The Republican tribe has now handed a funds that cuts $860 billion from Medicaid and $250 billion from SNAP. In different phrases, that devastates the poorest amongst us. Why?
Primarily as a result of the ruling class—those that personal many of the media and legislators and the most important companies and lots of supreme courtroom judges–need nonetheless extra tax breaks. They’re dedicated to getting them by slashing meals for the hungry (SNAP) and well being look after the poorest together with the disabled and medication for the sick, together with AIDS medication for 20 million Africans (see USAID cuts).
As Aquinas mentioned in yesterday’s DM, “the greed for achieve is aware of no restrict and tends to infinity.”
Bernie Sanders, on his “Combating Oligarchy” tour within the Midwest pink states, reminded us that we’re all conversant in the devastation that addictions can wreck on people and households whether or not drug or alcohol or intercourse or work addictions. However essentially the most severe dependancy drawback now we have on this nation… is the uncontrollable greed of this billionaire class….They need extra wealth. They need extra energy. And so they simply can not cease themselves.
That is one motive democracy was born: To assist the superrich tone down their dependancy to energy. As we speak, greed/avarice is off the charts and wanting to displace democracy. Thus we see tRump and Musk, Vance and Thiel sidling as much as Putin and his oligarchs and voting alongside them within the United Nations towards democracies world over.
A horrible and wrenching factor to see, this deliberate abandonment of our European and different allies who favor democracy in favor of voting alongside autocratic nations like Russia, North Korea and China.
I recall how, a few years in the past I noticed a stay interview with Henry Ford II who was a millionaire many occasions over. Requested by a reporter: “When do you have the funds for?” he replied, “Whenever you at all times have somewhat bit extra.”
I used to be struck by two factors: First, that is dependancy, one is rarely happy. And second, how unhappy it’s that individuals condemn themselves to dissatisfaction. Being a millionaire doesn’t finish the search for extra. Extra-itis can take over the soul.
Each Hildegard and Aquinas inform us that avarice/greed render the human coronary heart chilly and laborious. Aquinas says: “The avaricious individual hardens his or her coronary heart in order that he is not going to out of compassion come to assistance from anybody on the expense of his possessions.” Avarice is the alternative of compassion. Just like the antichrist is the alternative of Christ.
Hildegard calls hard-heartedness the worst sin because it reveals no mercy. Neither does it assume that charity is important nor does it do any good works….Exhausting-heartedness shouldn’t be allowed to harden itself towards God or man. For that is the worst evil of all evils. It spares nobody and reveals no mercy. It despises males and attracts again from God. It doesn’t rejoice with males, nor does it encourage people to do good deeds.
Is a whole American social gathering now chilly and laborious, despising others, withdrawing from God and enthralled by energy?
Tailored from Matthew Fox, Sins of the Spirit, Blessings of the Flesh: Reworking Evil in Soul and Society, pp. 301, 306.
And Fox, Hildegard of Bingen: A Saint For Our Instances.
And Fox, The Tao of Thomas Aquinas: Fierce Knowledge for Exhausting Instances.
And Fox, Sheer Pleasure: Conversations with Thomas Aquinas on Creation Spirituality.
And Fox, Trump & The MAGA Motion as Anti-Christ.
And Fox, A Spirituality Named Compassion: Uniting Mystical Consciousness with Social Justice.
And Fox, Creation Spirituality: Liberating Items for the Peoples of the Earth.
Banner Picture: Déjà vu: strongmen Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin and 47 angle to find out the destiny of the world. Digitally altered picture by Appaloosa on Flickr.
Queries for Contemplation
Do you see greed and heard-heartedness as an indication of our political occasions? What to do about it?
Advisable Studying
Sins of the Spirit, Blessings of the Flesh: Reworking Evil in Soul and Society
Visionary theologian and best-selling writer Matthew Fox provides a brand new theology of evil that basically adjustments the normal notion of fine and evil and factors the best way to a extra enlightened remedy of ourselves, each other, and all of nature. In evaluating the Jap custom of the 7 chakras to the Western custom of the 7 capital sins, Fox permits us to assume creatively about our capability for private and institutional evil and what we will do about them.
