The Cottage
The Cottage
All the Marys
0:00
Current time: 0:00 / Total time: -40:08
-40:08

All the Marys

A Monday Musing from The Cottage

Here’s my sermon from the Wild Goose Festival, based on Luke 10: 38-42 and John 11. Sorry it is a little late! Our drive home last night took much longer than expected.

Since the sermon draws from Elizabeth Schrader’s work on the Marys, I sent it to her that she might listen. She responded by saying it was “powerful” and well-represents her work (noting the stylistic differences between an academic paper and a sermon!). And she also wanted listeners to know that, at this point, the Nestle-Aland committee of the Greek New Testament is aware of this work and will take it into account as they work on updated critical editions of the New Testament. In her words, “they are unlikely to remove Martha completely unless further discoveries come to light, but the apparatus (the footnotes) in John 11 may well change as a result of this discovery.”

So, that’s where the academic discussion currently stands. And who knows where it will go as researchers follow these questions? The New Testament continues to open up with amazing new insights as scholars like Libbie press into ancient texts in new ways — and making it possible for us to understand scripture closer to original sources.

Enjoy the sermon. It is Good News indeed.

I invite you to imagine with me — What would Christianity been like if we’d known about Mary the Tower the entire time? What does it mean for us going forward?


Leave a comment


The Feast Day of Mary Magdalene is July 22.

Mary Magdalene was the first person to proclaim the Resurrection of Christ.

The Cottage is a reader-supported publication. I invite you to consider becoming a paid subscriber. Thank you so much!

Discussion about this podcast

I absolutely loved this sermon and have had some conversations with others about it. I know there was a print pdf copy shared in another of your posts but I can’t locate it. Can it be re-shared or found in an archives?

Expand full comment

It is in the archive under “Mary the Tower.” Thanks for listening!

Expand full comment

Thank you! I’m so grateful for your wisdom and The Cottage

Expand full comment

Imagine! But we have always had the biblical text portraying Mary's reception of the Good News of Jesus the Christ's Resurrection. Patriarchy still ruled all these thousands of years in the Church. Unfortunately, though, women's activism in the Church and in society might have suffered from the Mary/Martha story since "Mary" chose the better path. What better way to silence a woman than the way Jesus did to Martha, rather shaming, I thought. And I have always rather resented Jesus saying that to Martha. But your disclosure of this discovery has made a difference in my life and strengths my resolve to support women in all sorts of struggles, even more so than I have done in the past. And certainly, most importantly maybe, I have drawn even closer to Jesus, for Jesus acknowledges us as full human beings and towers of strength!

Expand full comment

Some churches are studying how to change their name....how about "Tower Mary" Church? Thanks for sharing this new and inspiring scholarship!!!

Expand full comment

What a joy to read this sermon on the feast of Mary of Magdalene, Mary, the Tower! I look forward to sharing this "good news" with others especially women! Thank you!

Expand full comment

Just listened to your historic sermon, Diana. Can't remember the last time I felt the chills that many times listening to/hearing a sermon! I followed your posts about Elizabeth's groundbreaking work, but this helped put together it's meaning in a new ways. First, I'm rather incensed to hear the Nestle committee is only thinking of changing the foot notes. Come on, the 4th century editor crossed out the original and wrote on top of it! How much evidence do you need! I'm "imagining" with you too all the implications of this textual change/correction. I feel all the work of feminist theologians and biblical scholars of our time is hugely confirmed! I have been preaching on their themes and lifting up the world transforming basileia that Jesus preached for years, but this opens up a new vein of truth more directly to the historical Jesus than ever before. Jesus was ready for equity of the sexes in the first century, I would say, period, a part of the good news that has been repressed and ignored ever since. The revelation of Mary the Tower changes everything. Are you and Elizabeth working on a book to bring out all the implications? I don't suspect it will receive the Imprimatur any time soon, but that's the point, I suppose.

Expand full comment

Not much more to add to all these wonderful, thoughtful comments! Amazing story-telling for scriptural understanding and how theology and scripture evolve as does the living word. Thank you so much and let us continue to IMAGINE and seek Wisdom.

Expand full comment

I renewed my marriage vows in Oaklands tiny Mary Magdalene Chapel, associated with Sagrada Bookstore. There is an icon there of Christ and Mary, heads bowed to each other, temple to temple. Divine Partnership. Divine Way. I found the Wayists some time ago who are also grounded in her leadership though they are hide to find. Mary at Sagrada holds Mary Magdalene's liturgy. Very grateful for Lizzie and you for sharing her role and wisdom!

Expand full comment

Hi, Diana...

What is the source of the icon at the end of today's entry?

