the three wisdom's of mary

As the light of the world hung on the cross, three women stood watching that terrible sunset. Their names were Mary. Who were these women, and what can we learn from them?

All three were relatives of Jesus, his mother, aunt and sister, whatever their blood relations may or may not have been, they were all allegorically related.

In the book of Proverbs wisdom is personified as a woman and constantly referred to in the feminine gender. The famous passage about the wise woman in Proverbs 31 says that the wise advise dispensed by King Lemuel are the words his mother taught him.

The Greeks had a name for Wisdom: Sophia. However, they inherited it from the Egyptians who called her Isis. The Bible calls her Mary. Mary personifies divine wisdom and the story of the three Mary’s at the cross tell us something about wisdom and it’s three stages.  We'll start oddly enough at stage two.

Stage two: Mary the Mother - The House of Wisdom

While on the cross we are told: “When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” The first thing we learn here is that wisdom is a mother, she has children, she raises, nurtures and prepares them for life. She looks to the future. In her house and at her prompting water is turned into wine. Ignorance changes to Insight.

In Luke chapter two when Jesus is presented at the Temple we discover something else about this Mary:

“Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

A sword was going to pierce her soul.  She was going to suffer bitterly, her expectations would be dashed, her hopes crushed and her very soul cut to the core.  She was going to discover that the wisdom she nurtured and incarnated was going to be rejected. Ignorance, misunderstanding and incomprehension were going to temporarily appear to destroy her life’s work. Yet through this she would begin to attain true wisdom, the kind that can only emerge from unfavorable circumstances. She herself would have to grow, to mature and to learn to radiate the light, no matter how dark the night against which her faint glimmers would shine.

As she suffered, so she built her house, setting it up with seven pillars (Prov. 9:1), these seven pillars were her life’s work and greatest masterpiece, they mirror the virtues essential for every life.  The seven “I Am” statements of Jesus illustrate these ideas.

1. I Am the Bread of Life
2. I Am the Light of the World
3. I Am the Gate of the Sheep
4. I Am the Good Shepherd
5. I Am the Resurrection and life
6. I Am the Way Truth and Life
7. I Am the True Vine

Each of these statements when put together, re-tell the twenty third Psalm; there is much that could be said about each one, the thrust being that when we dwell in the house of Wisdom, passing through the door that she opens for us, eating her bread, walking in her ways and drinking from her cup we find the comfort, confidence and courage to live fully and harmoniously, even in the face of death and conflict.

Stage Three: Mary the Aunt  - The End of Wisdom

Our biggest clue as to the role of this Mary starts with her relationship status. She was both the sister of the virgin Mary and the wife of Clopas. Clopas or Cleopas as he is called in Luke is one of the disciples who meets Jesus on the road to Emmaus after the resurrection (Luke 24). His questioning of Jesus and finally his recognition of him as he broke bread, speak of his thoughtful and reflective nature. Of a heart hungry for the truth. His name in the Greek means "glory of the Father". Kleos= glory, Patros = Father.  This word Kleos carries with it the idea of reputation, radiance.

The wisdom of Mary the wife of Clopas teaches us that the goal of all wisdom is to glorify the Father, by radiating his light.  Ecclesiastes 7:8 tells us: “The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.”

This radiance necessarily involves inspiring others and imparting to them as a teacher and mentor, she looks backwards in order to shine a light on the path for others to tread

As we consider the outcome of her faithful life, we receive strength to continue until our lives. like hers radiate the Father’s glory.

Stage One: Mary Magdalene - The Beginning of Wisdom

In a fun twist of Biblical tradition, Mary Magdalene, the younger of the three, who normally would be be first, because she represents the novice or the youthful seeker, is listed last.  But Biblical wisdom unravels as I mentioned earlier, like a code and when there are names, numbers or inverted sequences these are pointers to understanding hidden meanings.

Wisdom is not something we are born with. Proverbs 22:15 reminds us that: “Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far away.” It can only accumulate with experience and education.

In Luke’s Gospel we read that Jesus cast seven demons out of Mary Magdalene.  We are not told what these demons were, but the number of them offers a clue in that they stand opposite the seven pillars of wisdom as pillars of foolishness. She is the sophomore of the group. Sophomore meaning a blend of foolishness and wisdom: Sophia= wisdom, Moro = foolishness. Mary Magdalene and her story remind us that however ignoble or unfortunate our beginnings, the process of learning from our mistakes leads us towards maturity.  

I mentioned previously that Mary Magdalene could be seen an a sister to Jesus, well, Proverbs 7:4: gives us an insight: "Say to wisdom, "You are my sister," and to insight, "You are my relative.”  All wisdom is related to Christ who is the Light of the World.

At the resurrection she is the one to first encounter the risen Christ, She was the seeker, who did not rest until she found what she was looking for. Youthful and once foolish, she pursued her love and found him. Reminding us of the passage in Song of Solomon 3:4, When I found him whom my soul loves; I held on to him and would not let him go until I had brought him to my mother’s house, and into the room of her who conceived me.”

With this idea the story comes full circle. The last is first. Having found wisdom through loving persistence, Magdalene moves organically to the next phase, bringing us to the Mother's house. From there she will go on to shine brightly until all generations call her blessed.

She joined the family.

Jesus invited John into Mary’s household too. We are all invited.  Will you come? Will you come to Mary's house?