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 Friday of 24^th Week Year II: reflection

Theme: All hands must be on deck to support God’s kingdom on earth

Reading: Lk 8:1-3

One of the great gifts that nature bestowed on women is a tender heart, a heart that makes them to see the world through emotional lens and feel compelled to love and care for humanity. Women who are true to their nature do not need to be invited to serve, show care and love; these qualities naturally flow from them.

In today’s gospel, Luke narrated how the mission of Jesus to take the good news of the kingdom of God to cities and villages was helped by His women followers, who assisted Him and His disciples by providing their needs for care and comfort.

Perhaps Luke chose to mention Mary Magdalene and Joanna among the numerous women he had in mind to show the variety of support provided by them. While Joanna, the wife of Herold’s steward, was materially rich and may have been able to give material support, Mary Magdalene, from whom Jesus cast out demons, wasn’t materially rich but may have provided companionship and emotional support. Nonetheless, all of them contributed in their unique ways towards the success of the mission of Jesus.

The mission of establishing the kingdom of God is still on going on earth, and still needs women and men who will leverage on what nature and the society have bestowed upon them to provide the Church and her missionaries the care and support they need in order to preach the good news to the ends of the earth.

Today’s gospel is therefore challenging everyone to contribute towards the establishment of the kingdom of God according to their capacities and natural abilities. It might be material wealth, service, voice, intelligence, other talents, emotional support or encouragement, etc. All these are needed in supporting and promoting the mission of the Church.

This reading is also a call to women not to lose the special qualities nature has given them. Remember that women were not given a place of pride in Jewish societies during Christ's time; they were a bit suppressed. Yet, the women in today’s gospel didn’t allow the difficulties, denials and emotional traumas they suffered in the society to turn them into fierce wolves. They rather preserved with care the qualities nature gave them and used them to make positive impacts.

Women are often tempted to lock up their tender hearts and turn into a fierce wolves to husbands, children and relatives as a reaction against some realities. However, today’s gospel urges women not to allow the difficulties they face in families, workplaces, and other places in the society to push them to lose the tender heart bestowed upon them by God and nature.

May God crown your efforts this Friday with success, Amen

Fr Isaac C. Chima