July 21 2024 The Wisdom of Sophia and the Witness of Mary Magdalene

Rex McKee

The Wisdom of Sophia and the Witness of Mary Magdalene

Rex Mckee

Tomorrow marks the 20th anniversary of my ordination, coinciding with the feast day of Saint Mary Magdalene. While the date was a matter of human scheduling, this day of remembrance is for me a deeply personal ritual of awakening for me, inspiring my feminist philosophical-theological perspective.

Why my curious journey with Mary Magdalen? Mary’s narrative as we heard a portion of this morning, opens a door to reimagine and transform our spiritual history from a feminist-womanist point of view.

Her close intimate relationship with Jesus, her courage, commitment, leadership suggests a portal of viewing salvation history with more balanced lenses.  Reflecting on Mary feeds my lifelong exploration, responding to Job’s provoking question, where does wisdom come from?

My journey as a feminist span over fifty years, I am fortunate that three of my four college mentors were strong women, feminists with deep backgrounds in poetics, literature, liberation theology, Virginia Woolf, Simone de Beauvoir, Gertrude Stein, Diane di Prima, Denise Levertov, Kierkegaard. For half of those years, I have been driven by a profound curiosity about Mary’s role, her connection with Jesus, and the pivotal contributions of numerous other women to the narrative of salvation.

Feminist and womanist voices have been subjected to scorn and buried for centuries. Feminist theologians challenge both the historical exclusion of women and the negative characterization of feminine perspectives. They assert that our historical records are incomplete due to these omissions and biased, devaluing the few women who are included. Our traditions are fundamentally flawed, with norms like reason and objectivity predominantly gendered male. Today, we are witnessing a period of reawakening.

Exploring Mary Magdalene offers us a profound opportunity to reinterpret our theological and spiritual history with a feminist perspective. I believe, with many others, that Mary had the greatest impact on the early church, being the apostle to the apostles.

Sophia, revered as the Great Mother, has existed since the beginning of time. She is celebrated in multiple cultures under different names, representing the divine feminine power that creates, nurtures, and sustains life. Even though patriarchal systems have tried to repress her, Sophia’s presence remains, subtly yet profoundly affecting our lives. She is mentioned in several of the Dead Sea Scrolls and other non-canonical fragments.

 

 

Consider the voice of Sophia, often known as Wisdom speaking to us from scripture:

Proverbs 1:20-33: “Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice…”

Wisdom of Sirach 6:18-37: “Come to her with all your soul, and keep her ways with all your might.”

Baruch 4:1 She is the book of the commandments of God and the law that endures forever. All who hold her fast will live, and those who forsake her will die.

1 Enoch 42:1-2: “Wisdom went forth to make her dwelling among the children of men and found no dwelling place.”

Luke 7:35: Wisdom is proved to be right by all of her descendants.

 

Why Mary Magdalene? Often marginalized, she stands as a powerful female voice to the transformative love of Jesus. She was the first to witness the resurrection, a testament to her unwavering faith and devotion. As the apostle to the apostles, she significantly influenced the early church.

Her role in the early Christian community highlights the often-overlooked contributions of women in our spiritual journey. Mary’s story provides a gender balanced lens through which to view our salvation history.

Meister Eckhardt captures Mary Magdalene’s devotion and longing in his sermon. “Mary stood at the sepulcher weeping…. She stood there because she loves, she wept because she mourned.” Her love and grief were so profound that she remained when others had fled, seeking only the presence of Jesus. “She had nothing to lose. Everything she had was lost with Him.” This deep yearning and commitment to divine love exemplify the faith that every creative act requires.

Mary Magdalene’s encounter with the risen Christ was a moment of profound transformation, a revelation of divine love that transcends human limitations. Eckhardt continues, “Mary sought God and only God. That is why she found Him—because she desired God and nothing else.” Her story is a call to us to embody this love into our own lives, to trust in the divine presence that guides and supports us.  This version is based on the translation of C de B Evans published in 1931

In John’s Gospel, Mary is the first to witness Jesus’ resurrection and is instructed to share the news with the disciples. Synoptic Gospels agree that Mary went early Sunday morning to wash and anoint Jesus’ body. Jewish custom dictates that only family members could touch a deceased rabbi’s body, suggesting a close intimate relationship, with Jesus.

