We hear in today’s Gospel, “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.” When we read this verse through our 21st century lens, it is easy to skim right past it. Ok, so the apostles and some women walked with Jesus. And the sky was blue, the sun was warm, and people breathed the air. But this was not the 21st century. Yes, God is eternal. He exists outside of time, though through Jesus he stepped into time. He stepped into the first century, and he turned the world on its ear.
When Jesus placed his glorious toe into the stream of time, the same blue sky stretched overhead, the same warm sun shone in the sky, and the same air filled the lungs of the people, but so much was different. Women had a purpose and a role in the culture, but in the view of the time certainly not anything as important as the men. But then came Jesus. He baffled the powerful by his indifference to their position. He spoke to them with care, compassion, and respect, but he spoke to the wretched in the same way. He did not question the leaders’ authority, but somehow, he carried an authority greater than their own, and it gnawed at them.
God had set the stage of this revolution as salvation history evolved – Sarah, Hannah, Deborah, Ruth, Judith, Esther, all women who heeded his call and changed history. And when it came time for the incarnation, time for God to become one of us, how did he enter the world? The same way we do – through a woman – and Our Mother Mary, just happens to be the greatest woman who ever lived.
In his written record where no word is wasted, Luke purposely tells us in today’s Gospel that accompanying Jesus were some women. They were women who had been drawn to his message of hope and healing. They included Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Chuza, and Suzanna, women whose lives had been changed, women who were dedicated to him just as the Twelve were. Those twelve men were called to the priesthood, a beautiful, profound, and important call which their successors continue to answer. Those women were also called to a different mission, but no less beautiful, profound, and important.
Later generations of these women who follow Christ would be given greater authority and go on to build schools and hospitals, to care for the sick, the orphaned, the forgotten. They continue to do so today.
“Accompanying him then were the Twelve and some women…” These are simple words, but what a powerful recognition of the full, complementary richness of both men and women who form the Body of Christ.
Escuchamos en el Evangelio de hoy: “Jesús comenzó a recorrer ciudades y poblados predicando la buena nueva del Reino de Dios. Lo acompañaban los Doce y algunas mujeres.” Cuando leemos este versículo a través de los lentes del siglo XXI, es fácil pasarlo por alto. Bueno, los apóstoles y algunas mujeres caminaron con Jesús, y ¿qué más da? Y el cielo era azul, el sol calentaba y la gente respiraba el aire. Pero este no era el siglo XXI. Sí, Dios es eterno y existe fuera del tiempo, aunque a través de Jesús entró en el tiempo. Entró en el primer siglo y puso al mundo patas arriba.
Cuando Jesús puso su glorioso dedo del pie dentro de la corriente del tiempo, el mismo cielo azul se extendía sobre nosotros, el mismo sol cálido brillaba en el cielo y el mismo aire llenaba los pulmones de la gente, pero había muchas cosas diferentes. Las mujeres tenían un propósito y un papel en la cultura, pero desde el punto de vista de la época ciertamente no tenían nada tan importante como los hombres. Y luego vino Jesús. Desconcertó a los poderosos por su indiferencia hacia su posición. Les hablaba con cariño, compasión y respeto, pero a los desdichados les hablaba de la misma forma. No cuestionó la autoridad de los líderes, pero de alguna manera Él tenía una autoridad mayor que ellos y eso les fastidiaba.
Dios había preparado el escenario de esta revolución a medida que evolucionaba la historia de la salvación: Sara, Ana, Débora, Rut, Judit, Ester, todas mujeres que contestaron el llamado de Dios y cambiaron la historia. Y cuando llegó el momento de la encarnación, el momento cuando Dios se hizo uno de nosotros, ¿cómo entró en el mundo? De la misma forma que nosotros, a través de una mujer, y Nuestra Madre María, resulta ser la mujer más grande que jamás haya existido.
En su registro escrito donde no se desperdicia ninguna palabra, Lucas nos dice deliberadamente en el Evangelio de hoy que acompañaban a Jesús algunas mujeres. Eran mujeres que se habían sentido atraídas por su mensaje de esperanza y curación. Entre ellas se encontraban María Magdalena, Juana, Chuza y Susana, mujeres cuyas vidas habían cambiado, mujeres que estaban dedicadas a él tal como lo estaban los Doce. Esos doce hombres fueron llamados al sacerdocio, un llamado hermoso, profundo e importante al que sus sucesores continúan respondiendo. Aquellas mujeres también fueron llamadas a una misión diferente, pero no menos bella, profunda e importante.
A las generaciones posteriores de estas mujeres que siguen a Cristo se les daría mayor autoridad y construirían escuelas y hospitales, cuidarían de los enfermos, los huérfanos y los olvidados. Y lo siguen haciendo el día de hoy.
“Lo acompañaban los Doce y algunas mujeres…” Son palabras sencillas, pero qué reconocimiento tan poderoso de la riqueza plena y complementaria de los hombres y mujeres que forman el Cuerpo de Cristo.
Pamela Kavanaugh is a grateful wife, mother, and grandmother who has dedicated her professional life to Catholic education. Though she has done her very best to teach her students well in the subjects of language and religion, she knows that she has learned more than she has taught. She lives, teaches, and writes in southwest suburban Chicago.
Feature Image Credit: Felipe Correia, unsplash.com/photos/foot-prints-on-brown-sand-ScQngs6oO1E
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