Does the Church believe that men are better than women? Why can't women be priests? When is the Vatican going to break free of this outdated patriarchal system of "government" and get with the times? June 29 is the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, the rocks on which the Church was built. I wonder if, on this day, these questions are not stirred up again with new ardor.

The mystics tell us that there are two dimensions to life, two movements of the heart, two approaches to reality and spirituality. They are as big and as cosmic as Earth and Sky, Sun and Moon, Masculine and Feminine. They are the Petrine Way and the Marian Way.

Many of us tend to plod along in our faith journey following the Petrine Way, named after impetuous, lovable, "open mouth, insert foot" St. Peter. It is active, leaps ahead, goes, grabs, speaks with passion and is a very productive way. Generally speaking, it has masculine characteristics. To get closer to God, I am going to "do" this or that... get involved in a group, knock on doors, do the stations every day, read the entire Bible in a year, etc. It springs forth from us, from our initiative. There is nothing wrong with the Petrine dimension of our faith, it is a critical branch in the Christian way of life. In the Martha and Mary gospel story, this is Martha.

However, being Petrine is not the only way to live in the Spirit that God has poured into our hearts. In fact, the primordial way, the first way, the fundamental posture for those who thirst for the Holy Spirit, is the Marian Way. Modeled after Mary, the Mother of Jesus, this is the "better part" that Martha's sister chose, and as Jesus said, it shall not be taken from her. The Marian Way is receptive, it waits, receives and is still. It listens to words and contemplates the Word. By no means, incidentally, is it to be confused with passivity. This includes (paradoxically) active listening and eager expectation that the Gift of God should be done unto me, should be given unto me! This way leads to our being filled with God. Mother Teresa knew this well. She said only the heart that is empty can be filled. The receptive heart is empty of agendas, aggressive opining and over analyzing. It is essentially feminine. Indeed, the saints and mystics say that in relation to God we are all feminine.

For any man who cringes at the thought of becoming feminine, let me affirm that the Marian Way is NOT an affront to our manhood. It simply means that God is the Creator and we are the created. The Marian Way teaches us that God, who is neither male or female, is essentially "masculine" - He initiates, He gives, He impregnates, and we respond, we receive, we are filled with the seed of His Divine Life.

So who is "better" - man or woman? There is no answer really. Both are creatures equal in dignity, called to respond, receive, conceive the Divine Life. At the same time, let us not forget that Peter's shining moments came to him when he was essentially "receptive" - when he stopped talking and started taking in what God was saying to him:

Jesus said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter said in reply, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father" (Mt 16:15-17).

It seems clear that in that moment, Peter "looked up" - he opened his mind and heart and received that Word from the Father. This was Peter's Marian moment. Perhaps this is why Pope John Paul II called Mary the Icon of all humanity, and called for a rediscovery of the "feminine genius" in our times... our overly productive, aggressively masculine times. Perhaps this is why he called woman God's "masterpiece."

In the Christian life, we need both the Petrine and Marian way. However, as we learn in the Scriptures and Tradition, the foundation lies in the feminine. I recommend we all ponder this one some more today. Am I first a receiver of God's gift, or do I always make the first move, on my own, from my own strength, and with my own agenda?

"Only those who have learned to remain with Jesus, are ready to be sent by Him to evangelize" (Pope John Paul II).