Luke 24:1-3, 9-11 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus…. When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.
Women were the last ones to leave the cross and the first ones to arrive at the tomb. Women relayed the resurrection message to the men and shaped the narrative. We should all be grateful that these women didn’t remain silent. Yet, there are underlying sexist ideas in the narrative. Women are unreliable. Women are dominated by emotions. Women cannot be trusted. Women are prone to hysteria. What are some other sexist ideas that have prevented women from full acceptance as equal members of society? Do you ever wonder if Jesus ever confronted the men for not believing the women? What can you imagine he might have said to them if he did?
Prayer: Thank you, God, for the faithful women who stood by Jesus in life, death and resurrection despite the sexism of the men. Jesus, how subversive of you to show yourself to Mary Magdelene before all the others, challenging the gender boundaries and roles of the day. May we, your body, be as subversive as you, the head, elevating women to their rightful place as equal partners in the gospel, and equal heirs of eternal life. Amen.
Tongue on Fire 