Reflection Process
Righteous Old Testament Women icon detail, St. Paul Orthodox Church
Readers are invited to use the following reflection BY SAMANTHA YANITY AND THERESA SHEPHERD-LUKASIK
From the earliest days of the Church and still today, women have been the faithful, prophetic servants, and heralders of the Gospel in both word and deed. Women in the Gospel were the first called to the faith, the first to proclaim the Good News, they had the strength to remain faithful at the foot of the cross and were the first to witness the resurrection. Yet, throughout much of Church history, women have been silenced, many have been nameless figures, and their contributions have gone mostly unnoticed. But, if you asked the people of God, “Who has healed your wounds? Who tended to your community?” the answer w0uld most likely be a woman religious or non-religious laywoman who came to their service. Jesus, then and now calls all women forth, “talitha koum” (Mark 5:21–43), to rise out of death and despair and into new life with authority as heralders of the Gospel. Scripture tradition gives us several examples of bold, prophetic women—here are five. Throughout the Gospel, women like Mary, Elizabeth, Phoebe, Mary Magdalene, and the Samaritan Woman have been the image-bearers of Christ, modeling for the world the servant nature of Christ. In the sacred scriptures, the word ‘servant’ appears throughout the Gospel and again in Paul’s letter to the Romans. ‘Servant’ in the Greek translation of the sacred scriptures, is diákonos, the root of deacon. Heralders of the Gospel, women have served as deacons to the world in service to those on the margins. Mary, the Mother of Jesus, faithful woman, servant of the Lord, and bearer of the Word teach me to serve like you: “Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Luke 1:38 How is God calling you to be like Mary, bringing Christ’s love to the world? How are you being life-giving? How is God calling you to bring Christ to the world? Elizabeth, cousin of Mary, prophetic voice, teach me to sing praise and speak truth: “When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” Luke 1: 41-43 14
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Is there a woman in your life who affirmed your gifts like Elizabeth? How can you affirm others? Phoebe, sister in Christ, anointed woman, teach us how to lead with grace and charity: “I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is [also] a deacon of the church at Cenchreae, that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the holy ones, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a benefactor to many and me as well.” Romans 16:1-2 What gifts has God given you that need to be shared? Have you or someone you know felt the call to the diaconate or ordained ministry? If so, how do you or they live that out? Mary Magdalene, a disciple of Jesus and apostle to the apostles, gives us the courage to proclaim the Gospel with our lives: “Mary of Magdala went and announced to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord,’ and what [Jesus] told her.” John 20:18 How are you proclaiming the Good News of liberation to others like Mary Magdalene? Samaritan Woman, outcast raised to be the missionary to her community, teach us our worth to stand in God’s presence and serve God: “Many of the Samaritans of that town began to believe in him because of the word of the woman who testified, ‘He told me everything I have done.’ When the Samaritans came to him, they invited him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days. Many more began to believe in him because of his word, and they said to the woman, ‘We no longer believe because of your word; for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the savior of the world.” John 4: 39-41 How has God used your story to bring Good News to others? Samantha Yanity is the Editor of A Matter of Spirit and Justice Educator for the Intercommunity Peace & Justice Center. She holds a Masters of Divinity and Masters of Arts in Social Justice from Loyola University Chicago. Theresa Shepherd-Lukasik is the Director of Adult Faith Formation at St. Joseph Parish and provides spiritual direction through the Ignatian Spirituality Center in Seattle, WA. She received a Masters of Arts in Ignatian Spirituality at Loyola University Chicago.