I really love it

Thanks🌿

Expand full comment

Yes! The truth -- including the truth about Mary, our tower of faith -- will set us free!

Expand full comment

Thank you so much for this sermon! I've been studying Mary Magdalene since the late 90s. This sermon makes so much sense to me all the lights just went on! and yes I was crying!

Expand full comment

Thanks for this. I was reminded of a comment that that I heard Cynthia Bourgeault make a half dozen years ago. She suggested there was only one Mary in the early church, Mary Magdalene, and the gospel writers created numerous Mary stories to dissipate her influence. Makes me wonder what the mother of Jesus real name was

Expand full comment

Tears of hope and joy after hearing

This remarkable scholarship and the best sermon ever!

Please catapult this into the world! Girls and women across the globe need to hear this!

Expand full comment

When I first listen to this it was amazing, goose bumps, tears, vindication!

Now I'm asking, what does this mean? What does this say about everything we think we know. If so much is based on fallible ancient writings, how do we know anything written had anything to do with what Jesus the man was really about...let alone these amazing women. How much can we trust in 'inspiration' that my apologetics training would fall back on?

My ascent into unknowing continues! But it feels good.

Expand full comment

What so many of us have always known now turns out to be true. Amazing piece of research which finally explains why Peter was so bothered by Mary. The patriarchal cover-up revealed. So much women's history sees us rise only to be slapped down again. Just in the nick of time Mary the Tower rises and reminds us with love to stand our ground. Thank you Mary, Libbie and Diana for giving us courage.

Expand full comment

Tears, JOY, goosebumps, jaw dropping. An affirmation to trust my own stirrings and journey.

THANK YOU Diana.

Expand full comment

👍👍powerful Sherman and long over due. The word power was a new insight for me. I am familiar with the research, and listened to an interview with her an she sang the song.

Thank you, Amy I hope The male preacher got the message

Expand full comment

You deliver truth again and again enriching our God given gift of imagining kin-dom as given to us not as re-engineered by empire. Thank you!!!

Expand full comment

I have only recently been introduced to your work. And it seems no accident that the second communication I receive from you is about Mary Magdalene! I touches me powerfully and I'm sharing it with many friends. This sermon is so needed in the climate women are facing today. We are increasingly under attack. I will hold Mary the Tower in my heart as we face these challenges. I just turned 80 and this is the best sermon I've ever heard ... and the best Biblical scholarship (I'm a seminary grad) I've ever been exposed to. Would love to let Libbie know how much I appreciate her work but could not find a way to send her a message on her website. Thank you so much for introducing us to her. The two of you are a source of hope.

Expand full comment

Thank you so much for these kind words, Linda! I'm so grateful to Diana for preaching about my research so powerfully. I'm so sorry for not having the information more readily available on my website - I've just fixed it. People can find my contact info and sign up for my newsletter here: https://www.elizabethschrader.com/about Thank you so much for spreading the word!

Expand full comment

I'm puzzled. Why would you want to eliminate one of the most prominent women in the gospel narratives? And a theologian at that? By denying Martha's individuality and absorbing her into yet another Mary, she disappears. It seems to me the more individual female voices represented the better.

Expand full comment

I’m puzzled. Did you listen to the sermon? Because I address this very issue.

Expand full comment

I'll revisit it.

Expand full comment

Actually I have often wondered where Lazarus was in Luke 10. Also have wondered if Martha was a widow.

Expand full comment

This type of scholarship explained truly ignites my spirit and is so affirming of the role women play in the gospel and the trust bestowed upon them. Great delivery. Very grateful to women scholars, historians and teachers. You women rock!!

Expand full comment

Your sermon is the capstone of this year's exploration into the two centuries between Jesus and Constantine. I read many books, including histories and explorations of the Gospel of Mary. The content you shared is brilliant and continuing insight. May you and other theologians and historians continue to undo the harm that has been done. Thank you so much.

Expand full comment

One of . . . No, the MOST profound, important, and enlightening sermons I’ve heard in my 79 years of living!!!!! Thank you for bringing light into our darkness.

Expand full comment

Maybe there need to be more sermons investigating whatever was meant, or should we imagine is meant by Messiahship!

Expand full comment

Guessing in the least it could mean what anyone declaring Jesus as Lord...or Christ? For me, the Cosmic Christ, yes...but no Messiah!

