The Women Who Followed JESUS

"JESUS walked through towns and countryside, preaching and giving the good news of the kingdom of GOD.  The Twelve followed HIM, and also some women, who had been healed of evil spirits and diseases: Mary called Magdalene, who had been freed of seven demons; Joanna, wife of Chuza, Herod's steward; Suzanna; and others, who provided for them out of their own funds." - Luke 8:1-3  

(No spiritual master would have spoken to a woman in public: women were not even admitted to the synagogues.  Nevertheless, JESUS did not pay the least attention to such universally accepted prejudices.  Various women took JESUS' words and attitude as a call to freedom.  They even joined the circle of HIS intimate friends while ignoring the gossip.  Here we have a fundamental testimony about the freedom of the Gospel.

JESUS was truly human, and as such HE belonged to a race and a culture: HE was a Jew of HIS time and HIS gospel was attuned to the culture that HE shared.  Yet JESUS did not adopt the inhuman traits of HIS culture; nor did HE accept the prejudices of the Jews of HIS time with regard to women, to public sinners, to pagans and so on, nor did HE share their views in regard to the Sabbath.  HIS gospel is a leaven that changes cultures for the better; in many respects HIS way of life goes against the mainstream of cultures.

Mary of Magdala [Magdala was a village on the shore of Lake Tiberias] will be at the foot of the cross along with Mary, the wife of Cleophas, the mother of James and Joset.  These two women, along with Joanna, will receive the first news of the Resurrection [Luke 24:10].)

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Resurrection Is A Fact

"Let me remind you, brothers and sisters, of the Good News that I preached to you, and which you received, and on which, you stand firm.  By that gospel, you are saved, provided that you hold to it, as I preached it.  Otherwise, you will have believed in vain.

In the first place, I have passed on to you what, I, myself, received: that CHRIST died for our sins, as Scripture says; that HE was buried; that HE was raised on the third day, according to the Scriptures; that HE appeared to Cephas and then to the Twelve.  Afterward, HE appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters together; most of them are still alive, although some have already gone to rest.  Then HE appeared to James, and after that, to all the apostles.  And last of all, HE appeared to the most despicable of them, this is, to me.  For I am the last of the apostles, and I do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the Church of GOD.  Nevertheless, by the grace of GOD, I am what I am, and HIS grace toward me has not been without fruit.  Far from it, I have toiled more than all of them, although, not I, rather the grace of GOD, in me.

Now, whether it was I or they, this, we preach, and this, you have believed." - 1 Corinthians 15:1-11  

(Have we here the response to a last question of the Corinthians?  Many Greeks thought that at death the immortal soul leaves the body and remains alone.  Was it admitted to the paradise of souls?  Did it come to the great reservoir of souls already gone or who were to return, forgetting all the past lived on earth?  Others held [as do a good number of Christians today], that all ends with death: see 1 Thessalonians 5:13.  Paul will therefore remind the Corinthians that faith in the Resurrection is at the heart of the Christian message.

I remind you of the Gospel.  Here certainly we may speak of Good News, for death as something unknown is and always has been the great burden of human life [Sirach 40:1].

I have passed on to you.  Paul will not recall a tale, or a "myth," these stories full of wisdom that abounded with the Greeks.  They bared an order in the world, a meaning of life, but were only stories.  Today certain people speak of the Resurrection in the same way.  They say: "It matters little what took place, the Gospels are not directly interested in what happened to JESUS, for them it was important that strange events would give courage to the disciples and the hope of another life."  Paul says precisely the contrary: the Resurrection of JESUS is a fact.)

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"What Comparison Can I Use For The People?"

"And JESUS said, 'What comparison can I use for the people?  What are they like?  They are like children sitting in the marketplace, about whom their companions complain, 'We piped you a tune and you wouldn't dance; we sang funeral songs, and you wouldn't cry.'

