Memory of Jesus crucified

Reading of the Word of God

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

This is the Gospel of the poor,
liberation for the imprisoned,
sight for the blind,
freedom for the oppressed.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Luke 8,1-3

Now it happened that after this he made his way through towns and villages preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. 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 many others who provided for them out of their own resources.

 

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

The Son of Man came to serve,
whoever wants to be great
should become servant of all.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Jesus chooses to have not only the Twelve but also some women beside him. It is an exemplary choice of the new style that Jesus came to establish. Only Luke points this out. The evangelist writes that those women "had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities," and had chosen to follow Jesus by putting all their possessions at his and the disciples' service. In this sense they were full title that new group Jesus had created, making of it a real community. This indication of the evangelist is important because the show as Jesus went beyond the habits of his time. It was in fact unthinkable for the rabbinic costume at that time to have women into the circle of disciples. Opposing to the mentality of his time, Jesus associates them to his own mission, as you see in other Gospel pages. Luke mentions three women: Mary of Magdala, who was freed from "seven demons," i.e. a considerable number of evil spirits; Joanna, a woman close to King Herod, who will also be mentioned in the resurrection narrative; and Susanna of whom nothing is known. Probably they were affluent women who were attracted by Jesus' proclamation and started to put their riches at the service of the Teacher and his small group. Already in these few lines, the primacy of discipleship, which overcomes all barriers, even those that seem most difficult to overcome, becomes clear. For Jesus, what counts is being a disciple. And discipleship confers on each one the true and most important dignity: that of proclaiming the Gospel and testifying that love is entrusted to all disciples, beyond all distinctions.