The Alabaster Jar

November 2024 | St Maarten

Over 20 years ago when I was in theology school, I walked into the Barnes and Noble bookstore in Washington, DC and hunted for theological research on Mary Magdalene.  This was before the days of google and I would actually use book stores to supplement research as well. My Catholic grad school only had Catholic theologians in their library, and I was certain the Catholic Church had it wrong.

I cannot remember their names, but I did find work by a dutch theologian who proved historically Mary Magdalen’s existence and the reality that she was highly educated and had probably funded Jesus’ ministry. Now granted, I could not bring any of that into my papers or offer it for conversation in class. Already one of my teachers had told me, “Don’t come to me when they try to silence you.”

He was a kind and brilliant Carmelite Friar and Professor, who supported open thinking. He couldn’t look at me at the end of one class, where I had proposed something about Paul’s theology, and was worried for me. I looked at him and said: “As if they could ever silence me. Even dead, I will be loud.”

I always felt and knew there was more than what I was taught. There were other truths. The real ones. And those knowings pushed me into the bookstores, inspired me to live in women’s mountain communities, to study other traditions who followed matriarchies, to spend time living and working with liberal nuns, to question dogma and ultimately, to trust my instincts.

Our Instincts.  One of our most vital gifts.

If there is only one thing that you derive from these experiences together, I hope it is to strengthen your belief in yours.

All the love of a thousand stars are with you and within you.

You are Love-Light.

Christine and the Magdalenas