"The title Christ-Sophia provides a theologically accurate picture for the Second Person present from the beginning with the First Person of the Trinity, "Dr. Jann Aldredge-Clanton points out in her ground-breaking book In Search of the Christ-Sophia.
This book is a must-read for anyone desiring an inclusive Christology that liberates and empowers partnership and equality.
Several weeks ago, Jann visited me in Sarasota and we had an opportunity to discuss our passion for restoring the feminine images of the Divine in liturgy and theology. Jann has written serveral books on this topic as I have.
Jann is an ordained Baptist Minister whose story has interesting parallels to my story. After our visit and reading Breaking Free: The Story of a Feminist Baptist Minister, I have a new appreciation of the struggles that women in other denominations face as we break through the stained glass ceiling.
Jann and I certainly share a journey toward justice and equality that is still a work in progress! I rejoice in our solidarity and identify with her story and experiences of family support and breaking through obstacles as the first ordained Baptist woman to serve in a variety of challenging situations!
Dr. Aldredge-Clanton presents a logical biblical argument for the connection between Christ and Wisdom (Sophia) in the Hebrew Scriptures. "Christ "is the image of the invisible God" Col. 1;15. Christ is the reflection of God's glory and the exact imprint of God's very being Heb: 1:2-3. Since Christ is an exact reproduction of God, then Christ, like God, includes female as well as male.
The Bible has many feminine images of God.
God, a comforting mother- Isa. 66:13
God, a nursing mother- Isa. 49:15
God, a mother eagle- Dt. 32:11-12
God, a woman in labor- Isa: 42:14
God, a midwife- Psalm 22: 9-10
God, a woman searching for a lost coin- LK. 15:8-10
God, a woman making bread-Lk. 13:20-21
God, Wisdom/Sophia- Proverbs 1,4,8 Christ and Wisdom both serve as being present from the beginning of creation. Wisdom was "set up at the first, before the beginning of the earth" (Proverbs 8:23); Like Wisdom, Christ was the one "through whom" God created the worlds" (Heb. 1:2; in Christ "all things in heaven and on earth were created" (Col. 1:16).
The early Christians attributed the characteristics of Sophia to Jesus. Lk 13:34, Mt 23:37 Jesus's image of a hen gathering her chicks under wings to relate his love for the children of Israel can be compared to Prv. 8:32-34 Wisdom who calls her children to remain close to her.
(See also my books for these and many other references to Sophia Wisdom in scripture and in the Christian Mystics as well: Exploring the Feminine Face of God, Delighting in the Feminine Divine and Heart Talks with Mother God and Jann Aldredge-Clanton's book, In Whose Image? God and Gender.)
Jann concludes that no human images or words can encompass the mystery of the Divine, "Wisdom is leading Christians to expand their vision of divine beginnings in order to restore human relationships and the whole cosmic order. Christ-Sophia from the beginning created the good and the beautiful cosmos. In the beginning, human beings lived in mutual, loving relationship. Human and nonhuman creation lived in harmony and blessedness. The new image of Christ-Sophia can help Christian see this harmonious creation as the dvine intention from the beginning. "
Amen, sister on the journey?
We need to reintegrate the divine feminine and affirm Christ-Sophia, the image of the Cosmic Christ, who will lead us to liberate the oppressed and to heal our earth.
Bridget Mary Meehan, RCWP
Living Gospel Inclusivity and Empowerment Now
Exploring the Feminine Face of God and opening to the Feminine Divine is helping me to deepen my relationship with God. Thank you for your books and current writings on this.
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