I want to tell you what we are doing in Houston at the interfaith Rothko Chapel. We’re developing a Magdalene Community that is seeking conversations with other spiritualities and religious traditions. Our newly formed community, which is composed of both men and women, is NOT evangelistic—we are NOT interested in “converting” anyone to our way of seeing and thinking. While we have formed a community to honor a Biblical visionary and apostle, Mary Magdalene, we are NOT about persuading you to our Way. What we are about is sharing the peace, the peace we have come to speak of as a “true humanness” and a “spark of divinity” that dwells within each of us. (We have learned to speak in this way from a once forgotten ancient manuscript written in the early second century in honor of Mary Magdalene.) What we are about is making connections with you and hearing about YOUR WAY to the shared peace. What we are about is opening out our hearts in love to conversations throughout the world.
Our contemporary Magdalene Community is dedicated to moving beyond the divisive and divisional thinking that continues to plague our world. We have found in this ancient fragmented manuscript a saving word whose time has come. Four disciples, Peter, Andrew, Levi, and Mary Magdalene, have a visionary experience in which they hear their Blessed One Jesus saying:
“Peace be with you!
Acquire my peace within yourselves!
Be on your guard so that no one deceives you by saying,
‘Look over here!’ or ‘Look over there!’ For the child of
true humanity exists within you.
Follow it! Those who search for it will find it.”
(translation by Karen King, see page 138 of The Magdalene Mystique)
Powerful words to be unpacked. We want you to help us in the unpacking. We ask, what does this offer of peace mean to us today? How can we speak of a peace that exists within ourselves? And, what does it mean to say that a true humanity exists within us. This is what my first post wants to be about: unpacking this incredible word found in a lost manuscript dated probably to the early second century CE.
Those of you have had a chance to read The Magdalene Mystique may remember the story of my friend Zari who took me to her Sufi meeting house to hear the teacher. It was at the meeting house that I first began to understand that many of us throughout the world are interested in becoming the peace. On the night of my visit, the Sufi teacher Salaheddin Ali Nader Shah Anglha brought together the teachings of Islam and the teachings of Jesus in speaking of the fundamental principle of Erfan, known in the West as Sufism: I quote below from his book Peace (page 6,20) to open up a conversation with you.
“Unless a subject is completely known, its benefits and, ultimately, the necessity to make effective plans for its fulfillment, [it] will never be implemented. With regard to peace, then, if the most eloquent words and ideas are presented to the public solely through speeches, books and declarations, peace will not be known. These exercises only provoke their audiences to entertain an imaginary hope for peace, in a possible state of euphoria, with the promulgators most likely achieving acknowledgment and honor. But it will not be long before both audience and advocate become disillusioned.. The Holy Prophet Jesus (peace be unto him) has said in his teachings to his disciples: Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you (John 14:27). The essence of these words, which are among the fundamental teachings of Erfan, declare that the world does not have peace, and therefore cannot impart peace. The true meaning of peace refers to the inner freedom and spiritual elevation of every individual. Only by spreading the teaching of such principles may peace reign.”
In our contemporary Magdalene Community we want to know completely the meaning of peace and to feel the inner freedom and spiritual elevation within ourselves. Perhaps then we can impart the shared peace. I await to hear from you.
Tags: mary magdalene religion
spirituality mysticism
9 comments:
Betty,
I am so glad to see that you have started a blog so that more people can learn about the innovative and creative work you are doing in Houston.
Warmly,
Sheryl
Betty,
As part of the Magdalene Community, when I first started trying to understand that the peace could be found within myself, I was ... not exactly sceptical, but certainly unsure. Having been raised in a religious tradition that emphasised man's -- and especially woman's -- sinful nature, being told that peace and the divine nature are found within each indvidual was a hard concept to believe.
As I moved toward accepting that concept, I began to find that the peace does, indeed, exist within me. I cannot say that I have completely acquired the peace within myself, but the journey and the search have been a wonderful experience. The conversations with others of the community during our Sunday worship services at the Rothko are divine and affirming experiences.
But even as I began to believe in the peace within, I wondered what I, one person, could do to promote peace in my greater community and in the world. Again, I received an answer. In our readings from other religious traditions and sacred writings, we are told that the individual can make a difference. We may not see the result, but I've come to think of my place in the shared peace as a pebble thrown into a body of water. The ripples reach out beyond what we can see.