Expand full comment

As well...I respect as a raised in the church by the Anglican 3 legged stool tradition of “Scripture/Tradition/Reason”...and continue to value greatly ongoing scholarly research into original Scripture texts, and early church writings...I also believe as much time needs to be taken to consider what we can hear from those expressing or writing church theology ...i.e. the ongoing wisdom which is being expressed in our time by the many inspired and inspiring thinkers, reflectors, writers. All of us is better than one of us, and I’m tired of the Church’s “bubble” where it ignores searching & recognizing where the Spirit actively speaks to all conditions of the human race today!

Expand full comment

Is it possible to share with my friends in the church, please? I tried to, but apparently not available to non-subscribers to the Cottage! Very disappointed, when it’s such important info!

Expand full comment

This post is open to all. You can share the URL - https://dianabutlerbass.substack.com/p/all-the-marys#details. If it comes up with a subscribe box, just click let me read it first.

We'll have a written version soon.

Expand full comment

Thank you! An awesome presentation with such a grand insight.

Expand full comment

Marvelous.

Expand full comment

Feminine wisdom tradition to the fore!

Have just been following a course at Centre for Action and Contemplation with Cynthia Bourgeault. Good to know that another scholar out there is coming to similar conclusions.

Expand full comment

It's 4:30 am and something woke me up and brought me to your sermon. I can hardly breathe while taking this all in, as the tears flow. I can not even imagine it yet. This will take time. It will not leave.

Expand full comment

Such awesomely good news delivered with passion and intelligence and heart. Thank you.

Expand full comment

Diana!!!

What a sermon yesterday! Your passion shown!!

Sorry I didn’t get to speak to you this year…

Feeling so grateful that because of Church of the Holy Family in Chapel Hill I know both you and Libbie❣️ Go, women!

Peace+

Expand full comment

This is a discovery that could change Christianity in powerful and exciting ways. Will there be ears to hear and hearts to understand.

Thank you for sharing this with us.

Expand full comment

https://vanderbilt.zoom.us/rec/share/ihulZw8evhKL3beZwbwX7LcG9mI9Srn8afq9LX1qOGKBsa_oOrebc5YUI7dMUpSz.8H52EI76shzAaqWN

This is a link to Elizabeth Schrader’s talk at Vanderbilt Divinty School where she shows the texts that Diana discusses.

Expand full comment

Whoa. I’m going to listen to this again, and I saw there should be a transcript. That will be helpful too. :)

What could it have meant, and what does it mean moving forward? I’m still kind of floored by this (in a really, really good way), but I imagine the patriarchy would have had to work a lot harder to keep its power. I hope we’d all be open to a lot more possibility rather than needing to keep this same oppressive culture. I still fear those resistant to change would hold us back, but I read from Ibram Kendi that in politics you put the programs in place and over time, people will stop complaining and accept them as they realize how the programs help them too. Perhaps it’s the same in this context? Update the text, and the implications of acceptance and love will be widely felt over time.

Expand full comment

If you want to see the video of Libbie Schrader's song, "Magdalene," you'll find it at https://vimeo.com/69995141.

Expand full comment

Such a powerful and liberating story every time I hear it, and with every step that happens towards getting it in our Bibles. Thank you so much for sharing this Good News!

Expand full comment

Not a Greek scholar, but I read that the word translated as "serve" in Luke's story is diakonein. Luke calls her a deacon. Surely he knew what that meant in the early church. How exactly did Martha "serve"? Did it have anything to do with food, or do we just assume this because she was female? She had her own house, so maybe she served people in her community, and worried constantly about them.

Expand full comment

Really appreciated the contemporary scholarship, connecting the Mary’s, and the Christological conclusion. Brilliant! Thank you so much 🙏👍 Disputes in churches are nothing new! History is littered with them. But ancient editors stooping to edit the biblical text in favour of their patristic traditions… wow, that’s an interesting if not entirely new insight. I’ll be carrying Mary the Tower in my heart today.

Expand full comment

Grateful for how you elevated Elizabeth Schrader's cutting edge research and challenged us to imagine an alternative early church before Mary Magdalen's voice and leadership were silenced.

This is the church I yearn for!!!

Expand full comment

This is a powerful piece of scholarship and more importantly speaks to the nature and heart of Christ. He loved and elevated Mary. She loved

Him back and saw Him clearly. He continues to love and elevate those who seek Him regardless of who they are, what they do, whom they love... Thanks for this message.

Expand full comment

Thank you so much Diana and Elizabeth Schrader for this wonderful revelation. It confirms my intuitive leaning toward the Bible's real truths as God would have us know them. I love that this is happening now - in Covid and 500-year-church transition time. Holy Spirit has been revealing much to us: #Me Too movement (sexual abuse of women and some men by powerful men), #Black Lives Matter (systemic racism's persistence), and #Every Child Matters (revealing of unmarked graves of Indigenous children at Canadian residential and day schools.) And now the revealing of Mary the Tower! Women rejoice everywhere!! Here's to a sooner reconciliation of men and women together. Praise God.