Remember John: he didn't eat bread or drink wine, and you said, 'He has an evil spirit.'  Next, came the Son of Man, eating and drinking; and you say, 'Look, a glutton for food and wine, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.'  But the children of Wisdom always recognize her work.'" - Luke 7:31-35  

 

(They are like children sitting...  They do everything at the wrong time; they reproach John for his austerity and JESUS for HIS lack of austerity.  There is no "one" way of serving GOD; there is no "one" model of holiness, "one" style of Christian life.  GOD acts in thousands of ways throughout history, encouraging at a given time what HE will censure later in another milieu.  The extreme asceticism of hermits in the desert or that of the ancient Irish monks has been a richness for Christianity.  Modern Christianity that appears more human may look easier to follow but the demands of the cross are always there.  JESUS went further than John, but HE needed John: The Gospel is heard with pleasure but is not taken seriously as long as repentance and sacrifice are brushed aside.  Perhaps the renewal of our faith today is waiting for prophets and for movements that dare to question a culture and a society that has become sterile.)

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JESUS' Last Words

"Near the cross of JESUS stood HIS mother, HIS mother's sister Mary, who was the wife of Cleophas, and Mary of Magdala.  When JESUS saw the mother, and the disciple whom HE loved, HE said to the mother, 'Woman, this is your son.'  Then HE said to the disciple, 'This is your mother.'  And from that moment the disciple took her to his own home." - John 19:25-27  

(At the moment of Man's fall, Eve was with Adam.  Now, at the moment of restoration, that is, the second creation, another woman is with the Son of Man [the Human One], the second Adam.  Mary has neither spouse nor son who can receive her and, for the Jews, a woman who remains alone would be considered cursed.  JESUS entrusts Mary to John and, also, John to Mary.  John testifies having heard both phrases.  Notice that he writes: JESUS said to the Mother, and not, to HIS mother.  This is a new symbolic gesture of JESUS.  Mary will be the Mother of believers.

Through this last deed of JESUS, the Church discovered something about the mystery of the Christian life.  The believer is a member of a spiritual family.  As a child needs a father and a mother to grow normally so, too, does the believer need Mary and the heavenly FATHER.  This is an unchanging doctrine of the Church, which in no way attempts to make the creature equal with the Creator.

Not without reason has GOD given us a mother: if it is a misfortune for a child not to have known a mother, it is also a misfortune for a believer when his religion only expresses itself in masculine terms.  The believer who welcomes Mary to his home as did John is neither a fanatic nor a quibbler regarding faith.  There exists a form of humility, joy, interior peace and simple piety characteristic of those Catholics who have known how to open their doors to Mary without throwing out their Savior.)

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Imitate The Humility Of JESUS

 "Though HE was in the form of GOD, HE did not regard equality with GOD as something to be grasped,

but emptied HIMSELF,

taking on the nature of a servant, made in human likeness,

and, in HIS appearance, found, as a man,

HE humbled HIMSELF by being obedient, to death,

death on the cross.

That is why GOD exalted HIM

and gave HIM the name which outshines all names,

so, that, at the name of JESUS all knees should bend

in heaven, on earth and among the dead,

and all tongues proclaim, that CHRIST JESUS is the LORD,

to the glory of GOD, the FATHER.

- Philippians 2:6-11

(HE did not regard equality with GOD: the mystery of GOD's Son who became a mortal man and gave up GOD's glory, although HE could have preserved it even in HIS human life.  Since CHRIST was to be the New Man, glorified by GOD and placed above everything, HIS being subject to misery and limitations was a way of being reduced to nothingness.

GOD exalted HIM.   The humiliation and obedience of CHRIST were the condition for receiving HIS glory.  HE gave HIM the name [of GOD], that is, HE made HIM fully enjoy in HIS human nature the divine Power [or name].)

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The Pardon

"Then Peter asked HIM, 'LORD, how many times must I forgive the offenses of my brother or sister?  Seven?  JESUS answered, 'No, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.'

This story throws light on the kingdom of heaven.  A king decided to settle the accounts of his servants.  Among the first was one who owed him ten thousand gold ingots.  As the man could not repay the debt, the king commanded that he be sold as a slave with his wife, children and all his goods in payment.