The Gospel of Mary Magdalene, which we heard earlier, offers a vivid portrayal of Mary’s courage and leadership. When the disciples were grieved and fearful after Jesus’ crucifixion, Mary stood up and encouraged them. “Do not weep and do not grieve nor be irresolute, for His grace will be entirely with you and will protect you… When Mary said this, she turned their hearts to the Good, and they began to discuss the words of the Savior.”

Mary’s leadership extended beyond comforting the disciples. Peter recognized her unique relationship with Jesus and sought her wisdom.

“Sister, we know that the Savior loved you more than the rest of woman. Tell us the words of the Savior which you remember which you know, but we do not, nor have we heard them.”

Despite facing direct skepticism from some disciples, Mary’s steadfastness and spiritual insight underscored her role as authentic leader and apostle.

By the 4th century, church orthodoxy was established, leading to a male-dominated creed and canon. Stephanie Spellers notes that Christianity’s alliance with the empire led to a focus on domination and cultural supremacy, eclipsing Jesus’ original teachings. When we consider the inclusion of censored gospels, such as those of Mary, Philip, and Thomas, we find expanded stories of the intimate relationship between Jesus and Mary. Church Cracked Open

Feminist theologians teach that Christ’s story, Mary’s story, and the church’s story are interconnected, expressing a vision of human relationships with God that cannot be captured by any single point of view.

They argue for a theological perspective that goes beyond a narrow Christ-centered focus to an inclusive vision of incarnation integrating all creation.

Notable RC feminist theologian Elizabeth Johnson writes that all-male images of God, rooted in patriarchal structures, become religiously inadequate when women no longer relate to men as patriarchal figures.

“Mary Magdalene, in the grip of grief, encounters the risen Jesus, who calls her by name. This transformative experience turns her into the apostle to the apostles, the first witness to the resurrection, bringing the good news to the disciples.” Truly Our Sister: A Theology of Mary in the Communion of Saints.

 

Dorothee Sölle: German Liberation “Mary Magdalene, the woman who anointed Jesus, who followed him to the cross and was the first to encounter the risen Christ, is a reminder of the power and faithfulness of women in the Christian story.” Various writings and lectures on feminist theology.

 

Mary Daly: “Mary Magdalene, … stands as a symbol of the distortion of women’s roles in the Church. She is a beacon of hope for reclaiming women’s rightful place in the history of Christianity.” Beyond God the Father

 

Rosemary Ruether: Ecofeminist “Mary Magdalene’s role as the first to witness the resurrection and proclaim it to the male disciples challenges the patriarchal structures that have often silenced women’s voices in the Church.” Women and Redemption: A Theological History.

 

Sarah Coakley: Process “Mary Magdalene’s encounter with the risen Jesus is not just a personal revelation but a theological statement about the nature of resurrection faith and the pivotal role of women in the early Christian community.” God, Sexuality, and the Self.

 

These voices of wisdom and feminist theologians advocate for a discipleship of equals, dismantling intersecting structures of privilege, power and oppression. Reclaiming Jesus and embracing the way of love employs us to transform:

“Feminist theology invites us to see the divine in new ways, to embrace a God who is not limited by gender and who calls us to a radical practice of love and equality.” Church Cracked Open

Mary Magdalene’s love of Jesus and courageous leadership invites us to reconsider history from a non-misogynist perspective and assert the courageous voices of women.

The McKee tribe landed at Saint John’s in the 80’s, the community has surrounded us with hospitality, nurture, prayers and love. Like many of you, we have experienced this loving community in marriages, baptisms, confirmations, and funerals. We are grateful.

You have supported me during my 25-year journey through discernment, formation and ordained ministry. To my discernment committee, John, Dick, Ann, Kara, Steve, and to this community, Thank You!

I ask you to remember on July 29^th the 50^th anniversary of the ordination of 11 courageous women. I am thankful for the priests I have served with: Mariann, Heidi, Susan Moss, LeeAnne, Debbie Brown, Michelle, Ramona, Julie and Lisa.

 

For my family, Linda my life partner and best friend, you know my heart. Aaron, John, Yuriko, Roberta, Kai, Hiro, Jayda, Janiya, thank you for being who you are, and walking with me along the way.

Let us embody Mary Magdalene’s courage and leadership and continue to be inspired by her apostolic discipleship following Jesus in the way of love.

Amen

10am Service