24th Week in Ord. Time, Friday – 17th September 2021 — Gospel: Lk 8,1-3
Active Contributors
Jesus went about proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, accompanied not only by the twelve but also by a number of women. These women supported the ministry of Jesus and his disciples by providing financial assistance and other services. Like Simon’s mother-in-law (4,39) they are described as ‘ministering’. Thus these women are instruments of God in sharing the mission of Jesus and active contributors to the proclamation of the gospel of the kingdom. Luke introduces them here to highlight that among the marginalized who received healing from Jesus and responded with generous service are included these significant women as well. In a sense, they are a testimony to the identity of Jesus, the Messiah. Luke also anticipates their later participation in Jesus’ life. Two of the three women named here, Mary Magdalene and Johanna, will be witnesses to the death (23,49) and the burial (23,55) of Jesus. They will also be the first to hear the good news of his resurrection (24,10). Thus, Jesus brings revolutionary change in his ministry by the reversal of human expectations (1,51-53). It was Jesus’ treatment of women that prompted Paul in his preaching to manifest their equal status with men (Gal 3,28).