The official threw himself at the feet of the king and said, 'Give me time, and I will pay you back everything.'  The king took pity on him and not only set him free but even canceled his debt.

This official then left the king's presence and he met one of his companions who owed him a hundred pieces of silver.  He grabbed him by the neck and almost strangled him, shouting, 'Pay me what you owe!'  His companion threw himself at his feet and asked him, 'Give me time, and I will pay everything.'  The other did not agree but sent him to prison until he had paid all his debt.

His companions saw what happened.  They were indignant and so they went and reported everything to their lord.  Then the lord summoned his official and said, 'Wicked servant, I forgave you all that you owed when you begged me to do so.  Weren't you bound to have pity on your companion as I had pity on you?  The lord was now angry, so he handed his servant over to be punished, until he had paid his whole debt.'

JESUS added, 'So will MY heavenly FATHER do with you unless each of you sincerely forgive your brother or sister.'" - Matthew 18:21-35 

(The offenses we suffer from our companions are nothing compared with our offenses against GOD.  While GOD forgives all, we do not even give others enough breathing space.  GOD does not demand HIS rights, but we, in demanding them, behave like wicked servants [see Matthew 5:43].

This parable goes beyond personal problems.  The world needs, above everything else, the forgiveness of GOD, and those who want a more just society will not achieve it through accusations and hatred.

The parable helps us understand much better another verse in the Bible: Revenge is mine, says the LORD; I will pay each one according to his own conduct.  GOD will not demand an account regarding HIS own rights [what we owe HIM], but regarding the rights of the little ones who, unable to pay, were deprived of them.  HE will also demand an accounting regarding those who were sorry for their sins but were not forgiven by others.

The fourth Discourse of Matthew's Gospel ends with this parable on the duty to forgive.  The Church has not always been as holy as she should have been.  Yet nobody can deny that, at all times, in the Church the mercy of GOD has been preached, and people have learned to forgive.)

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"No Healthy Tree Bears Bad Fruit; No Poor Tree Bears Good Fruit."

"'No healthy tree bears bad fruit; no poor tree bears good fruit.  And each tree is known by the fruit it bears: you don't gather figs from the thorns, or grapes from brambles.  Similarly, the good person draws good things from the good stored in his heart, and an evil person draws evil things from the evil stored in his heart.  For the mouth speaks from the fulness of the heart.

Why do you call ME, 'LORD!  LORD!' and do not do what I say?  I will show you what the one is like, who comes to ME, and listens to MY words, and acts accordingly.  That person is like the builder who dug deep and laid the foundations of his house on rock.  The river overflowed, and the stream dashed against the house, but could not carry it off because the house had been well built.

But the one who listens and does not act, is like a man who built his house on the ground without a foundation.  The flood burst against it, and the house fell at once: and what a terrible disaster that was!'" - Luke 6:43-49  

(No healthy tree...  These sayings were already mentioned in Matthew 7:15. Here, however, Luke gives them a different meaning by referring to a pure conscience.  We must purify our mind and our spirit to become the tree that produces good fruits.)

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Love And Longing For GOD's Temple

 "My soul yearns, pines,

for the courts of YAHWEH.

My heart and my flesh

cry out for the living GOD.

Even the sparrow finds a home,

and the swallow a nest

where she may lay her young,

at YOUR altars, O YAHWEH of hosts,

my King and my GOD!

Happy are those who live in YOUR house,

continually singing YOUR praise!

Happy, the pilgrims whom YOU strengthen,

to make the ascent to YOU.

For YAHWEH GOD is a sun and a shield;

HE bestows favor and glory.

YAHWEH withholds no good thing

from those who walk in uprightness."

- Psalm 84:3. 4. 5-6. 12

(The home of GOD on earth!  What can this mean?  There can be no change in GOD.  HE cannot move into a new house.  No, the change is in human things!  GOD is everywhere already but consecrates certain places, where people can meet HIM and feel HIS presence more intimately.

