Welcome. I am Sarah Familar-Ragsdale, a High Priestess and Teacher of the Divine Feminine, and this is a MoonDay Sermon. July 22 is the feast day of Mary Magdalene. On that day, people all over the world will honor her as a central figure in the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth.
She has not always been considered worthy of that honor. For centuries, Mary Magdalene was reduced to the status of fallen woman and prostitute.
In a series of Easter sermons delivered in the year 591, Pope Gregory I first assigned that role to her. He taught that she was the nameless woman from whom Jesus of Nazareth cast out seven demons, and that those demons had brought her to sharing her body with men for money.
A DIFFERENT INTERPRETATION
There is nothing in scripture to support that Mary Magdalene was that woman, or that she was ever less than a woman of status and great worth. The first clue to her elevated social status is there in her name – she was called Mary of Magdala in the Gospels. Most of the other women in those texts were identified by their relationship to men, yet Mary – like Jesus – was identified by her home, Magdala, on the Sea of Galilee. Rather than being the lowest of Jesus’ followers, Mary was a woman of means and status, an important supporter of Jesus’ ministry.
Mary is spoken of several times in the Gospels associated with the Bible as most know it today. Mary stood at the foot of the cross during the Crucifixion, and it was to Mary that Jesus first revealed himself after the Resurrection. She was at the tomb on the morning of the third day, when the other followers were in hiding. Jesus told her to take the news to those followers.
In Greek, the word Apostolos literally translates as “one who is sent,” making Mary of Magdala the Apostle to the Apostles.
A VESSEL OF THE UNIVERSAL DIVINE FEMININE
In recent years, Mary Magdalene has come to be recognized by many in a broader spectrum of faiths as a vessel of the universal Divine Feminine. For some, she is a teacher of Jesus’ teachings. Others also believe that she might have been Jesus’ wife, and mother of their daughter, Sarah.
Mary is said to have spent the time after the Crucifixion sharing Jesus’ teaching, just as the male apostles did. She was known in the early Christian movement to be a powerful voice, sharing the teachings of the man that she considered to be her teacher and, perhaps, her great love.
There is a story that she took Jesus’ teachings to Tiberius Caesar, who said that it was as likely that Jesus was resurrected as an egg that was on their dinner table would spontaneously turn red. Mary picked up the egg, and it turned crimson. That story is still reflected in icons of Mary found in Eastern Orthodox Churches, and in that faith’s Easter practice of cracking and consuming eggs that are dyed red.
THE GOSPEL OF MARY MAGDALENE
In 1896, a 5th century papyrus, written in Coptic, was discovered in Cairo. Within the writings in that papyrus were fragments of the Gospel of Mary. Found with several other sacred texts, the writing reflected the beliefs of early Christians now often grouped together as Gnostics.
Likely written somewhere around the year 120 CE – approximately the same time that the Gospel of Luke was written – the text is missing six pages at the beginning of the document and begins in the midst of the resurrected Jesus teaching the disciples – including Mary.
The text that I want to share with you happens toward the beginning of the existing text.
When the resurrected Jesus departs after giving the teaching that was recorded in the first 6 missing pages, it is to Mary that the others turn to ask for further explanation of what he had told them.
Unfortunately, in addition to the missing six pages, much of what Mary Magdalene shared with the other apostles is lost, likely purposefully removed from the texts because the teaching was considered heretical, Three versions of the Gospel of Mary have been discovered, and they all are missing the same portions of text.
In the 6th chapter of the text, Peter says to her, “Sister, we know that the Savior loved you more than the rest of the women. Tell us the words of the Savior which you remember, which you know and we do not, nor have we heard them.”
Mary answered, “What is hidden from you I will tell you.”
This is Mary in her element – as a spiritual teacher and vessel of divine knowledge. She shares with an open heart, even in the face of disbelief and ridicule when, late in the Gospel, Peter discounts the teaching because she is a woman.
The apostle Levi challenged Peter with these words:
“Peter, you have always been an angry person. Now I see you contending against the woman like the adversaries. But if the Savior made her worthy, who are you, then, to reject her? Surely the Savior’s knowledge of her is trustworthy. That is why he loved her more than us. Rather, let us be ashamed. We should clothe ourselves with the perfect Human, acquire if for ourselves as he commanded us, and proclaim the good news, not laying down any other rule or other law beyond what the Savior said.”
WORLD RELIGIONS & DIVINE UNDERSTANDING
You may be wondering why a woman who identifies herself as a High Priestess – a ministerial position within modern Pagan spiritual paths – is teaching you about a Christian leader and saint. I am a student of world religion and spirituality, and I recognize the wisdom and power of a variety of spiritual traditions. I believe that, no matter how we practice our faith, we are all seeking the same thing – union with the Divine energy that made us.
I am here to continue the work of Mary, and of so many women throughout human history who have held sacred space and shared spiritual teachings. Women have always held sacred wisdom, and many of us come to be teachers, healers, leaders – Priestesses. We have been celebrated in matriarchal societies, reduced and degraded in patriarchal societies. The time of the patriarchy is waning – it is time for women to once again take our place at the center of the Soulful heart of society.
A NEW RISE OF THE DIVINE FEMININE
A new rise of the Divine Feminine is underway, and Priestesses are stepping forward to lead. I am one of them. It is my intention to honor this spiritual lineage through my work, and these sermons, in order to inspire and teach and lead women to rise in their greatness, strength, and power. The Dalai Lama once famously said that it would be the Western woman who would save the world. I believe that our universal sisterhood, no matter where we live or our culture, will effect that change. I am here to encourage you to see that you are called to rise, to step into the role that you came into this life to fill.
I am here to reveal the mysteries of the Divine Feminine, and to honor Her. I am here to guide you and see you and honor you. I am here to join the lineage of women who do Magdalene’s work – What is hidden from you, I will tell you.
As women, may we know our worth, our innate abilities, our purpose and our calling. May we offer the work of our minds, our hearts, our hands and our voices, to bring about healing and necessary change in the world. In this time of a global pandemic, incredible suffering and fear, the movement to uncover and repair the effects of systemic racism, and the strife caused by political and social differences, may we be the teachers, the leaders, the ones who stand up to serve. May women everywhere have the resources they need, may they be supported, may they be free. We have so much to do. May we come together to accomplish all that we are capable of changing, beginning, growing and tending.
May we know that we are the hands of the Divine Feminine here on Earth. May we know the grace of that truth. May we find peace with the men in our lives and in the world, and may we bring balance to the union of the masculine and the feminine, of each face of the Divine creative energy through Love and through understanding.
Those who have ears to hear, let them hear. So be it. Amen. And so it is.
Sarah
If you enjoy reading about spiritual philosophy you may like Shelley Adelle’s YOGA PHILOSOPHY FOR UNCERTAIN TIMES.
Sarah Familar-Ragsdale is a High Priestess and Teacher of the Divine Feminine. She assists women in discovering and pursuing their Soul calling through 1:1 mentorship and coaching sessions, intuitive readings, workshops and courses on Priestesshood and the Divine Feminine,
and spiritual retreats. Along with her wife, Mina, she is co-founder of Seva Body Mind Soul, a whole Self wellness center located in Charleston, South Carolina.
