Sophia Spirituality: Part of CNWE's 20th Aniversary Celebration

Elizabeth Johnson, in her books, She Who Is and Friends of God and Prophets provides theological explanation for our celebration of Sophia as "Creator of the Universe." Using scholarship-based selections from Catholic canonical Scripture, she reveals a strand of continuity that interprets Wisdom (Sapientia in Latin and Sophia in Greek) as the One God of Israel using female imagery. Johnson shows that although God remains a holy and impenetrable mystery, the scriptural Wisdom metaphor provides a "right way to speak about God."1 Quoting from the Book of Sirach, Johnson shows that the attributes of JHWH, the one God of the Hebrews belong to Sophia. The divine prerogative of omnipotence is hers: - "Though she is but one, she can do all things." (7:27) As creator, she is "the fashioner of all things" (7:12) She has "recreative agency": "while remaining in herself, she renews all things." (7:27) Hers is the power to enlighten, to teach and convey knowledge (7:17-22) Redeeming power is attributed to her saving deeds -" throughout the course of history human beings 'were saved by wisdom.'(9:18)"2 Present in the Christian tradition as Holy Spirit, giver of life, Sophia is the life-giver incarnate in Jesus.3 And "in every."