Sheringham: St Peter

I have been in the role of detective this week, looking for the real Mary Magdalene amongst the other Marys in our Gospels and confusion abounds!

We are known by our unique personalities and it has been a privilege to get to know something of Mary M although so far I have just skimmed the surface.

Mary was known as Mary Magdela, referring not to where she came from but to the meaning of ‘Magdela’ being watchtower or fortress. She looked out for Jesus and his disciples, giving them care and protection. Mary kept watch over and was alongside Jesus during his life, death and resurrection. She supported Jesus and his disciples financially and practically and was prominent in leadership within the group of women followers of Jesus .

Recent findings and scholarship show that it was Mary, not Martha, who recognised Jesus as the son of God. Mary who listened to Jesus teaching and ‘got it’ intuitively.

Mary found new life! Jesus healed her of of 7 demons. To be inhabited by one demon is terrifying but to be inhabited by seven!! This must have been some huge health and wellbeing issue, involving physical, mental, emotional and spiritual breakdown leading to darkness of being. We do not know what plagued Mary but the church has had a field day with interpreting her demons as sex related, including prostitution, portraying Mary as a fallen woman and a sinner. Mary has been the subject of art, music and poetry down the ages as an archetypal temptress of ill repute by patriarchal society.

Mary watched over Jesus, was his close, intimate companion and understood his teaching better than the men. He shared much with her privately, which leads to speculation as to whether they were married. She represents the Feminine aspect of God, there from the beginning as part of the Trinity, but historically pushed down to promote male and logical (rather than intuitive) supremacy. Mary found wisdom which is more precious than gold ‘those who find wisdom find life and receive favour from the Lord but those who fail to find wisdom harm themselves’ (Proverbs 8: 35-36).

Mary anointed Jesus while he was alive as well as after his death. She poured out expensive oil, massaged Jesus feet and dried them with her hair, mirroring Jesus washing his disciples feet at the last supper. A very personal act of generosity, touch, abundance and abandonment, demonstrating giving and receiving. An extraordinary, extravagant act mirroring the self emptying (kenosis) of Jesus pouring out himself for others.Mary had been given much and gave much, she knew that both giving and receiving are blessings. She had received God within her as part of her being and that love poured out from her using her emotions and senses, filling the room with fragrance, symbolic of anointing for burial having understood Jesus predicting his death.

Mary was at the foot of the cross, the last to see Jesus alive and the first to see him resurrected. She anointed him in death and was alongside him throughout the three days that he was in the tomb. When others left, she stayed. She loved Jesus passionately and our reading from Song of Songs captures the love of Mary looking for Jesus on the third day after she found his tomb empty. She looked for her beloved everywhere, even turning from angels to find him and saw him through her tears. He called her name and when she found the one her heart loved held him and would not let him go.

The Resurrection is the core of our Christian Faith. Through it Jesus takes us from Darkness to Light. Mary was taken from the darkness of demons to the light of Christ! God became man so man can become God. Paul tells us in our reading that we are new creations in Christ. The old has passed away and everything becomes new. How amazing is that! Is seems too good to be true!

Mary recognised Jesus as the Son of God. She expressed this, as Peter did, and that revelation came from the Holy Spirit within her. Peter was jealous of Mary because Jesus loved her and shared much with her privately . She is known as the apostle to the apostles, not only because she told them Jesus had risen but also because she understood and taught Jesus’ message to them. She was very special to Jesus who affirmed her gratitude, devotion and love. He instructed her to go and tell others the good news of the Gospel.

What can we take away from this? We can explore more of the fascinating Mary for ourselves as she is a woman for today and has so much richness surrounding her. She teaches us the feminine aspect of the Trinity, Sophia and brings the dance of the Spirit to us. There is much to read and ponder on in our church library, I can recommend the adventure!

Angela Stewart, Lay Minister

Sheringham: St Peter

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