Encountering the Wounded Wisdomkeeper
May Newsletter: The Disempowered are Seen, Heard and Become Carriers of Wisdom & New Online Recorded Meditations
What does it look like to follow the resurrected Christ, a peacemaker, in the midst of this world ransacked by violence, suffering, and division? To follow Christ in our own ongoing brokenness and struggles?
New Guided Meditations
Below you will find a guided written meditation, that invites you to watch how Jesus, the wounded and resurrected Wisdomkeeper beholds and is beheld by women, empowering them as carriers of wisdom.
I’m excited to share that I’ve recorded a few new meditations, this one should post soon here: https://insighttimer.com/bethanydhiser/guided-meditations
They are invitations to enter the resurrection stories with your Ignatian imagination, with a lens of what does Jesus have to say to us in our journey from Wounds to Wisdom. A journey that is not from point A to point B, but invites us to be held by the Wisdomkeeper, who helps us hold our wounds with love and compassion and gain wisdom and healing in the process.
I am just finishing the Wounds to Wisdom series and a beautiful soul care group, if you missed the newsletters, you can find them here: https://bethanydearbornhiser.substack.com/s/from-wounds-to-wisdom
“It's not for nuthin' that the one who enters that locked room after the Crucifixion and says, "Peace," was the one bearing wounds. He carries them. He doesn't move beyond them; he moves with them in the room. Not merely tolerating but, indeed, embracing them. He makes friends with the wounds. We don't move on from trauma but learn to move with it. His remarkable presence announces some exquisite comprehension and room for every foible, failure, and shame.
We are held in these wounds.”
~ Greg Boyle, Cherished Belonging
Encountering the Wounded Wisdomkeeper
Guided Meditation
“My Wisdomkeeper is gone,” she answered, “and I do not know where they have taken him.” ~ Mary Magdalene, John 20, FNV
The Gospel of John tells us that on the third day after Jesus' death, Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene in the garden, and then later to his disciples in a locked, upper room, John 20. Often overlooked in the Western church, yet recognized in Eastern Orthodoxy, Mary is honored with the title: Apostle to the Apostles.
Entering with Our Imagination
“Behold the beholder, beholding you and smiling.” ~Anthony de Mello
Before we enter this story with our imagination, I invite you to first turn to the Gaze of Love, our dwelling place. Allow yourself to be beheld in Love, and behold the Beholder. To be held with all of our wounds, by the wounded Wisdomkeeper.
Perhaps take a deep breath in, breathing in Love, and exhaling anything you need to let go of right now. Imagine that oxygen, that love spreading throughout all of you, your wounds and wisdom. And as you exhale, pushing that breath out with your mouth.
When you are ready, I invite you to engage with the story of Jesus appearing to Mary. Imagine Mary returning to the garden where Jesus is buried, having left the disciples in the upper room. She is in the garden, near the tomb. What do you see, smell, hear? What sensations? Where are you in the garden? Arrive there with all of your senses.
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
Invite you to slowly read John 20: 11-18. In the recorded meditation and below, I am referencing the First Nations Version and NLT.
Mary is weeping outside of the tomb. At some point, she decides to look in. Prepared to tend to his body, he’s not only gone, but there are two ‘spirit messengers’ or ‘white-robed angels’ present.
Imagine what she feels when she sees the angels, sitting where they had lain Jesus. She must not realize they are angels and is grieving the loss not only of Jesus in her life but that someone has stolen his body. Her head and heart are downturned.
She turns to leave, not feeling comforted at all by their presence. I imagine her eyes adjusting to the sunlight, and seeing a figure silhouetted by the sun.
Again, the same question: Why are you crying?
Imagine how you might feel. Exasperated. Frustrated. Overwhelmed.
Begging for answers, she’s desperate to know where Jesus is.
Then, her name. Mary.
I imagine her falling to his feet, Teacher. Wisdomkeeper. Overwhelming grief, turns into overwhelming wonder.
Perhaps Jesus gently invites her to stand, embraces her, with tears now of relief, shock, and joy. Maybe he walks with her out of the tomb, with his arms around her shoulders.
Maybe she sputters her confusion and thoughts from the previous days.
Jesus replies gently, yes, it was terrible wasn’t it? Yes, it’s as I told you. Yes, you believe, now go, and tell my disciples. I want them to hear it from you.
Consider why Jesus appears to Mary first, and not the disciples. Were their heads downturned in shame from abandoning him?
Maybe Jesus wanted to honor Mary and the other women who boldly stuck with him and didn’t fear the authorities. Maybe he wanted the disciples to believe the women, to enfold them in their circle as equals in the new kingdom.
One of Jesus’ first acts of resurrection is to empower the voices of women. To say: you are worth it—you are worth being hearers, carriers, and announcers of the good news. People, listen!
Then later, Jesus reprimands the men for not listening. That’s where Jesus starts in the resurrected new life. Jesus empowers the disempowered.
Inhale: I am worth being seen and named
Exhale: As I am with all of my wounds
Inhale: I am worth being empowered and sent out
Exhale: As I am, a carrier of wisdom
“Show me wisdom in my inner being” ~ Psalm 51:6
As you continue to reflect, may you hear your true name as you enter this Easter season and encounter the risen Christ, the wounded Wisdomkeeper.
with Easter hope,
Bethany Dearborn Hiser
Song: New Name, by Common Hymnal
Guided Meditation: Check out this meditation on Insight Timer by a friend of mine
Resources: If you’d like to explore more about Mary Magdalene
Read this reflection written by Rev. Christine Youn Hung.
Check out Center for Action & Contemplation Cynthia Bougeault’s course on Mary Magdalene
Beautiful. Thank you!