Luke 8: 1- 3 The Women

Luke 8: 1- 3 The Women

Afterward he 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.

This chapter begins with the mention of women, three in particular, Mary Magdalene, Joanna and Susanna, and others un-named. These women are mentioned as individuals who came to Jesus for help, cures, etc. and then became followers. We know from later passages Mary Magdalene at least remained with him throughout his ministry to the very end. I wonder how unusual that was? If it seemed to be unusual for men to follow Jesus, men who typically would be working to support their families, how much more unusual for women to do so, leaving their homes their families behind. One, Joanna, is said to have a husband of means, and in fact several seemed to be women of wealth as the passage notes that the women “were assisting them out of their own means.” Women played a vital role in Jesus life and ministry – in loving Jesus, caring for him, seeing to his needs, supporting him generously. Could he have been, done, all that he did without their loving support? I wonder. What would the Catholic Church be like today if it fully embraced all that women had to offer throughout the ages? How would it be different? Did the Church frustrate Christ’s purpose by excluding women from an equal role? To the extent the Church became about hierarchy, dogma, control, and power, it moved away from its origins in Christ.