They Have Much To Tell Us

INTRODUCTION

The duty and high privilege of witnessing to Christ is for every believer without distinction. Let the diversity of roles in the Church not be discriminatory but complementary for a more credible witnessing.

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Last January, when Pope Francis visited Sri Lanka and the Philippines, he made an obvious but challenging statement: “The future of the Church is in Asia. I saw it in Sri Lanka, and I saw it here.” While on stage at the UST grounds in Manila, he intently looked at the crowd gathered and said: “There’s only a very small representation of females among you… too little.” He said that this is unfortunate since “women have much to tell us in today’s society.” I fully agree with Pope Francis and would add that they have much to tell us in the Church, if only we give them the space and are willing to listen to them.

Leaving aside the issue of feminism versus machismo in the Church, I believe, we should be inspired by Jesus Himself, for as long as the Church follows its Master, it can only remain faithful to its mission and bear abundant fruits for God’s Kingdom.

The society in which Jesus lived and developed His ministry was both patriarchal and hierarchical. Roles and tasks were clearly divided between men and women, with the latter placed at the lowest ranks of that hierarchy. Though Jesus was a man of His own time, He was also, prophetically, ahead of His time, opening doors for the inclusion of women in His movement, giving them prominence in His life and work.

First of all, Jesus welcomes them as equals to His new family: “those who hear the word of God and obey it” (Lk 11:28). Therefore, the Gospels portray Jesus as Someone who not only spoke and interacted with women, but also treated women with compassion, dignity, and respect. Jesus allowed an unclean woman to touch Him and commended her faith (Mk 5:25-34); He permitted a sinful woman to anoint and kiss His feet (Lk7:36-50); He offered healing and salvation, even to prostitutes, stating: “I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the Kingdom of God ahead of you” (Mt 21:31).

Jesus went as far as to take time to teach women and include them in His group of disciples. He taught Mary of Bethany. He revealed Himself to the Samaritan woman. Many other women accompanied Him and His disciples (Mk 15:41) and were present at the crucifixion, burial and resurrection morning (Lk 23:49, 55-56; 24:1).

Certainly, the most prominent women in the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ death and resurrection are His own Mother and Mary of Magdala, the first to see the Risen Jesus on Easter Sunday and to bring the good news to the frightened disciples. Thus, it is customary to refer to Mary Magdalene as “the apostle to the Apostles.” Mary, the Mother of Jesus, became the first disciple proclaiming her mission as “the servant of the Lord” (Lk 1:38), while Mary Magdalene lived out that mission in proclamation of the Risen Lord – “I have seen the Lord!” (Jn 20:18)

As it was in Jesus’ time, so it is today: the duty and high privilege of witnessing to Christ is for every believer without distinction. Let the diversity of roles in the Church not be discriminatory but complementary for a more credible witnessing. Are lectors, commentators and catechists all that women can do in our church communities? If the future of the Church is in Asia, it has to necessarily pass through a greater inclusion of women in our ministries, for “they have much to tell us!”

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