And I'm finding that the more I come to learn about other spiritualities and religious traditions, the more open and forgiving I am. I have come to respect and love the many names given to the Divine One by the traditions that are different from the way I was taught. Acquiring the peace, being the peace, living the peace...these are no longer mere words to me, but touchstones. A way I'm trying to live my life.
Peace and Love,
Bridgitt
Dear Betty, I found your blog Hello World this way: Last week at the library I "accidentally" found the book The lost apostle by Rena Pederson. (I do not really believe in accidentalities, nor in fate -I believe in communication with spirit.)Like so many others in this time I am searching for the feminine voice of religion, especially the Christian, since I am a christian. I have read many books of very different character in this search for about 20 years now. So I read this book with delight and there was a chapter about Brigids place! And here I am now communication with you. Thank you for giving me the opportunity!
About inner peace, this has been a search for me, adjacent to the search for the feminine voice in my own religious life.
I have always wanted to correlate and correct what I learn on my way, with the teachings of Christ as found in the New testament. Still, a lot about finding a concrete inner peace I have learned from non-christian teachings. Anyway, I "accidentally" found a way to connect and recognize my own inner peace-place in a concrete way, doing the following, and I would like to share it with you!
I sat comfortably in my sofa with a candle lit. I felt like praying so I started with Our Father... I like to say this No. One-prayer with my mind focused on my heart, so that when I say "that are in heaven" I focus on my heart. This is where Christ said the place of heaven is "supposed to be", right?
So I prayed some more in the name of Jesus Christ and felt a joy. Then I suddenly "saw" (my image of) Christ at my feet, washing them. This was a very beautiful and loving image (imagination) and I felt that this must be one of Christs' favorite "chores" to do with anyone that believes in Him, and that I should just embrace this image and recieve. I was and am very thankful and all this gave me a distinct feeling of where my inner peace is within me, what it feels like being there and that this place in me certainly is real!
I believe that this is what opening the door to Christ is like. To accept and recieve: accept that I AM worthy (though a "sinner" ) and that it is REAL what Christ said about us having heaven inside. Maybe this could be a way for someone else to try to find what inner peace is. It's worth a try, don't you think? In a way I see this image that I have described, like a meditation and maybe it could be a wonderful meditation to do in a circle of friends.
I am happy to read about Brigid's place and that you have a Magdalene community, it gives inspiration and hope to any searcher! Did you know there is another St. Brigid, from Sweden (where I come from), St. Birgitta (Brigid) who lived 1302-1373, she started a convent in Sweden just before her death. She also had a very feminine voice in religion, she had many revelations during her lifetime and even tried to convince the Pope about the right way. I do not know if the revelations of St. Birgitta are available in english.
Thank you for reading, I believe I have taken a big amount of space. Thank you for having this blog!
Peace be with you, with love from Anneli, Apex, NC
Anneli,
Thank you for writing and I think you have inspired a new posting that I hope to write within the next few days. Let's keep communicating. I don't believe in accidents either.
I wonder if this finding of inner peace is not connected to the feminine voice that you speak of. By feminine voice I mean a relational voice (found in both men and women)- a relational voice that does not choose to separate itself out from others in some fundamental way. This does not mean that the relational voice is dependent or "voiceless" - far from it - but it means that it is open to "hearing" and and "taking in" another's view.
I appreciate what you say about notion of "finding the peace" in other religious traditions but not in your own. For some years now, I have been following what Jesus says in the New Testament about peace and think I should outline some of this in my next post. We have much to learn from other religious traditions and that is why our Magdalene Community wants to be in conversation with other spiritualities and religious traditions. Tonight our community will visit a Sufi meeting house and I am sure we will be inspired.
Thank you for sharing your image of Christ and your sense of inner peace. I think ou are right that in sitting in silence with a candle, you opened the door.
More later and thanks for your interest. Betty
Dear Betty, thank you for your reply! I really appreciate what you say about the feminine voice, inherent in every human being. This voice is almost impossible to describe, because the feminine voice is not dualistic, right?! The feminine voice creates and recreates a space, where something new/different/other is created. Therefore totally unpredictable. In a way, it is like a blog!! Or a womb of course. Open, but limited so it is a space, breathing like a cell membrane, taking in something else and letting out something new. Like Bridgitt here is writing beautifully (Thank's for the inspiration!), that the individual does make a difference: giving from yourself as an individual without expecting a specific result, enables the gift to multiply without a limitation of the expected. The patriarchal church that we have in christianity today (and I guess in all the religions stemming from Abraham) is really Longing for the feminine voice of spirituality, but has not really aknowledged this yet, I guess? And it is all there in the teachings of Christ, but the church that was created chose to almost completely ignore this voice, I believe. The patriarchal church of today is in a way the opposite of what you are describing as the feminine voice: it needs to "stand out" in relation to everything around it. It is afraid of not being noted. So instead, it is closed. It is most apparent in the image of Mary, the Mother, that was created: put on a pidestal, unreachable, silent (muted), an icon.
