Daily Gospel Reflection for September 20, 2024

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Today's Gospel: Luke 8:1-3

Do you ever wonder what the role of women is in the Church today? It can be a topic of spirited debate, and I find that this topic can be frustrating because often it devolves into human or political preferences about how women are useful to society rather than who women are, as created by God and loved by Jesus.

When I consider the role of women in the Church, I return to women in Scripture who served God in the Old Testament and accompanied Christ and shared the Good News in the New Testament. Within Scripture, we see how Jesus loved women, incorporated them into the folds of His ministry, and gave them essential roles in sharing the Good News.

Today, we meet some of these women: Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna, and “many others.” (Luke 8:3) Each of these women encountered Jesus and were changed by Him. They were cured from their ailments (Luke 8:1), and in response, like the Apostles, they followed Jesus – accompanying Him. They also “provided for (Jesus and the Twelve) out of their resources.” Women had essential roles in helping Jesus to move from “one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God.” (Luke 8:1)

From John’s Gospel, we know that it was Mary Magdalene who first encountered Jesus on Easter morning, and that she was the first person to whom Jesus entrusted the mission of going to His brothers to share the news of His resurrection (see John 20:17-18).

Today’s Gospel demonstrates the role of women in the Church. We are to first allow ourselves to encounter Jesus, second, to allow Jesus to heal our lives (Luke 8:2), and, third, to accompany Jesus (Luke 8:1). Finally, we are to support the mission to share the Gospel. (Luke 8:3)

Ponder:

How do you resemble Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Susanna?

Pray:

Lord, we give thanks today for all the women who have walked with You, supported the sharing of the Gospel, and been witnesses to Christ in our lives.

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