2nd Saturday of Lent (March 22). AS WELL AS SOME WOMEN

Prepare to Listen.  Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud, be gracious to me and answer me!
 
Prayerfully Read Luke 8:1-3
Soon afterwards he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God.  The twelve were with him, 2as well as some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3and Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their resources.
 
Prayerfully Wonder and Reflect
What caught your attention or surprised you in these 3 verses?
 
As Jesus made his way through cities and villages, he had a message and companions.  The message he was both proclaiming and bringing to the people, hadn’t changed—“the good news of the kingdom.”  His companions did, growing to include women disciples with the Twelve.
 
Including women, especially those “who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities” made Jesus suspect with the religious elites.  These women were among the least, the unseen, but experienced Jesus as good news that sets free.  They became his disciples, participants in his mission, providing for him and the Twelve “out of their resources.”
 
There were many of them but Luke only names three.  Mary Magdalene, who became the first witness to and apostle of Jesus’ resurrection (Jn 20:17f).  Joanna, also became a proclaimer of the resurrection (Lk 24:10), and Susanna, only mentioned this once.  I wonder if the woman who disrupted the Pharisees meal (see yesterday’s devotion) was now a disciple with these other women.  I hope so.
 
This story makes clear that women were active participants in Jesus’ ministry from the get-go, welcomed and empowered by him, regardless of social norms.  The good news Jesus proclaimed included setting women free to minister God’s Word along with the male disciples.  Sadly, many churches haven’t grasped this good news and continue to restrict women, instead of welcoming them, as Jesus did, as full participants in bringing and proclaiming his good news
 
How do these verses challenge your views of the good news and its proclaimers?
 
Prayerfully Respond
Lord, don’t let me hinder anyone from bringing and proclaiming your good news.  Amen.
 
Live obediently.  Welcome whom Jesus welcomes.
How can you proclaim and bring the good news to all people?

Prayerfully Respond
Thank you, Lord that you came bringing and proclaiming good news.  May I live today so that I too bring and proclaim your good news to those I meet.  Amen.
 
Live obediently.  Bring the good news of Jesus to your world.