Sharing in the Mass - Lk 8, 1-3

Luke 8, 1-3:
8:1Some time afterward he went on through towns and villages, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, 8:2 and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and disabilities: Mary (called Magdalene), from whom seven demons had gone out, 8:3 Susanna, and many others who provided for them and Joanna the wife of Cuza (Herod’s household manager), out of their own resources.

During His three years of public ministry, Jesus travelled through towns and villages to preach and to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom of God. Jesus always called and invited the co-operation of many people, like a boy who had 5 barley loaves and 2 fish, or rustic, uneducated fishermen, or in today’s Gospel, a band of women.

These women accompanied Jesus and the twelve apostles. “This was a diverse group of women; some came from rich and prominent families; some had been prostitutes, and others had been afflicted with mental and physical infirmities. For example, Mary Magdalene had lived a very troubled life before Jesus freed her from seven demons. She was privileged to be the first to see Jesus as the risen Lord.” What brought them together and united them in a bond of friendship, service, and loyalty to Jesus? They courageously accompanied Jesus until his moment on the cross and even afterwards – afterwards. Certainly Jesus and his message of the kingdom of God had transformed them. (Unlike the apostles, who took great pride in being the chosen twelve, these women did not seek any position or demand any special privileges.) Jesus had touched them so deeply that they were grateful to do anything for him, even menial services. They brought their gifts and resources to Jesus (to use as he saw fit).

We see how these women greatly cooperated in Jesus’ work of salvation. Nowadays, there are many sisters who cooperate with the Church in various fields to serve the Lord and his Spouse. Not only sisters but lay people and non-catholics also collaborate with us. And our recent congregations recommended us to engage in such collaboration. In VN, I can say about 50% of the candidates were led to enter the Society of Jesus by sisters (-religious women). On occasions of great feasts in the VN province, the ordination or the day of Saint Ignatius, for instance, many sisters come to help Jesuits prepare for these activities.

Turning back to the Gospel, I think that today Jesus is travelling through cities, towns and villages to proclaim the Good News as well. He invites us to join Him and to collaborate together to carry out His mission. Images of women in this Gospel are still active and helpful. No one is unimportant or unnecessary in God’s plan. For our three brothers who will be ordained next week, it is significant to meditate on these women’s way of serving the Lord, in humility, selfless love, generosity, joy and loyalty. Our community prays for the three of you specially. I think that to live in the priesthood as God’s will is not easy at all. To conclude my sharing, I will repeat the last sentence in today’s Gospel: they provided for Jesus and his disciples out of their own resources.