PRAYER MOMENT
Friday
19 September 2014.
CERTAIN
WOMEN
Pause. Be still in God’s presence.
Reading: “With him were the twelve
as well as certain women.” (Luke 8:1-3)
Reflection. “Certain women!” It is a
brief recognition of the place of women in the ministry of Jesus but we know
that they played key roles both as here in his daily journeys and also in the
infancy stories and in the final climax at the cross and the tomb. I heard
recently that women are playing a wonderful part in proclaiming the gospel in
modern day China. Seemingly they are seen as less of a threat by the
authorities than men and can move around more freely. Recently I have been
reading of Julian of Norwich, an amazing fourteenth century English mystic
whose teachings are deeply inspiring. She lived under threat and some of her
colleagues were even burnt for their beliefs. And, on top of that, she was
probably of Jewish ancestry and may have been disabled. I suppose it is rather
a condescending thing for a male to talk about women and praise them. But
sometimes it just seems good to celebrate our mothers and sisters.
Prayer. Lord Jesus, we thank you for Mary and all the women in our lives. May
they be respected and honoured today in a world that often treats them cruelly.Amen
David Harold-Barry SJ
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