Right here we’re within the first week of a New Yr, and the information is certainly heavy. All of the extra cause to name on our deepest reserves of religion, hope, and like to see our approach by it and to maintain on protecting on.
The information was not often optimistic in Jesus’ day, both, residing as he did beneath the whip of the Roman Empire. But nonetheless he spoke of “Good Information” and the presence of “the Kingdom of God” in our midst.
Our belief and religion could be born from the identical Supply that he derived his: The Creator of this world—all two trillion galaxies of it—and of this Earth, with all of its issues and human-initiated horrors, takes enjoyment of his/her creation (see Genesis one)…and we will too.
Even within the darkness, the Through Positiva is there to be seen and appreciated and remembered. Our gratitude for the presents of existence, magnificence, our breath, our bodies, minds and imaginations, love and relationships, and kids, our time, and plenty of decisions we will make about how we stay and why and for whom and with what values we select to stay out as greatest we will–these nobody can take from us.
The very lack of an harmless and caring 37-year-old mom and poet named Renee Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis is so disturbing as a result of she 1) did exist, and a pair of) selected to be a loving and caring and accountable citizen, and three) fearing for her life, moved her automotive away when ICE tried to take away her forcibly from it.
And a mendacity president, alongside together with his vice chairman, and ICE head Kristi Noem, as a substitute of providing concern, painted her as “deranged” and a “terrorist.”
One particular person wrote me this response to the ugly occasion: In the event you’re as upset concerning the point-blank killing of an American citizen by federal brokers in broad daylight as I’m, in addition to the horrible escalation of violence in our streets, here’s a hyperlink to an enormous organized response.* With love for you, our nation, and our world.
This story won’t go away. ICE invitations violence wherever it goes, and particularly when governors don’t wish to see it of their states. California Governor Newsom referred to as the Minneapolis incident “state-sponsored terrorism.”
Different headlines this week reminded us of what has occurred to the American media world in simply the primary 12 months of Trump’s new administration, starting right here: “Company for Public Broadcasting is formally shutting down months after GOP funding cuts.” CPB was based in 1967 to assist public broadcasting, corresponding to PBS and NPR, and plenty of small rural stations specifically.**
In the meantime:
Prime Trump donors Larry and David Ellison now management Paramount, CBS Information, Pluto TV, and TikTok.
Mark Zuckerberg, who gave $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund, controls Fb, Instagram, Threads, WhatsApp, and Messenger, which function algorithmically and reward “outrage, disinformation, and right-wing political content material.”
The Sinclair household “push coordinated right-wing speaking factors throughout CBS, NBC, ABC, Fox.”
Jeff Bezos owns Amazon, the Washington Publish and extra.
Elon Musk owns X and makes use of it “to actively enhance Trump” and MAGA.***
And, after all, Fox Information, carrying right-wing propaganda wherever it goes, has crammed numerous prime spots within the present administration with its figureheads, together with, after all, its part-time weekend broadcaster who now heads the protection division, which simply invaded Venezuela—an act 2/3 of People disagree with. And the president guarantees to “run” that nation indefinitely.
The discharge of all of the Epstein Recordsdata was mandated to have occurred a number of weeks in the past, however opposite to the regulation of the land, only one% of the overall quantity has been launched.
Loads to fret about and many to observe within the information. And lots to wish about and deepen one’s coronary heart and soul to soak up all of the chaos and negativity whereas protecting alive one’s love of life. Our love of affection and fact and justice is at all times a lot bigger than the smallness of soul.
Allow us to develop our hearts and souls in instances like these and ask: “What can I contribute to biophilia? And the way greatest can I stand as much as forces of necrophilia?” And discover allies and neighborhood within the technique of resisting.
To be continued.
*Study concerning the Indivisible Mobilization in opposition to ICE HERE.
**Mycah Puno, “Is PBS Shutting Down? All the things We Know and What Occurs Subsequent”
***“Courier Newsroom, Jan. 7: “Proper-wing billionaires management the media. The listing is staggering.”
Banner Picture: Demanding “ICE Out in Justice for Renee Good.” Picture from the January 8 protest, “From DC to Minneapolis: Cease ICE Terrorism” organized by the Get together for Socialism and Liberation – DC. Picture by Geoff Livingston on Flickr.
Queries for Contemplation
How do you retain your coronary heart and soul alive and recent, younger, inexperienced and impressed, even when the information is bleak and painful? How do you train your ethical creativeness and pray by resisting?
Associated Readings by Matthew Fox
Authentic Blessing: A Primer in Creation Spirituality
Creation Spirituality: Liberating Presents for the Peoples of the Earth
The Coming of the Cosmic Christ: The Therapeutic of Mom Earth and the Beginning of a World Renaissance
Stations of the Cosmic Christ
Christian Mystics: 365 Readings & Meditations
Trump & the MAGA Motion as Anti-Christ
Sins of the Spirit, Blessings of the Flesh: Remodeling Evil in Soul & Society
Sheer Pleasure: Conversations with Thomas Aquinas on Creation Spirituality
Important Writings on Creation Spirituality
Julian of Norwich: Knowledge in a Time of Pandemic—and Past