There are people who visit the Temple; but do not enjoy the love of GOD, who dwells therein.  They do not experience a transformation of conduct because they placed their trust in the Temple of GOD, not in the GOD of the Temple.  This psalm can come with us, when we go on pilgrimages and religious festivals.)

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"Do To Others As You Would Have Others Do To You."

"Do to others as you would have others do to you.  If you love only those who love you, what kind of grace is yours?  Even sinners love those who love them.  If you do favors to those who are good to you, what kind of grace is yours?  Even sinners do the same.  If you lend only when you expect to receive, what kind of grace is yours?  For sinners also lend to sinners, expecting to receive something in return." - Luke 6:31-34 

(Here, as in Matthew 5:43, JESUS does not refer mainly to personal resentment and friendships, but to opposition in the social, political or religious order: treating differently the people of one's group or party and those of the opposite side.  We love and respect those of our own group and are only moderately concerned about the rights of others: they are probably sinners and even in the best of circumstances of small interest...

JESUS invites us to overcome such differences: what counts is the individual and when my neighbor needs me, I must forget his color or whatever label has been given him.

If you lend only when you expect to receive.  Once again, we are dealing with a social attitude: people who look for friends among those who can promote their social climbing and who avoid all who might be a burden because they are people without influence: Luke 14:12.) 

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Beatitudes And Lamentations

"Coming down the hill with them, JESUS stood on a level place.  Many of HIS disciples were there and a large crowd of people who had come from all parts of Judea and Jerusalem and from the coastal cities of Tyre and Sidon.  They gathered to hear HIM and be healed of their diseases; likewise people troubled by evil spirits were healed.  The entire crowd tried to touch HIM because of the power that went out from HIM and healed them all. 

Then looking at HIS disciples, JESUS said, 

'Fortunate are you who are poor, the kingdom of GOD is yours.' 

Fortunate are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. 

Fortunate are you who weep now, for you will laugh. 

Fortunate are you when people hate you, when they reject you and insult you and number you among criminals, because of the Son of Man.  Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for a great reward is kept for you in heaven.  Remember that is how the ancestors of this people treated the prophets. 

But alas for you who have wealth, for you have been comforted now. 

Alas for you who are full, for you will go hungry. 

Alas for you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. 

Alas for you when people speak well of you, for that is how the ancestors of these people treated the false prophets." - Luke 6:17-26   

(Matthew adapts them for the members of the church of his time.  Luke, on the other hand, puts the beatitudes here just as JESUS proclaimed them to the people of Galilee.  In the words of JESUS, the beatitudes were a call and a hope addressed to the forgotten of the world, beginning with the poor among HIS people, heirs of GOD's promise to the prophets.

In contrast with these beatitudes, Luke presents lamentations recalling those of Isaiah (65:13-14).  They are lamentations as used for the dead, not maledictions.  For the rich forget GOD and become impermeable to grace.  These lamentations are a sign of the love of GOD for the rich, as are the beatitudes for the poor. for HE loves them all, but in a different way.  To the first HE affirms that HE will destroy the structures of injustice, and to the others HE gives a warning: richness brings death.

The beatitudes do not speak of the conversion of the rich, but they promise a reversal.  The kingdom signifies a new society: GOD blesses the poor but not poverty.

When people speak well of you (see 1 Corinthians 4:8).  The contrast between groups of people who are persecuted and those who are well thought of can exist within the Church itself.  Many problems can remain unsolved and even mission itself be blocked because of influential groups and persons who want for nothing and know how to obtain official benedictions.  JESUS recalls the example of the prophets.

In JESUS' time the religious authorities of the Jews had a very limited esteem for the writings of the prophets, giving all importance to the Books of the Law centered on the cult of the temple.  JESUS would tell HIS disciples that they are the heirs of the prophets (Matthew 13:17; Acts 3:25; James 5:10), and will give importance to the unassuming messengers who, within the people of GOD (and often in contradiction with dominant ideas) proclaim the word of GOD.  A Christian should never be surprised by weakness or any other defect that he meets in the Church; let him be happy to be faithful even when persecuted.)     

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