1 Cor. 15:12-20, Ps. 17:1,6-8,15, Luke 8:1-3
“And the twelve were with him, and also some women… and many others, who provided for them out of their means.” (Luke 8:1-3)
Today’s Gospel passage specifically mentions the fact that there were certain women who accompanied Jesus in the course of his missionary enterprise. These women were not part of the crowd, there played a very important role as far as the success of Jesus’ ministry is concerned. Luke says “they provided for them (Jesus and his disciples) out of their means.”
The truth is that both the women who provided for Jesus and the men who were his disciples can be likened to the various parts of the human body. There is a tendency to assume the head is more important than the finger or that the eyes play more function than the toes. The fact that one part of the body is more visible than the other does not mean it is more important.
This is to say that the function of the women who accompanied Jesus is just as important as that of the men. And the fact that women are not ordained priests does not mean that they are less important than priests. In the eyes of God, all who work for the kingdom (whether visibly or invisibly) are equals. On the last day, we all are going to receive the same denarius and no one will have a right to complain.
It is quite interesting that one of these women who accompanied Jesus became the first person to witness the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Mary Magdalene today is known as the Apostle to the Apostles. And because of this role she played in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, no one can deny the resurrection.
In today’s first reading, St. Paul makes us understand that if Christ had not risen from the dead, then Christianity as a whole is just a lie and we are most to be pitied. The whole enterprise of our faith rests on the solid foundation that Christ died and rose from the dead; a feat that only God can accomplish meaning that it was God himself who lived among men in the person of Christ, who then died and defeated death itself by rising.
As far as the work of God is concerned, there is no need to look down on the function anyone is playing. We all have different callings but I bet you none is more important than the other. Even my function as the priest in the church is not more important than that of the Legionary who comes early to clean the pews in the church. The fact that one’s function is visible does not make it greater than that of another.
Albert Einstein said: “If the bee disappeared off the face of the earth, man would only have four years left to live.” This is just an example of how roles could be different yet complementary. We are not going to ask some human beings to turn into bees in order to keep other humans alive nor are we going to ask bees to change into human beings. Everyone’s role is different but we all need each other.
Let us pray: Almighty ever-living Father, give me the grace to play my role for your kingdom and never despise the function of others. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Saints Cornelius, Pope, and Cyprian, Bishop, Martyrs, Bible Study: 1 Cor. 15:12-20, Ps. 17:1,6-8,15, Luke 8:1-3).
© Rev. Fr. Evaristus Abu