Message of Abbot Paul - Friday 22nd September 2023
Abbot Paul • September 21, 2023
There is much debate today as to the role and ministry of women in the Church. The Catholic Church, the Orthodox Church and the ancient Churches of the East do not ordain women to the presbyterate, even as deacons, whereas the Anglican Church and other reformed Churches do, but these tend not to have the same theology of priesthood. I remember once a lovely United Reformed lady minister asking me why we didn’t have women priests in the Catholic Church. I replied by asking if she was a priest. No, she said, I’m a minister, quite horrified at the thought of priesthood. I replied by saying that the Catholic Church was just like her Church, that we have many women Taking part in ministry in the Catholic Church, but not as priests. Think of all the vital ministries being fulfilled by women in your parish and you’ll see what I mean, which brings us to today’s short Gospel passage from Luke, (8: 1-3), who highlights the participation of women in the life of Jesus and his disciples and in the life of the early Church.
Luke tells us that, “Jesus made his way through towns and villages preaching, and proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom of God.“ Jesus is on a mission. He knows that time is short and that the Good News of the kingdom of God must be proclaimed in as many places as he can reach, but he does not travel alone, there must have been quite a retinue with him. In fact, Luke tells us who accompanied him on this journey, this pilgrimage of salvation. “With him went the Twelve, as well as certain women who had been cured of evil spirits and ailments: Mary surnamed the Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, Joanna the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, Susanna, and several others who provided for them out of their own resources.” First of all, we have the Twelve, but then Luke tells of the women who also went with him. These were women who had been healed by Jesus and were moved by loving gratitude to follow him and, like the disciples, leaving the security of home and family. More than that, it was these women who made the mission possible by their logistical and financial support. We read of similar support in the Acts of the Apostles. We are given the names of three of them, with some detail about the first two. They are Mary Magdalene, Joanna and Susanna, but there are several more besides. They obviously played an important role in the ministry of Jesus, which would not have been possible without them. This leads us all to ask ourselves today. What can I do to help Jesus, to support his ministry of salvation? How can I help proclaim the Good News of the kingdom of God?
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