Out beyond ideas...

Beyond Rational Theology

Rumi

Today is a great day to remember and celebrate the mystic Rumi (December 17,1273). Today marks the celebration of his presence being freed from its locality and physicality making him more present and available to all of us.  There is some good stuff on him on public radio. Listen to the September 13th SOF download. 

To celebrate him it would be appropriate to drop into a mediative trance and swirl around in a circle - swirling dervish style... or just read some of his poetry, which will take you there as well. (picture is of Rumi's tomb)

I thought it appropriate to remember him with his own words on death, a poem called, "Death is our Wedding."

Our death is our wedding with eternity.
What is the secret? "God is One."
The sunlight splits when entering the windows of the house.
This multiplicity exists in the cluster of grapes;
It is not in the juice made from the grapes.
For he who is living in the Light of God,
The death of the carnal soul is a blessing.
Regarding him, say neither bad nor good,
For he is gone beyond the good and the bad.
Fix your eyes on God and do not talk about what is invisible,
So that he may place another look in your eyes.
It is in the vision of the physical eyes
That no invisible or secret thing exists.
But when the eye is turned toward the Light of God
What thing could remain hidden under such a Light?
Although all lights emanate from the Divine Light
Don't call all these lights "the Light of God";
It is the eternal light which is the Light of God,
The ephemeral light is an attribute of the body and the flesh.
...Oh God who gives the grace of vision!
The bird of vision is flying towards You with the wings of desire.

Advent with The Meister

Re-thinking and re-embodying Advent and Christmas from a different theological and Christological worldview is a challenge.  Thank God for Meister Eckhart.  Eckhart (1260-1329) was a mystic, feminist preaching prophet.  For me, he is the Christian version of the Suffi Rumi.  His poetry has helped me to reclaim and reconnect to Advent and Christmas.   Here are a few of his thoughts and poems, translated by Matthew Fox.  Would cherish your thoughts.

_____________________________

What good is it to me
if this eternal birth of the divine Son
takes place unceasingly
but does not take place
within myself?

And,
what good it is to me
if Mary is full of grace
and if I am not also full of grace?

What good is it to me
for the Creator to give birth to her Son
if I do not also give birth to him
in my time
and in my culture?

This then,
is the fullness of time:
When the Son of God
is begotten

    in us.

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In this birth
you will discover
all blessing.

But neglect this birth
and you neglect
all blessing.

Tend only t this birth in you
and you will find there
all goodness and all consolation.
all delight
all being and truth.

_____________________

What is my name?
What is your name?
What is God’s name?

Our name is:
    that we must be born,
And the Creator’s name is:
    the bear.

The Soul alone is generative
like God is.

We are all meant
    to be mothers of God.

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