About 30 years ago, I took a Biblical Andragogy course through the Worcester Diocese. This was a deep study into the Old Testament taught by a Jesuit priest. I wanted to throw the book at him. It seemed to me that Jesuits pulled apart everything I ever learned about the Bible in all my previous Bible Studies and whatever was left, well, that was what was left of my faith.
This concept was echoed by another well respected priest when I confided in him that the Jesuit approach was disheveling my faith. This priest went on further to say that with the multiplication of the loaves and fishes on the mountain when Jesus fed 5,000 people, that it was possible that the people had anticipated being gone for the day and took their own loaves and fish along with them. Was this humanly possible? Yes, but it was eroding my understanding of Jesus and the Bible.
Today, I can appreciate pulling apart what was spoon fed to me as a child.
Yesterday I mentioned that the first eleven verses of John 8 were a story added later for effect. There was a reason for this.
Remember in the Gospel of Philip, that he writes that Jesus loved Mary Magdalene more than the other disciples. This infuriated Peter and some of the others. Also remember that for the first 364 years after Jesus walked among us, women were allowed to be priests, preach and teach, AND hold the breaking of the bread ceremony, along with being able to baptize people.
It was not until the numerous Councils of Nicaea, Laodicea, Trent, among others, that the voice of women was suppressed in the fledgling church. It seems it began with changing the rules to hold sacred services, by not allowing women to bathe with men, nor could they all of a sudden approach the alter as they had been doing since the time of Jesus. Rules were added later by men with definite agendas.
Also do not forget that at that time, the bishops were working very closely with the patriarchal rulers of Rome. Women were not allowed in Roman leadership positions, other positions women were relegated to, but not public service in any capacity, religious or otherwise.
Suddenly women were expected to know their place, which was behind men. Jesus never sanctioned this change, nor did God, Father of Jesus Christ, nor the Holy Spirit. Rome did not rule all the known world but wanted to. Women had known times of matriarchal society.
Jesus never taught that women were above men, nor that men were above women. He taught mutual respect for every individual, even those people not of Jewish background, such as the Samaritan woman at the well.
The addition of verses 1-11 in John 8 came later, I have discovered in my Bible studies spanning 50 years, to emphasize and place women in a negative light, in the role of the constant sinner, unworthy of equality and religious public service.
Men wrote the story in Genesis, blaming women for what is called Original Sin. The actual Original Sin is the fault of the fallen angels raping women, of Genesis 6:1 fame, then blaming women for “eating the fruit of the tree in the Garden of Eden.” Sound familiar?
Being raped by the is not the fault of any woman, then or now. History has been repeating itself ever since.
Equality is the key point that Jesus Christ was revolutionizing the thought of his time. It is just as poignant today.
Women, you are worthy, worthy of love, life, liberty, and equality in this world. You are not less than a man. You are not more than a man. Women, you are equal to men. This is the teaching of Jesus.
Many religions claiming to be the Religious Right, or in the right, are not following the teachings of Jesus, which they proclaim that they do. They are picking and choosing which words of Jesus and the other apostles to follow. If you research this, you will see it is the writings of Paul, who was trained as a patriarchal Pharisee, who changed the words and intention of Jesus, not Jesus himself.
Why is this important today?
The role of women is still under attack 2022 years after Jesus Christ walked among us. Jesus taught everyone to continue to teach, preach, and hold public service, public and otherwise.
Mary Magdalene was not a prostitute. She was the closest, faithful companion of Jesus. She is a shining example to all women of how to breathe, walk, and talk with dignity, respect, honor, valor, peace and love without conditions, rules, and regulations placed as restrictions to Universal Life. It is the quiet, sincere presence of Mary Magdalene, who stood valiantly at the foot of the cross, alongside of Mary, the Mother of Jesus.
You are worthy. You are worthy of life, love, and abundance.
If personal safety is an issue, CALL someone. With staying home, abusive situations can escalate. No one has a right to harm you.
What are the signs we need to watch out for?
- The other person always criticizing you.
- The other person always telling you what to do.
- Having to answer to the other person.
- Having to keep to the time schedule of the other person.
- Always having to ask for permission to think, say or do anything.
- Having the other person always manipulating you.
- We all have the God-given right to life. We all have the right to live our lives the best way we see fit. We do not need to live our lives under someone’s thumb.
We do not need to live our lives in debilitating fear, obligation and guilt of someone else injuring ourselves or themselves in some way.
There are suicide prevention hotlines. There are abuse hotlines. There are mental health providers.
National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 800-273-8255
National Domestic Abuse Hotline: 800-799-7233
Rape Abuse Incest National Network (RAINN): 800-656-4673
National Sexual Violence Resource Center: http://www.nsvrc.org
Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline: 800-422-4453 http://www.childhelphotline.org
US Department of Health and Human Services: 800-994-9662 http://www.womenshealth.gov/relationships-and-safety/get-help
You and I, unless we are specially trained with degrees in these mental health fields, are not trained to deal with these real life and death matters. Yes, we care about the people in our lives. We serve no one when we shut ourselves down along with the manipulating and/or mentally sick person. That is not helping.
What will lift us out of despair?
1. Acknowledge your feelings. Feelings are not right or wrong, they just are.
2. Decide to change your feelings from those of despair, depression, helplessness or any other dysfunctional negative feelings that are binding you into fear and immobilization. You can do this.
3. Realize that deciding not to stay stuck with despair, depression, helplessness or any other dysfunctional negative feeling does not invalidate the feelings, nor you.
4. Make a conscious choice as to what feeling you want to have, the next lighter feeling in freedom which you can think.
5. Focus only on the feeling you are planning to achieve. Notice I did not say “trying” to achieve. The words “trying” is an open door to failure. It is a way out for you to be able to say, “At least I tried.” Do not “try” to do anything. DO IT. Realize that you can be happy, right where you are, in a line waiting for food, and speaking with others in life-affirming statements on the streets, which bring about other possibilities and opportunities not yet realized.
6. Organize your thoughts, words and actions. Be the change you wish to see in the world around you. By encouraging others in positive ways, you encourage yourself. As long as you are living, breathing and moving, you have the ability to change despair into functional conversations with positive plans to help yourself and others. Make sure you use your voice to VOTE. No one can take away your human rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
7. Know that you are not alone. Even if you remain wearing masks and social distancing, we can reach out by cell phones and social media, zoom, Skype and many other current ways to build each other up, support noble ideas for the common good of all people; and change ignorance into intelligence. Where there is darkness, shine your light of a smile, encouraging words to yourself and your family and friends, and be the Light on the hill for all to see by.
I only chose 7 suggestions out of a thousand I could mention. Perhaps one of these triggers another thought, which then brings you to an even better thought. Go with the next highest vibration of thought to lift you out of despair.
It all begins with a DECISION to feel better. These times are tough, but they are not the end. You are stronger than you realize. We grow in character when we face tough times.
I used to pray for patience, a lot, until I realized one day that by praying for patience, I was inviting in adversity, so I could practice my patience! That is when I DECIDED to claim and fully realize, that I had all the patience I needed. It worked! I simply needed to act on that realization in order to move forward and create abundance of all good things in my life, compared to only witnessing the adversity.
We can re-build our lives. We cannot bring back those who have lost their lives, of course, but we can take the necessary next steps forward in our healing process. Now is not forever. There is so much we can do to help ourselves, and others, in this time of uncertainty.
Choose only thoughts, words and actions based on LOVE and LIGHT. All else harms you and the whole of humanity.
Namaste
UNIVERSAL WISDOM ENLIGHTENMENT™ LLC 