Word to the Wise
Friday, September 18, 2020 - Friday in the 24th Week in Ordinary Time
[1 Cor 15:12-20 and Luke 8:1-3]Jesus journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God. Accompanying him were the Twelve and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, Joanna, the wife of Herod's steward Chuza, Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their resources. [Luke]
SEPTEMBER 18 ST. JUAN MACIAS, OP [Dominican brother, contemporary with St. Martin de Porres in Lima, Peru, 17th century]
The Gospel According to Luke makes it clear that women played a significant role in Jesus' ministry. There are numerous references to the presence and participation of women in actual events or in parable images. We just saw one in the story of the penitent woman in yesterday's gospel scripture.
A thorough reading of the Gospel According to Luke will reveal three important points. First, Jesus was not at all afraid to act counter to the cultural subordination of women in his day. Second, all the way to the resurrection, women are shown to be Jesus' most faithful followers. Third, women are the first proclaimers of Jesus' resurrection. In addition to these gospel portraits, Luke's second volume, the Acts of the Apostles, shows women playing significant roles in the ministry of the early Christian community.
Given this scriptural authority, the stubborn exclusion of women from particular ministries in our Church is a strange puzzle. Pope Francis is making some small steps toward correcting this orientation. There is also a new commission to study the possibility of ordaining women to the permanent diaconate. On the local level, bishops and pastors are finding ways to recognize the essential contribution that women make to the Body of Christ and opening new paths to broaden that contribution. Every step in this direction is a step in the right direction. AMEN