Joyce Rupp Awakens our Hearts and Minds to a Lost Biblical Treasure, Sophia
... Sophia (the Greek word for Wisdom)
Thursday, October 4th, 2001

Warm and wise best describes Joyce Rupp, a best selling author, spiritual guide, and international speaker, whose teachings speak volumes to where we are today as a society. Rupp shed some light on a truly lost and curious mystical figure with her stirring discussion "Discover and Celebrate Sophia: A Lost Biblical Treasure" last Thursday evening 10-04 at St. Olaf Catholic Church.

Women Spirit, an ecumenical collaboration of Twin Cities organizations which sponsors events that explore and reflect women's spirituality along with the League of Catholic Women and St. Olaf Catholic Church (cosponsors) invited Joyce Rupp to speak about her extensive knowledge of Sophia's personal and feminine presence in Jewish scriptures. Some 900 curiously responsive people attended the sold out event and Rupp did not disappoint.

Having recently published the book "Prayers to Sophia," Joyce was first introduced to Sophia (the Greek word for Wisdom) in 1988 when addressing a series of questions for a writing project based on the subject of "wisdom." Indeed wonderful to write about, yet painful, the dauntingly expansive subject left her "in over my head" until she discovered the connection of the word "Sophia" with the word "Wisdom". She wrote in 'The Star in My Heart’: "When I discovered Sophia, wisdom took on the shape of a trusted companion, yearning for my good, believing in me, blessing me with the surprising elements of growth."

Joyce touched on how Sophia has become a lost subject in the church. The text from the Jerusalem Bible is of such exclusive male language that Sophia all but disappears. Thomas Merton has said that "God is as much Father as Mother." Rupp believes that Sophia is really another face, perhaps the female face of the divine. She cites five central figures in Jewish scripture and Sophia is included: 1. Yeoweh; 2. Moses; 3. David; 4. Job; and 5. Sophia. Scriptures say about Sophia that her presence was there at the creation of the world. She is a teacher, a lover, the mother, the tree of life, and also the law. She brings wisdom and is the source for truth.

Joyce Rupp is the author of 11 books including Prayers to Sophia, The Star in My Heart, Out of the Ordinary, and Fresh Bread.

Joyce goes on to say that it’s imperative "to have the feminine in our lives." In these bewildering times of war, instead of power and dominance, we need to "embrace the relational, the compassionate, and the mysterious." Many in the Catholic Church struggle with the notion of God as "She," but Rupp has this to say on the matter, "Going inward is a feminine process where we are reflective, quiet, and meditate. Going outward is a masculine process where we express and articulate. We need both a masculine and a feminine God." Of course God is neither "he" nor "she" says Deepak Chopra, but Rupp rather suggests that "we put on to God who we long for God to be for us."

So how did Sophia, this treasure, get lost?

Joyce believes that it is a tremendous fear of the feminine. The early church could not accept a female point of view so the early Gnostics put Sophia aside. In pre-Christian times there were Gods and Goddesses and a Goddess was like a principal of life. With Christian times we believe in the holy trinity--the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit--so Sophia is looked as rather the feminine side of Jesus Christ. Radical? Not really.

So is Sophia a metaphor for who the divine might be? Or is she really a person? Or an aspect of the divine? Questions like these were asked of the audience. Joyce's response was that Sophia is all of the above. "Don't approach the idea of Sophia rationally. It will not work. When you meditate and reflect is when it will work."

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Michael Reinbold is a professional photographer and banquet caterer with an extensive theatre background in acting, writing, and directing. He loves all aspects of the arts, staying fit, and helping and inspiring people. A passionate believer in St. Joan of Arc's mission of social justice, Michael is a continuing AIDS Ride participant, Grace House volunteer cook, mass reader, and Joan of Arc choir member. He looks forward to web reporting and photographing for the website.

When asked why the feminine side is so fearsome Joyce replied, "The feminine is very passionate and NOT always very controllable. The masculine seems to have only answers where the feminine questions. We need a dialogue. We all have wisdom to share. We all have the answers."