Today’s gospel gives us a precious glimpse into Jesus’ thoughts on women in ministry…right alongside Him and the big Twelve!! I seriously want in on this road trip. These women have a special something in common in that they had all been cured of evil spirits and disease. Remember the woman from yesterday’s gospel, who had also been cured of the affliction of her sins, and was compelled to be so close to Jesus that she wiped His feet with her own hair? These women seem to have a similar desire to be close to Him because they have joined His motley crew of rugged fisherman, tax collectors, and various other dudes. Their healing, breakthrough, freedom, and restoration is what activated them to go all in for Jesus, therefore their sin/affliction was the very thing that gave them the need for their Savior. May I also be able to see that my sin does not keep me from Jesus, it draws me closer to Him to be saved, healed, and redeemed. We have work to do after all.
The thing that gets me wondering is if these ladies might have become close personal friends with Mary, Jesus’ mother. Perhaps they had their own little MOMS group that met each morning to pray for their children and for some good old fashion girl talk. Perhaps they were like my groupies and I stealing away for little weekend trips to go wine tasting or to cook fancy food. Maybe they were like so many groups of faith-filled women in various ministries raising money for this or that, praying diligently for every kind of need, teaching the children about Jesus, doing the work, making things happen, and most importantly participating in worship. I think it might actually be a combination of all of the above because our need for community is necessary on the journey of faith, and our faith will be made known through our good works. We definitely know that they were women with a past, but they were also women with means as it says, “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.” How cool is that? Raise your hand if you know any resourceful women currently in church ministry? I do I do!!!!!!
Jesus didn’t have time to sift through His entourage looking for those that were socially approved the same way we might scroll through our Facebook looking for people that agree with our opinions. Jesus had a mission and that was to spread love to everyone. His social media practices were to build real relationships with people, eyelash to eyelash. In those real relationships, He was able to ask people to detach from the things of this world, He was able to rely on the community to support His mission through prayer and resources, and He was able to empower people to change their status from being concerned about this life to being concerned about the next life. Jesus was indeed a “ladies’ man” and I am grateful for His special consideration of some amazing women of God beginning with His own mom and trickling all the way down to little ole me. Knowing that I have a place in His entourage even with my past, but especially because of my future, my resources, and my willingness to be close to Him, gives me the encouragement I need to stay in it all the way. It is well with my soul.
Memorial of Saints Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn, Priest, and Paul Chŏng Ha-sang, and Companions, Martyrs
Lectionary: 447
Reading 1 1 TM 6:2C-12
Beloved:
Teach and urge these things.
Whoever teaches something different
and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ
and the religious teaching
is conceited, understanding nothing,
and has a morbid disposition for arguments and verbal disputes.
From these come envy, rivalry, insults, evil suspicions,
and mutual friction among people with corrupted minds,
who are deprived of the truth,
supposing religion to be a means of gain.
Indeed, religion with contentment is a great gain.
For we brought nothing into the world,
just as we shall not be able to take anything out of it.
If we have food and clothing, we shall be content with that.
Those who want to be rich are falling into temptation and into a trap
and into many foolish and harmful desires,
which plunge them into ruin and destruction.
For the love of money is the root of all evils,
and some people in their desire for it have strayed from the faith
and have pierced themselves with many pains.
But you, man of God, avoid all this.
Instead, pursue righteousness, devotion,
faith, love, patience, and gentleness.
Compete well for the faith.
Lay hold of eternal life,
to which you were called when you made the noble confession
in the presence of many witnesses.
Teach and urge these things.
Whoever teaches something different
and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ
and the religious teaching
is conceited, understanding nothing,
and has a morbid disposition for arguments and verbal disputes.
From these come envy, rivalry, insults, evil suspicions,
and mutual friction among people with corrupted minds,
who are deprived of the truth,
supposing religion to be a means of gain.
Indeed, religion with contentment is a great gain.
For we brought nothing into the world,
just as we shall not be able to take anything out of it.
If we have food and clothing, we shall be content with that.
Those who want to be rich are falling into temptation and into a trap
and into many foolish and harmful desires,
which plunge them into ruin and destruction.
For the love of money is the root of all evils,
and some people in their desire for it have strayed from the faith
and have pierced themselves with many pains.
But you, man of God, avoid all this.
Instead, pursue righteousness, devotion,
faith, love, patience, and gentleness.
Compete well for the faith.
Lay hold of eternal life,
to which you were called when you made the noble confession
in the presence of many witnesses.
Responsorial Psalm PS 49:6-7, 8-10, 17-18, 19-20
R. Blessed the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!
Why should I fear in evil days
when my wicked ensnarers ring me round?
They trust in their wealth;
the abundance of their riches is their boast.
R. Blessed the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!
Yet in no way can a man redeem himself,
or pay his own ransom to God;
Too high is the price to redeem one’s life; he would never have enough
to remain alive always and not see destruction.
R. Blessed the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!
Fear not when a man grows rich,
when the wealth of his house becomes great,
For when he dies, he shall take none of it;
his wealth shall not follow him down.
R. Blessed the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!
Though in his lifetime he counted himself blessed,
“They will praise you for doing well for yourself,”
He shall join the circle of his forebears
who shall never more see light.
R. Blessed the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!
Why should I fear in evil days
when my wicked ensnarers ring me round?
They trust in their wealth;
the abundance of their riches is their boast.
R. Blessed the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!
Yet in no way can a man redeem himself,
or pay his own ransom to God;
Too high is the price to redeem one’s life; he would never have enough
to remain alive always and not see destruction.
R. Blessed the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!
Fear not when a man grows rich,
when the wealth of his house becomes great,
For when he dies, he shall take none of it;
his wealth shall not follow him down.
R. Blessed the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!
Though in his lifetime he counted himself blessed,
“They will praise you for doing well for yourself,”
He shall join the circle of his forebears
who shall never more see light.
R. Blessed the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!
Alleluia SEE MT 11:25
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel LK 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.
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.
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