning dew, or the gentle breeze of the winds caress, or the groundedness of being rooted to the earth.
This radiance sensed and the freedom to release its fragrance, encouraged by being with Nature, lasts for but a moment of time… often going into hiding… when suddenly there is an encounter with another human… whom projects a judgement or criticism… this darkness then begins to overshadow me and I close my petals… guarded with thorns… I try to protect the treasures inherent within.
So grateful for your reflection on RADIANCE, Jeanette, I could certainly resonate with all you shared and how this light can be diminished by a critical word or judgment. For me when I encounter this, it is staying rooted in Center of my Being where the Creator speaks and tells me how wonderfully I am made and the Spirit delights in me. I listen and discern if the words are true and then act accordingly to learn from this encounter with another human.
Continued blessings on your sharing….
Peace,
Sr. Brigid, OP
I always look forward to, and love reading, Matthew’s daily emails and have many of his books I’ve read and are now re-reading. Thank you, Matthew, for your wisdom and enthusiasm for sharing all you’ve learned during your lifetime. I am one year younger than you, and describe myself as an ecumenical Christian from a Buddhist perspective, born in the middle of May, in the middle of WWII, to a middle-class family and am In the Middle All the Way, not the mushy middle but the Mighty Middle. This is why your teachings and hard won wisdom are so energizing and affirming for me, especially that we are not born sinners, but born to create, to love, live, learn and enjoy (a word attributed to Julian of Norwich) life as children of God! Again, thank you! My husband and I have 12 grandchildren so I am now writing our life stories to pass on to them so they will know about you, too!
The role of Radiance, as the two beautiful videos in today’s DM remind Us, is that the immense variety of LOVE, Beauty, Joy, Wonder, Creativity… are Always PRESENT within and among Us in ALL of Our Co-Creator~Source’s ongoing Evolution and LOVING Diverse Wholeness~ONENESS….
Besides our human senses, we have to also be Open to the Spiritual Senses of Our Divine Natures within Our Eternally Evolving LOVING SOULS….
Mystics Love Their Love-Talk
Radiant, I will dance
in glorygiddy embrace
with You
and
Your starry sky
voluptuously reaching
with ever-more
self-gifting.
Rapturekissing,
overflowing
decadently all-hugging,
no back-holding,
finding
words
cannot express
all
so much
Shocking, really.
but
love-words
taste
like sweet memories
of that
mystic embrace.