Weekend Reflections for 9/11/15

The Women Journeying with Christ and Caring for His Needs (Luke 8, 1-3)

This week's Gospel on Friday, (Luke 8, 1-3) briefly and almost offhandedly refers to the different groups of women who were with Jesus as he carried on his public life with his disciples and friends. It is so easy to pass over these verses and not realize what extraordinary women they were. Some were among those he had cured; but there were "several others who provided for them out of their own resources." These women, in other words, enabled Jesus and his followers to get the food and drink and shelter they required; and they paid for this out of their own resources. Reference is also made to these same women present at the crucifixion. So they had remained faithful to Jesus throughout his public life and even during the terrible times and agonies of his trial and crucifixion. But there is even more, they watched to see where he was buried and on the morning of the Resurrectionthey went to the tomb to anoint his body.

Thus we see how from the very beginning the important role women have had in supporting and carrying on the ministry of Jesus and his followers. We need always to remember this and be grateful for it