Two women, separated in life by over 2,000 years, shared a characteristic that emboldened them to speak truth in the midst of threatening circumstances. Looking back at the lives of my mother, Patricia, and St. Mary Magdalene, I recognize their grit. Living in two drastically different worlds, these women responded to injustice despite cultural and social expectations of silent submission. Raised by one, I encountered the other in the pages of scripture.

Through the engaging Marvel series, WandaVision, we journey through Wanda’s experience of grief and what it can teach us about cherishing life, sadness, and letting go of trying to control our worlds and emotions. In my mother’s death, I am finding peace.