Expand full comment

That is worth the price of admission! I echo the comment about Cynthia Bourgeault. I believe that in her studies, several of the biblical Marys may merge into one. Cynthia believes that the Gospel of Mary has material that parallels the Gospel of John in the Greek Bible. I hope I’m doing Justice to this. It has been a while since I read her books and taught a course on it in our parish. It garnered a great deal of interest. Diana, you visited us here in Frederick at ERUCC five? Years ago. Thanx again for your sharing

Expand full comment

Ohhh!!! Thank you!!! Imagine ... sad and now freeing ....

Expand full comment

Wow. Just wow. I will enjoy following this as the scholarship continues. I love the fact that what a man hid (for whatever reason,) a woman revealed. Warms my heart beyond words.

Expand full comment

This was incredibly powerful. I shared it with my 14 year old daughter who quickly understood the inherent misogyny likely behind it all. Do you know if Papyrus 66 is available digitally to everyone? As a pastor-theologian of 26 years, I would love to see it myself.

Expand full comment

Hi Laurie! Yes indeed, here is a digital transcription of Papyrus 66: https://itseeweb.cal.bham.ac.uk/iohannes/transcriptions/index.html?witness=P66&language=greek

If you go to verse 11:1 you will see the changes that Diana talked about. Hope this helps!

Expand full comment

That I don't know. And Libbie's just off on her honeymoon! Remind me in about two weeks and I'll check with her then.

Although she might peek in here. She's part of the Cottage and sometimes replies to questions as she's able.

Expand full comment

I recommend her Harvard Theological Review for folks who know Greek. Some can probably access it through their seminaries. Otherwise, it is available through Cambridge UP for a fee (a kinda hefty one!).

Expand full comment

Thank you, Diana! I can only sit in amazement and tears! Mary the TOWER! .... how thrilling and life affirming! .... so much what women, especially, are needing now and for ALL time have needed! I cannot express how much your work has meant to me this Spring. Your book "Freeing Jesus," your podcasts, your Lenten work with Trent, your interview with Bill McKibben, your work with Southern Lights and Brian McLaren and NOW THIS! I can never thank you enough!

Expand full comment

Dear Diana, Thank you so much for sharing your theological insights and Libbie's "New Eyes!" This was a refreshing sermon for all ears who want to hear and to rejoice! Many blessings to you as you forge the road ahead!

Expand full comment

Thank you!!! So powerful and life changing!

Expand full comment

Thank you! Thank you! I have suspected for a very long time that there was some purposeful tampering of the original texts to serve our masculine ego and need for dominance. My apologies for my male gender.

Expand full comment

No apologies necessary!

Expand full comment

Beautiful! So appropriate for our difficult times as women. Empowering!

Expand full comment

Amazing! Thank you! I always knew the Mary Magdalen got a bad rap from the misogynistic ‘scholars’ of the day, but Libby’s work blows it wide open!

Expand full comment

Amazing! I too am Thankful for new and diverse eyes on old texts! I don’t believe a footnote would do this discovery Justice. It would just be perpetuating the old story at the cost of true liberation. Christianity needs this to truly be the gospel for all.

Expand full comment

thank you! I have read of her research, but you have put it into a powerful context...that is in terms of the two great affirmations... thank you!

Expand full comment

Thank you

Expand full comment

I love your description of hearing Libby’s work at the coffee shop. “I know this to be true!” Intuitively. I think that in spite of the patriarchy of authorship, censorship, translation, interpretation - in spite of it ALL- there is a POWERFUL, complete feminine narrative that God weaves into our sacred text. And Libby’s contemplative stance (Mary) and active agency (Martha) is what has brought this specific narrative to light. 👏👏 May we keep uncovering the voices that have been hidden, perhaps now the world is ready is to hear them.

Expand full comment

I’ll say again that any one interested it Mary Magdalene should turn to Cynthia Bourgeault

"The Meaning of Mary Magdalene: Discovering the Woman at the Heart of Christianity".

It’s another source of study of this topic……

Expand full comment

My mind is absolutely blown by this. I've never wanted to brush up on my Greek more, so that I can look at these texts again and again. Thank you for sharing it!

Expand full comment

Let it be!! Peter the Rock and Mary the Tower!!

Thanks for preaching it Diana!!

Expand full comment

Wow!!! Triple Wow! You know - I have always had this feeling for years and years that there was so much more to Mary Magdalene and NOW. Mary the Tower. Fantastic. I googled Elizabeth Schrader etc during the sermon - and what a wealth of new scholarship AND hope.

