Worth Is Claimed
Worth is not earned, or given; worth is claimed.
What’s so elusive about worth is that it’s easy to forget that it has nothing to do with anyone or anything outside of us. Our worth is inherent. Our worth in being human, our worth to love and be loved, is our birthright.
One of the most profound lessons I’ve acquired on this path of love Mary Magdalene inspires is to understand that my voice–that quiet, unassuming voice of love inside me–is worthy of being believed. Not because of any Masters degrees I’ve accumulated, or scholarship and writing I’ve accomplished, but simply because that voice of love is me.
That voice of love is mine. This is reason enough to know it’s worthy of belief.
At the end of Mary’s gospel, after she has revealed the secret teachings that Christ gave to her, some of the male disciples don’t believe her. She is questioned and disbelieved, especially by the apostle Peter.
But Levi comes to Mary’s defense by saying, “If the Savior considered her to be worthy, who are you to disregard her? For he knew her completely and loved her steadfastly.” (Mary 10:9-10)
Christ considered Mary worthy of receiving and teaching the unique message her gave to her: “for he knew her completely and loved her steadfastly.”
On my first pilgrimage to the south of France, when I was a young woman struggling with a sense of self-worth, I attended a festival of Saint Sarah-La-Kali in the small fishing village of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer.
Legends relate that Mary Magdalene arrived here after the crucifixion on a ship without sails. Some say that Saint Sarah was the first to welcome Mary Magdalene ashore, and that she had received a vision of Mary’s arrival. Others say that Saint Sarah arrived with Mary, and that she was her daughter with Christ.
The Romani people hold an annual festival at the end of May for Saint Sarah and parade her from her crypt in the church down to the sea, carried by four horsemen.
I was swept up by the parade, the singing, dancing, grieving, laughing: all of the profound and powerful sounds of true devotion. I returned to the crypt as Saint Sarah was installed again amidst taper candles with the smell of salt water in the air from our wet clothes.
I watched as Saint Sarah was adored by the people who have worshipped her as the Queen of the Outsiders for ages. I watched as her icon was embraced, prayed over, caressed, and so entirely loved. And I was changed fundamentally from getting to witness it.
I sank down against the back wall and cried. Because I knew myself in that moment completely. From witnessing all that love for Saint Sarah’s small radiant form, I knew myself completely, and I loved myself steadfastly.
I knew that I was worthy of love, now and always. I knew that nothing I did, or said, or gained, or lost would every make me less or more deserving of love. My worth is always right here waiting for me to claim it.
With only more love,
M.
WHAT MARY KNEW BY HEART
a three-week course on Mary Magdalene
Sunday July 11th, Sunday July 18th, & Sunday July 25th 12:00pm EST
July 22nd is Mary Magdalene’s feast day in the Catholic tradition. To honor her memory, we’ll be studying passages from Mary’s gospel and the gospel of Philip, as well as the New Testament, in order to see more clearly the powerful figure in Christianity that Mary remains. Mary was capable of a form of vision, a sight from within the heart, that prepared her to be Christ’s witness at the resurrection. We’ll focus on this vision Mary acquired and what we can know by heart through an ancient spiritual practice used by Christians in the first century: a practice that Mary’s gospel reveals Christ gave to her and that she was meant to give to us.
Click here to learn more and register.