Maria, Sophia, Agape

Jocelyn B. Smith

The 15th of August is a major religious holiday in much of Europe as well as Central and South America, celebrating the Assumption of Mary, mother of Jesus, into the heavenly worlds. Its celebration signifies a very profound emancipation of the status of motherhood and womanhood within the Christian traditions.

The glory of the “Divine Mother,” the sacred feminine aspect of God, is not unique to Christianity but occurs in various expressions across all traditions and cultures—from Kwan Yin in China to Isis in Egypt to Tonantzin of the Aztecs in Mexico.

Our music this week is a beautiful offering by the New-York-born Jazz singer Jocelyn B. Smith, who lives and works in Berlin, Germany. The song refers to the Divine Mother as “Maria,” or Mary, recognized as the one who gave birth to the Christ. It also refers to “Sophia,” the sacred personification of Wisdom, as well as “Agape,” the higher Love beyond the “Eros” of the body.

May the blessings of the Divine Feminine reach us all in eternal renewal.