Luke 8:1-3
Somebody says that Jesus was a feminist. This could be true if by feminist we mean someone who genuinely cares for the plight of women and who bravely fights for their rights. We know for a fact that during our Lord's time, women were considered low-class citizens: They were not allowed to walk side by side with their husband in public; they were forbidden to talk with a respected teacher in the open; and their testimonies were not acceptable in courts because their words were not considered trustworthy. It is no wonder at all that part of the daily prayer of a male Jew was to thank God for not making him female.
However, unlike the people of his generation and culture, Jesus taught that women were equal to men in the sight of God. Women could receive God’s forgiveness and grace. Women could be among His close followers. Women could be active participants in the kingdom of God. As if these were not enough, Jesus finally chose a woman named Mary Magdalene to be the first messenger of His glorious resurrection. She, who could not be a legal witness, was empowered by Christ to speak about the good news of His ultimate triumph over sin and death.
Today, the gospel inspires us to keep the virtue of equality between sexes. We are challenged to let go of cultural attitudes, mentalities, and practices that place women at the disadvantage. In an apostolic letter, John Paul II wrote, “Whenever man is responsible for offending a woman's dignity and vocation, he acts contrary to his own personal dignity and his own vocation” (Mulieris Dignitatem, 10).
