Greetings on this the Friday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: 1 Corinthians 15:12-20; Psalm 17:1bcd, 6-7, 8b, 15; Luke 8:1-3
Summary
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. 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 (Lk 8:1, 2b-3).
Reflection
But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full. (1 Cor 15:20; PS 17:15b).
If Jesus is the firstfruit of the Resurrection then these women are the first witnesses of the firstfruit. Before, during and after the resurrection.
On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb (Jn 20:1).
Personal Reflection
I’m not being disrespectful to The Twelve but calling attention to the faithful women of that time and of our time. It is a common error to focus our attention to the powerful (even within the Church, even early on in the Church) and focus on the influential. But these women (disciples, benefactors, companions, and witnesses) are a major portion of the fullness of the treasure.
The visible institution is never the whole system. There are people who sustain it, absorb its pressures, and perceive things the center may not see. Recent Popes have done much to rebalance the feminine influence by listening to the feminine voice.
In a similar way, the blogger I reference below calls attention to the over-taxed citizen (meaning stressed for survival) and their common response and the need to adjust. This blogger is worthy of your time today. There is an important correlation and parallel crisis in the civil society and the Church.
When a population is overtaxed, the collapse of nuance is not a failure. It’s a signal. And the people who can still see the architecture become the ones who help the system find its way back to coherence.
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... Pray for us!
Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/091826.cfm
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry