If We Acted out of our True Humanity
posted February 19th, 2007 at 6:48 pm by Betty
In The Gospel of Mary (Magdalene), it is Mary Magdalene and Levi who understand the teachings of Jesus. They have looked inward and found the Human One therein.
Mary Magdalene declares to the other disciples that we should praise the greatness of Jesus for “he has united us and made us true Human Beings.” Levi declares that “we should clothe ourselves with the perfect Human, acquire it for ourselves as he commanded us and announce the good news.”
How fresh this sounds to our ears: to be united and made into true Human Beings. How optimistic! Is this an ancient power of positive thinking?
What would it feel like to be so empowered? How would we act if we got in touch with our true humanity? Let’s try it out by thinking outloud what our actions might be if we were so clothed. What would such a unity look like? Can we even imagine? What would be the goals of a “true Human Being.”
I don’t know what you would list for goals of a “true Human Being” but the UN Millennium Development Goals give us a start. These are the goals that both Archbishop Ndungande and Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori (see Interviews below on video) have been talking about in their desire to transcend the “bickering” within the Anglican Church. Take a look at these goals and consider tonight as you prepare your healthy dinner and lie in your clean bed, what it would mean to be a true human being. Tomorrow I hope you have left some comments so this will not be a monologue. Thanks, and the blessings of peace.
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February 20th, 2007 at 6:44 pm
Not a monologue…
A constant question that guides me every day is the question of living out my values. Like you, I enquire what it means to be a ‘true Human Being’, and how might that be shown in my actions in the world.
I enact this daily in small ways (I caught the train to work today cos I’m trying to leave the car at home one day a week to reduce CO2 emissions) and in larger ways like supporting the Millennium Development Goals — specifically through support for the School of St Jude in Tanzania.
This consistency between my refreshed inner values and my actions in the world, gives me strength, courage and hope.
February 28th, 2007 at 5:56 pm
I am very happy to be able to participate, thru this blog, in the ongoing questions and explorations of the Magdalene Community, Thank You!
I believe just as Gillian that this must start with every person, with my self. I might feel that the little things I do with truth and core value in my every day life: how is this ever going to be expanded in a broader sense? Still, like Gillian says, doing this makes me strong and joyful! It is fun to imagine what can be made on a big scale if everybody just felt strong and joyful every now and then! Even if my own personal goal not evidently seems to be connected to a broader one - at a community level, or a humanitarian level, it is the most fundamental thing I can reach for! Because when I feel the strength within I also will broaden my senses and look above the brim of my box with eyes that see more clearly, with eyes of curiosity. And at that point I can feel the joy of being an example for others by showing what I did to feel stronger, talking to others about what I think and feel about different ongoing topics, engage in things that feel meaningful….It is to have the simple strength to care…both about my self and others.
March 1st, 2007 at 9:48 pm
Anneli,
So wonderful to hear your voice again. Glad you found a way to get in. Sorry for the confusion.
Acting out of our true humanity is an awesome experience as you and Gillian have pointed out. I like to think that that was the gift that Jesus gave Mary Magdalene in the garden when he said, “Don’t cling to me” [but find your own true humanity]
Acquiring the peace does start with each of us. We in our community want to know completely the meaning of the peace within. We want to feel the inner freedom and spiritual elevation within ourselves. Perhaps then we can impart the peace to one another, everyday as we go our way.
March 2nd, 2007 at 12:09 pm
I love that part of your book, Betty, when you so beautifully explain the “Don’t cling to me” request by Jesus. It makes sense and is such an important urge for us too! Lets not cling to Jesus - he is already here! Lets make ourselves so healthy that we rise above our shortcomings, so that we elevate and expand our divinity within! Is that the Peace maybe? By the way, I have always felt that Jesus is telling this to an intimate companion - I mean if MaryM. was “only” a disciple, she would not have dared to throw herself on him for joy, would she? Intimate in the sense that she is used to being close and to hug him!
There is so much exciting to read in the blogs now, Thank You!
March 2nd, 2007 at 12:41 pm
I just remembered another thing that I would like to add regarding acting out our true humanity. Because christian spirituality has been so obsessed with trying to be only spiritual, i.e. trying to escape the fact that we are also flesh, we have lacked an important connection in our lives. I do not really believe that the flesh is sinful - I think of it too as divine. It is what we do with it that counts. And I think that we need to strech our spirituality not only in to the heavenly realm (I guess: above) but also in to the sacred earth (down under, to speak with the Australians)! Maybe thru our feet - perhaps this is the reason for the loving act of Jesus, to wash the disciples’ feet! The fact is, that God for some reason wants us here in the flesh! And when we accept that and also understand how to draw strengh from Mother Earth, then we will have the energy flow withing and around, that God ment it to be (I believe). Maybe this is also why the feminine spirituality is on such a strong comeback now, because we lack and long for the energy connection with our beloved “Mother” Earth!