Monday Morning Musing: Mary of Magdala & Other Strong Women who Lead

Today the Church celebrates the ministry of Mary Magdalene, the Apostle to the Apostles, the first to bear the good news of the resurrection to the disciples. The one who Jesus trusted with that news.

Each year, on this date, I take the day to reflect and pray and rest and renew. This is also the anniversary of my ordination into the Ministry of Word and Sacrament, nineteen years ago, at Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus OH. In the wondrous space that is the Gloria Dei Worship center, a liminal place in my spiritual and faith journey. It seems right that I now serve at another Gloria Dei.

I've reflected so extensively about Mary that I almost wondered if I had anything new to consider or ponder. There is so much amazing new scholarship around her, it's astonishing to consider. Scholarship carried out mostly by women, because of course. However, this morning, I read something I'd not considered before, not scholarly, but pastoral, about Mary. Written by the RC priest James Martin, so clearly the Holy Spirit wants to rib me a bit. Fr. Martin wrote of Mary that "In the time between when the Risen Christ appeared to her at the Tomb, and when she announced the news of the Resurrection to the disciples, Mary was, in a sense, the church on earth. For only to her had the Paschal Mystery-- the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ--been fully revealed."

I'd not considered this particular detail, that in the time it took her to find the disciples (locked doors and hiding being what they are...) Mary alone was the Church. Mary alone bore Jesus, just as another Mary did three plus decades earlier.

Martin goes on to write: "Any discussion of women's roles in the church must begin with this fact: it was to a woman that the Risen Christ first appeared, a woman who was charged by him with announcing the Resurrection to the rest of the disciples. Thus, her justly exalted title: Apostle to the Apostles.

Last week I received an anonymous letter in the church mail, postmarked from Metroplex, Michigan; return address was John 3:16; handwriting was shaky elderly handwriting. The typed, likely mass produced at Kinko's, letter posited to me that female pastors are an "abomination to the Lord" and that I am to "obey my husband and submit to him" and "be silent in church." I saved that letter, it's not the first one of this kind I've received, as a reminder to work harder at sharing the love of Christ for ALL people. As a reminder to continue to lift up those who might also be called to this work, regardless of their gender, age, or sexual orientation. Old guy in Metroplex, thanks to your absolute lack of understanding around the Gospel and all the free time you have to send cowardly anonymous letters to women in ministry across the country, I will work that much harder to make sure there are more of us.

Throughout my ministry I've been accompanied by strong, kick ass women. My Facebook memories reminded me that seven years ago today, I approached a group of women in my congregation, all in their eighties, sitting together on a long pew in the fellowship hall. I jokingly said to them "Uh oh, this bench looks like trouble" to which one responded without missing a beat: "That's why we saved a place for you".

Throughout my life, fiercely faithful women have saved a place for me - in Sunday School classrooms, around youth group pizza dinners, in Bible studies, in seminary classrooms, and in pulpits. Even the woman I've never known, who lived thousands of years before, who wept in a garden at the death of her beloved teacher, even she saved a place.

Although Jesus called Mary first, the patriarchy of the Church eventually whitewashed her story. It would be too long before they repented and restored her to her proper place among the saints, but thank God they did.

Still, the fear that too often responds to women in leadership is strong. And it's not just held by men. Women participate in patriarchy too. And we will, beloveds, watch this play out in this election season. 2016 stings hard in my spirit, still. But new generations will vote this time. Generations who see through the fear and hatred. So, on this day, I am sending so much Mary Magdalene energy to Kamala Harris. Because somewhere there are men (and probably a few women) hiding with their fear in a locked room, afraid to hear the good news.

And on this day, I am, as I always do, repeating my ordination promises as prayers. I am profoundly grateful and remain in awe that this work is entrusted to me. Because it actually has nothing to do with my gender, and everything to do with being claimed and called by God, first in the waters of baptism, and later in Gloria Dei.

Glory to God, indeed!

Post script: I always try to name in blessed memory those who participated in my ordination service, and who have since died. This year there is a new addition to this list. Amy, Dave, Lynette, and Vivian, you are in my heart.

Gloria Dei Worship Center, Trinity Lutheran Seminary

Photo of the laying on of hands by Carol, dear friend

Preaching at Trinity Days, some years later