The Holy Gospel according to Luke (8:1-3)
Jesus journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God. Accompanying him were the Twelve and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary, called 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 resources.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Reflection: In today’s Gospel, Luke tells us that Jesus traveled from town to town, proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom of God. He did not do this work alone. Alongside of Jesus were the12 Apostles and some faithful women. Luke’s Gospel is distinguished by the significant role women play in Jesus’ ministry.
In today’s Gospel, we hear of some of those women followers, and they are even named. There is Mary Magdalene, a woman with a dark and troubled past. There is Joanna, whose husband was Herod’s financial controller. There was Susanna, likely a woman from the upper class of society. What did these women have in common? They had all been “cured of evil spirits and infirmities” by Jesus. These women were from opposite ends of society. After their encounter with Jesus, they all put their differences aside and became his followers. They women supported Jesus out of their resources, using their own money to fund Jesus’ mission. The women were generous with the gifts God had blessed them with. They did not use their resources in order to attain more resources. They shared what they had to support Jesus and his ministry. This Gospel also highlights the dignity Jesus gave to women in a culture that often overlooked them. Jesus welcomed their presence, valued their gifts, and allowed them to be part of His mission.
This Gospel also tells us that the “Twelve” accompanied Jesus. Jesus travelled with a group of men and women from different backgrounds and walks of life. All those who were following Jesus were inspired by his teachings and way of life.
As followers of Jesus, how do we use our “resources” or money to support our Church and the Church’s ministries? Whatever resources or money we have are gifts from God. How does God want us to use those resources? We all need money to live our lives and pay our bills, but we should also be generous with what we have. Remember that we cannot take our money with us when we die. To quote Evangelist Billy Graham, “I never saw a U-Haul behind a hearse.”
Action for the Day: One of the precepts of the Church is to support the Church financially. How much of our resources/time, treasure and talents, do we give to our Church so that the Church may continue it mission? A good guide to use is whatever amount of money we make in one- or two-hours wages is what we offer to the Church. Only you can decide how much to give. Prayerfully consider how you use your resources to support the Church in spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Audio Reflection:
Thank you, Deacon Mike. God bless you and Martha.