I guess this is why we all embrace Mary Magdalene, her legacy is yet to be "found" and made concious. I just ordered yor book yesterday and I am so much looking forward to read it!
The sufi meeting sounds wonderful and I hope to read about it here from you guys. Thank you for this communication!
With an open heart,
Anneli
Anneli, I think you are right in saying that the patriarchal church hasn't yet acknowledged the feminine voice, though I have hopes for the Episcopal Church. You probably already know that the bishops of the Episcopal Church elected a woman to be Presiding Bishop. This action has been extremely important to me and already I feel that something profound has taken place in her election. Her institution as Presiding Bishop in the Washington Cathedral was precedent-making - there had never been one like it - there were singing voices from the African American community and from the native American community to begin the event alongside the Washington Cathedral choir. And there were liturgical dancers, banners, and flags and a blessing of baptismal waters and a sprinkling of the gathered congretation. Ann what I continue to marvel about: persons from Islam, Judaism, Buddhism gave her annointing oil for her work in the ministry. I was in tears during most of the ceremony - the inclusivenss was incredible and it is a sign that something may be happenning. There may be an opening here to new ways of thinking and feeling. We need to do all we can to support her.
I understand that Bishop Schori has a blog - see what you can find by entering Katherine Jefferts Schori. I will also find some links for you.
Again thanks for your interest in our community.
Betty
Dear Betty, I have almost finished reading your most wonderfully inspirational and clarifying book about Mary Magdalene (in Swedish her name is Maria Magdalena!). I am very thankful for it! I have a few thoughts that I would like to share with you, but I do not know if this is the right place? Is there a blog about your book?
Thank you for your thoughts and sharing your hopes about the Episcopal Church. I understand there has been a lot going on in the Episcopal church and I have read an inspiring interview with your new Presiding Bishop. And was it not also some conservative parts of the Episcopal church that chose to close doors by joining a Nigerian diocese. I actually have felt an urge, this fall and winter, that I want to show my support for the Episcopal churches' general choice of Welcoming Everyone, no matter if you are red or blue. So actually I have wanted to bring my husband and kids to visit the local Episcopal church here in Apex, NC!
I am raised Lutheran in Sweden and my church does have a lot of female ministers and a few bishops too. It feels natural to turn to a female minister! There has been a likewise battle in the Lutheran church in Sweden, where the utterly conservative part of the church is on the verge of breaking loose. Maybe it is a good thing, although so sad. I like to imagine that the Christian community, even though at this point still being very patriarchal as a whole, will be focusing more on being humane, showing humility, being One (How can we understand "Being One" as anything else that "All Of Us", right!!?). May the church not be so possessed with protecting the Word and instead more eager living the Word! I have mostly felt that I need to seek and expand my inner connection with God from elsewhere than my Lutheran church. I believe I share this with many (women and other "others"). This is what has been so fantastic and inspiring for me personally, to discover the work that you all do at your Magdalene Community. And very much the search and discoveries of your book! This is truly the path for the future Christian church, I believe! You are literally building a new path in your community, for others to follow! May All the Blessings Be With You All!
Best wishes from Anneli
Dear Anneli,
Thank you for your feedback on the book. I really appreciate it! Yes there is a blog on a site entitled Magdalene Mystique. You can get there by clicking on the same on the first page of this web site. Would be grateful to you for further comments. Sometime it feels lonely having a book out there and wondering if anyone has read it and what they think.
I loved what you said about the church protecting the Word at the expense of living the Word. That word "protect" really says it. It reminds me of what Theresa of Avila said in her Interior Castle: most people stay in the courtyard of their interior selves, for that's where the guards live.
The Church does need to let go of much of what it thinks it protects. The Church needs to be adventuresome and step out in love.
Hope you find the right place for you and your husband in NC. Thanks again for your interest in our community. Betty
Dear Betty, I read you reply some weeks ago and went to find your book-blog at Magdalene Mystique. But I did not find an entry to put in a comment. I also sent an email thru a link nearby, but the mail came back undelivered. Please give me instructions! Many thank's from Anneli Leander
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