Thursday, 18 September 2014

CERTAIN WOMEN

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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