Expand full comment

I don't know the answer to your question, but I am filled with "goose" bumps listening to your sermon.

Mary the Tower of Faith, of Power, perhaps. And I wonder why, why, why are men so threatened by us that they had to obscure this woman of towering insight? I am also wondering how Mary the Tower fits in with the research of the Westar Institute on the first communities after Jesus that I read about in their book After Jesus, Before Christ.

Expand full comment

Thank you, Diana, for sharing this wisdom. It makes me look forward to more feminine Towers in Christianity.

Expand full comment

Who is the artist for the Mary Magdeline painting? Or name? Location?

Thanks.

Expand full comment

It is an old icon. Found it online!

Expand full comment

Ok. Thanks.

Also, I loved your lecture. Mary, the Tower!

Amen and make it so.

Expand full comment

So, I’m curious as to why Jesus didn’t recognize her confession of his messiah-ship in a like matter to what he did w Peter.

Also, I’m not sure what difference it makes to the traditional misogynistic view of women back then, or the current restrictions placed on women in conservative churches today. Can a case be made that since Jesus didn’t recognize her faith in the same way he did Peter’s,

that Jesus upheld and therefore sanctioned a kind of patriarchy? No church leader since that day has ever placed her in a position of reverence or leadership or example, thus setting precedent for leadership of women in the church. Is this based on continued patriarchy and misogyny or on Jesus’ lack of acknowledging her confession? Or is the patriarchy and misogyny in the church based mainly on Paul and Timothy’s words ?

Expand full comment

I think we must always acknowledge that Jesus...fully human...obviously/necessarily was limited as each of us is, by our culture, context, community, life experience, and so are the gospel writer witnesses!! While I welcome such discovery as this editing of the John texts by Elizabeth Schrader, and recognize how it surely has contributed to the mis-understanding of what Jesus lived and taught and the building up of the male-dominated leadership in Christendom until so very recently...I must confess to being nearly as concerned re how the gospel writers have put in our minds that Jesus claimed Messiahship, which I can NOT imagine his doing...They saw that in him, and so wrote it into their narratives, & any of John’s writer’s reflections MUST imho be taken as exactly reflecting his context and community’s at the time of writing. I really dislike preachers basing sermon treatises on texts from John!!

Expand full comment

I think that's only a difference in the writers - John's gospel is such a different style, while the synoptics (in which the Peter story appears) tend to be less poetic, more direct.

Also, the opposite case can also be made. The authors of the synoptics had to make Peter's authority clear (and thus inserted the "upon this Rock" comment by Jesus) BECAUSE there was a challenge to Peter's authority by other communities -- including the community that looked to Mary Magdalene for its leadership. You could say there was no need to recognize her authority because so many early followers simply accepted it.

Expand full comment

Thank you, thank you. Thank you, Diana!!!!

Although you have shared Libbie and her work with us before, these words spoke to me at a deeper, bone tingling level!!

Like you I know them to be true in the depth of my being and Mary will be my companion and Tower of strength!!

May she never be shut down again .... in any way shape or form ❤️🌿

Expand full comment

This is incredible!! Libby, thank you! Thank you for following the message you received that day in the garden! Diana, thank you for bringing out this truth for all of us to witness.

Women’s power is here & can no longer be obscured. Women can no longer be excluded as leaders in this world!!!

Expand full comment

That'll preach! Thank you for this, and the update from Libby about the NA-GNT process. Beautiful! Wonderful!

Expand full comment

THANK YOU!!!!! I am in tears! I’ve always sensed that MARY THE TOWER had a much bigger story and importance in the Gospel, that the misogynistic tactic of slut shaming was really a clue to her power. This is Liberating scholarship at its best!

Expand full comment

What an astonishing sermon. Life changing. I am in tears.

Expand full comment

Wow. Just wow

Expand full comment

Wow wow wow... Ok, I'm in tears. Thank you.

Expand full comment

Will a transcript be available for this? I would love to share it with a women's group I lead.

Expand full comment

Working on it. Available later this week.

Expand full comment

Wonderful - really appreciate it!

Expand full comment

Let me check on this!

Expand full comment

Thanks so much!

Expand full comment

This was a powerful, life-changing sermon for me to hear yesterday. Thank you so much, Diana and Libbie. What it tells me is that we have been lied to for millennia! For so long women were excluded from leadership in the church (and in many ways still are). I want everyone I know to hear this!!!

Expand full comment
The Cottage
The Cottage
Part retreat, part think tank. A place for inspiration and ideas about culture, faith, and spirit.