Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community Celebrates Liturgy in Sarasota, Florida with Co-Presiders Imogene and Michael Rigdon, A Married Priest Couple, Homily Starter 5th Week of Lent, 3/21/15 Imogene Rigdon

Imogene and Michael Rigdon co-preside at Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community, with Janet Blakeley ARCWP, music minister on March 21, 2015

          Thanks to Matthew Fox, I have a new understanding of Mystics and how being a mystic in today's world is not only possible but necessary. Being actors and warriors, standing up for social justice, is the mystic's spirituality of compassion.

          Mystics are lovers, awed by life and telling others. For many years I've thought of mystics as quiet, contemplative saints. And since Matt Fox came this week, I know they are people like you and me.

          Mystics are compassionate warriors. Uniting their mystical awareness of the oneness of people and the earth with social justice is their spirituality of compassion. Not the fuzzy sentimental words of compassion, but bold actions.

          So Mystics are forever standing up for social justice--often loudly. This is their love in action. We too can live and be God's compassion.

          Mary Oliver, Fox's favorite poet and mystic, leaves us with three steps to being a compassionate mystic:

1. Pay attention to the wonder of people and the planet

2. Be amazed!

3. Share your amazement. Stand up for justice.

Adapted from Matthew Fox, A Spirituality Named Compassion, Rochester, VT: Inner Traditions, 1999. 
www.marymotherofjesus.org