Resisting Violence Engendering Easter
Anabella Morabito
02/27/2015
Resisting Violence - Engendering Easter To speak of a reconstruction of Easter in which we engender Easter and begin to construct an event which truly represent a resistance of violence, marginalization and death, entails that we understand the main characters involved in the first encounter with the risen Christ. This deconstruction of what has come to be understood by Easter must take into consideration the figure of Mary of Magdala if it is to ever give new life to an understanding that represents a resistance of violence against all marginalized persons. In chapter 15 of Changing Horizons Schussler Fiorenza explores the ways in which engendering Easter is necessary if we seek to experience the life-giving encounter with the risen Christ. Engendering Easter is inevitable when we begin to note that the events as are recorded bring us to the wo/men disciples. As Schussler Fiorenza notes, “The early Christian message that ‘Jesus the Nazarene who was executed on the cross and was raised in glory’ is revealed first to the Galilean wo/men disciples of Jesus.” (233) In order to understand the encounter with the wo/men disciple Schussler Fiorenza brings us to understand the “Apostle to the Apostles”, Mary of Magadala. A woman who in her life-giving leadership stood by Jesus in loyal understanding, a quality which many of the twelve [male] Apostles lacked. Unfortunately, as is evident in the reading and in our modern context, Mary of Magdala’s story and powerful witness has been limited and corrupted, twisted and misinterpreted, and most unfortunately used against wo/men themselves. As Schussler Fiorenza explains, “Mary of Magdala’s story also bespeaks of the mysogism that wo/men face who dare to assume leadership.” (234) Mary’s witness and irreplaceable discipleship is discredited and portrayed as merely the role of the “repentant sinner”, the “redeemed whore.” (234) Reclaiming wo/men’s crucial role in the Easter event, and hence
02/27/2015
Resisting Violence - Engendering Easter To speak of a reconstruction of Easter in which we engender Easter and begin to construct an event which truly represent a resistance of violence, marginalization and death, entails that we understand the main characters involved in the first encounter with the risen Christ. This deconstruction of what has come to be understood by Easter must take into consideration the figure of Mary of Magdala if it is to ever give new life to an understanding that represents a resistance of violence against all marginalized persons. In chapter 15 of Changing Horizons Schussler Fiorenza explores the ways in which engendering Easter is necessary if we seek to experience the life-giving encounter with the risen Christ. Engendering Easter is inevitable when we begin to note that the events as are recorded bring us to the wo/men disciples. As Schussler Fiorenza notes, “The early Christian message that ‘Jesus the Nazarene who was executed on the cross and was raised in glory’ is revealed first to the Galilean wo/men disciples of Jesus.” (233) In order to understand the encounter with the wo/men disciple Schussler Fiorenza brings us to understand the “Apostle to the Apostles”, Mary of Magadala. A woman who in her life-giving leadership stood by Jesus in loyal understanding, a quality which many of the twelve [male] Apostles lacked. Unfortunately, as is evident in the reading and in our modern context, Mary of Magdala’s story and powerful witness has been limited and corrupted, twisted and misinterpreted, and most unfortunately used against wo/men themselves. As Schussler Fiorenza explains, “Mary of Magdala’s story also bespeaks of the mysogism that wo/men face who dare to assume leadership.” (234) Mary’s witness and irreplaceable discipleship is discredited and portrayed as merely the role of the “repentant sinner”, the “redeemed whore.” (234) Reclaiming wo/men’s crucial role in the Easter event, and hence