Iconography of Mary Magdalen

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The Sign of Blessing: In the name of Peace, and Love and Grace. Amen.

Leader: God, Come to my assistance.

Participants: Holy One, Make haste to help me.

 

Welcome everyone to tonight’s Moment of Oneness. We celebrate the life of St. Mary of Magdala, the Apostle to the Apostles. There is so much to say about her, we cannot possibly do her justice in our short time tonight. I invite you this week to devote some time to reading online, in print or just in contemplation about her continued holy presence.

 

First Reading from The Gospel of Mary. [from The New, New Testament, Hal Taussig et. al.]

The Savior Teaches About Matter, Sin, and the Good

 “Will* matter then be destroyed or not?” The Savior said, “All natures, all forms, all creatures exist in and with one another, and they will be resolved again into their own roots. For the nature of matter is released into the roots of its nature. Those who have ears to hear, let them hear!”

Peter said to him, “Since you have explained everything to us, tell us one other thing. What is the sin of the world?” The Savior said, “There is no sin, but it is you who make sin when you do the things that are like the nature of adultery, which is called ‘sin.’ That is why the Good came into your midst, coming to the good which belongs to every nature, in order to restore it to its root.”

Then he continued. He said, “This is why you become sick and die for you love what deceives you. One who understands, let him understand!

Matter gives birth to a passion that has no likeness because it proceeds from what is contrary to nature. Then there arises a disturbance in the whole body. Because of this I said to you, ‘You shall become satisfied, and not be persuaded. You shall be joined in the presence of the likeness of nature.’ Those who have ears to hear, let them hear!”

The Savior Departs

When the Blessed One had said these things, he greeted them all, saying, “Peace be with you! Bear my peace within yourselves! Beware that no one lead you astray saying, ‘Look over here!’ Or ‘Look over there!’ For the Child of Humanity is within you! Follow it! Those who seek it will find it. Go then and proclaim the good news of the realm. Do not lay down any rules beyond what I determined for you, nor give a law like the lawgiver, lest you be confined by it.” When he had said this, he departed.

Mary Comforts the Other Followers

But they were pained. They wept greatly, saying, “How shall we go to the nations and proclaim the good news of the Child of Humanity? If they did not spare him, how will they spare us?” Then Mary stood up. She greeted them all, and said to her brothers and sisters, “Do not weep and be pained, nor doubt, for all his grace will be with you and shelter you. But rather let us praise his greatness, for he has prepared us and made us Humans.” When Mary said this, she turned their heart to the Good, and they began to discuss the words of the Savior.

These are words from the Gospel of Mary and we affirm them with a resounding, AMEN.

 

Robert Anning Bell. The Women Going to the Sepulchre

Second Reading from the Gospel of John. [from The New, New Testament by Hal Taussig et. al.]

Meanwhile Mary was standing close outside the tomb, weeping. Still weeping, she leaned forward into the tomb, and saw two angels clothed in white sitting there, where the body of Jesus had been lying, one where the head and the other where the feet had been. “Why are you weeping?” asked the angels. “They have taken my Master away,” she answered, “and I do not know where they have laid him.”

After saying this, she turned around, and looked at Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. “Why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” he asked. Supposing him to be the gardener, Mary answered: “If it was you, sir, who carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away myself.”

“Mary!” said Jesus. She turned around, and exclaimed in Hebrew: “Rabboni!” (which is to say, “Teacher”). “Do not touch me,” Jesus said; “for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers, and tell them that I am ascending to my Father and their Father, my God and their God.”

Mary of Magdala went and told the disciples that she had seen the Master, and that he had said this to her.

The Gospel according to the community of Luke. AMEN.

Mary Magdala and the two angels at the tomb

Let us take a moment to reflect on these words and images.

The Glory Be

All: Glory and Joy be to Peace and Love and Grace. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

 

And let us pray the Prayer of Jesus (adapted by Miriam Therese Winters)

Oh Holy One, Who is within, around and among us.

We celebrate your many names.

Your Wisdom come. Your will be done, Unfolding from the depths within us.

Each day you give us all that we need.

You remind us of our limits, and we let go.

You support us in our power, and we act with courage.

For you are the dwelling place within us,

The empowerment around us,

And the celebration among us,

Now and forever. AMEN.

 

Deb: We remember our intentions and those who need our prayers.

Please share your intentions if you wish…

 

The White Angel and the Three Mary’s or Myrrh Bearers

 

Moment of Oneness Blessing

 

Blessings on all of us as we take the time and intention to calm ourselves and to keep our thoughts happy in service to others. We are Children of Humanity. We follow Jesus and Mary of Magdala in grateful awareness and love.

 

Closing Song: I Want To Walk as A Child of the Light by Kathleen Thomerson

https://youtu.be/ionKh1dL9o0?list=RDionKh1dL9o0 

May the Creator grant us a restful night and a peaceful sleep. Amen.