“A scholarly masterpiece embodying a greater imaginative and prescient and depth of notion far past the grasp of anybody single science. A breath-taking evaluation.” — Diarmuid O’Murchu, writer of Quantum Theology: Non secular Implications of the New Physics
Matthew Fox writes in Hildegard of Bingen about this superb girl and what we will study from her.
In an period when girls had been marginalized, Hildegard was an outspoken, controversial determine. But so visionary was her perception that she was sought out by kings, popes, abbots, and bishops for recommendation.
“This e-book offers sturdy, sterling, and unvarnished proof that every part – every part – we ourselves develop into will have an effect on what girls after us might also develop into….This can be a actually marvelous, helpful, profound, and inventive e-book.” ~~ Andrew Harvey, writer of The Hope: A Information to Sacred Activism.
The Tao of Thomas Aquinas: Fierce Knowledge for Exhausting Instances
A shocking religious handbook drawn from the substantive teachings of Aquinas’ mystical/prophetic genius, providing a elegant roadmap for spirituality and motion.
Foreword by Ilia Delio.
“What a beautiful e-book! Solely Matt Fox might carry to life the knowledge and brilliance of Aquinas with a lot creativity. The Tao of Thomas Aquinas is a masterpiece.”
–Caroline Myss, writer of Anatomy of the Spirit
Sheer Pleasure: Conversations with Thomas Aquinas on Creation Spirituality
Matthew Fox renders Thomas Aquinas accessible by interviewing him and thus descholasticizing him. He additionally translated lots of his works similar to Biblical commentaries by no means earlier than in English (or Italian or German of French). He offers Aquinas a discussion board in order that he could be heard in our personal time. He presents Thomas Aquinas solely in his personal phrases, however in a kind designed to permit late Twentieth-century minds and hearts to listen to him in a recent method.
“The educating of Aquinas comes by way of will a fullness and an perception that has by no means been current in English earlier than and [with] an important message for the world at this time.” ~ Fr. Bede Griffiths (Afterword).
Foreword by Rupert Sheldrake
Trump & The MAGA Motion as Anti-Christ: A Handbook for the 2024 Election
Matthew Fox tells us that he had at all times shied away from utilizing the time period “Anti-Christ” as a result of it was so typically used to unfold management and concern. Nevertheless, given at this time’s rise of authoritarianism and forces of democracide, ecocide, and christofascism, he turns the tables on this e-book using the archetype for the reason for justice, democracy, and a renewed Earth and humanity.
From the Foreword: If there was ever a time, a second, for inspecting the archetype of the Antichrist, it’s now…Learn this e-book with an open thoughts. Good and evil are actual forces in our world. ~~ Caroline Myss, writer of Anatomy of the Spirit and Conversations with the Divine.
For quick entry to Trump & The MAGA Motion 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 pictures, order from Amazon HERE or IUniverse HERE.
To obtain a limited-edition, full-color paperback copy, order from MatthewFox.org HERE.
Order the audiobook HERE for quick obtain.
A Spirituality Named Compassion: Uniting Mystical Consciousness with Social Justice
In A Spirituality Named Compassion, Matthew Fox delivers a profound exploration of the which means and follow of compassion. Establishing a spirituality for the long run that guarantees private, social, and world therapeutic, Fox marries mysticism with social justice, main the best way towards a gentler and extra ecological spirituality and an acceptance of our interdependence which is the substratum of all compassionate exercise.
“Effectively price our deepest consideration…Places compassion into its correct focus after centuries of neglect.” –The Catholic Register
Creation Spirituality: Liberating Items for the Peoples of the Earth
Fox’s spirituality weds the therapeutic and liberation present in North American Creation Spirituality and in South American Liberation Theology. Creation Spirituality challenges readers of each non secular and political persuasion to unite in a brand new imaginative and prescient by way of which we study to honor the earth and the individuals who inhabit it because the present of and simply Creator.
“A watershed theological work that provides a typical floor for non secular seekers and activists of all stripes.” — Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Follow.
“I’m studying Liberating Items for the Folks of the Earth by Matt Fox. He’s one which fills my coronary heart and thoughts for brand new life despite a lot that’s violent in our world.” ~ Sister Dorothy Stang.
