Galilean Women Follow Jesus

Today's Reflections

                           

Galilean Women Follow Jesus

Lk 8:1-3

¹[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 ²and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, ³Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their resources.

Accompanying him… some women. Throughout his public ministry, Jesus is seen with his band of twelve apostles journeying from one town and village to another. Besides the men, however, some women accompany Jesus.

Jesus treats women very differently from the prevaling culture. A patriarchal society generally considers women as second-class citizens or as men’s possessions. Their words do not hold in a court of law.

The women with Jesus, however, are no ordinary females. Mary Magdalene has been freed of seven demons (scholars interpret this as some kind of mental illness or self-destructive behavior). Joanna is the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza who looks after the king’s estate and financial interests. Like Mary Magdalene and Joanna, Susanna and several other women, having been cured of evil spirits and infirmities, join Jesus in his ministry and help provide for the needs of the apostolic band out of their resources. These women are generous benefactors of Jesus’ ministry.

Jesus welcomes women in his team regardless of what others say. Jesus does not discriminate. In fact, these women are given the privilege of being the first to know of Jesus’ resurrection (cf Mt 28:9; Lk 24:10). As the first eyewitness, Mary Magdalene is considered an apostle to the apostles (cf Mk 16:9; Jn 20:11-18). Jesus’ team of disciples prefigures a Church in which men and women worship and minister together with selfless dedication.

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person,

there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal 3:28).