By Rev. Dr. Angelique Walker-Smith, Bread for the World
“When they had entered the city, they went up to the upper room where they were staying; that is, Peter and John and … These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers… “When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.” Acts 1:13a-14 and Acts 2:1
This month ushers in the Christian season of Pentecost – the birth of the Church. In Acts 1-2, we learn the Holy Spirit filled the people in a diverse assembly from many nations in the “Upper Room.” But where did this happen? Mary, mother of John Mark who wrote the gospel book of St. Mark, has often been overlooked in this remarkable story. Still, many scholars agree her role as host was not only important at Pentecost but also in events leading up to Pentecost and other key events after the birth of the Church. This, in addition to her being an active participant among “the women” and the others at Pentecost.
Many scholars say that this was the same “Upper Room” where Jesus celebrated the Passover and the first Communion supper (Luke 22:12) and where Saint Peter, the first Pope, often visited, and went to her house immediately went upon his deliverance from prison in Jerusalem. The Coptic Orthodox Church not only acknowledges St. Mark, as the founder of their church but refers to the “Upper Room” as “Mary’s House.” This holy site has been proclaimed a church by the holy apostles under the name of the Virgin Mary, mother of God, after the ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ into heaven and that it was renewed after the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus in the year A.D. 73. Still others call it the “House of Mary.”
The idea of an “Upper Room” where men and women gathered for advancing the gospel of Jesus the Christ to and for all, convened the occasion of the Lord’s Supper and Pentecost as well as gather prayers for Peter’s rescue from prison and have a general “open door” for all leads us to an important question today, especially for people of faith. Where is “Mary’s House” today when God’s people are being sent away from their homes and not invited in the public and private spaces, unjustly imprisoned, affected by policies that advance severe cuts to SNAP and other food related policies and programs like the termination of United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
The early Church and Jesus were assaulted from every side, including by the Roman government that indicted and crucified Jesus and imprisoned Peter. But Mary’s house was an inclusive place of refuge and where the Holy Spirit was invited and came. It was a place of advocacy to follow the anointing of Jesus who said “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor…” (Luke 4:18-19). There is an increasing need for “Mary’s House” today that follows the example of Jesus and the early Church. We invite you to be a part of this movement at bread.org.
Angelique Walker-Smith is senior associate for Pan African and Orthodox Church engagement at Bread for the World.
