Since the beginning of the season of Pentecost, we have looked at eight extraordinary, modern women. This week, the lectionary points us back to the Gospels as we look at three extraordinary women recognized on July 22 (Mary Magdalene) and July 29 (Mary & Martha of Bethany). The 29th, coincidentally, is also the day to remember the first ordinations of women to the Episcopal priesthood in 1974.
At first glance the three New Testament women might not seem to have anything in common except for their relationship to Jesus. However, each of them was blessed by having a special revelation of the Word wrapped up in the flesh of the man they knew, respected, and loved.
Mary of Bethany famously broke with tradition and ‘sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said.’ (Luke 10:39). Her sister, Martha, at the grave of her brother acknowledges, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.” (John 11:27) To Mary Magdalene is given the singular honor of being the first to see the Risen Lord in the garden and to then tell the news to his disciples.
“Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’ She turned and said to him in Hebrew, ‘Rabbouni!’ (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, ‘Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” ’ Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord’; and she told them that he had said these things to her.” (John 20:16-18)
We may look at these women as having amazing insights and incredible faith to be able to recognize what other followers of Jesus weren’t aware of. We might stand in awe of them, and of the other women we have met so far. We might tell ourselves that we are nothing like them.
We would be wrong. We have the same capacity to recognize the Holy in our daily lives as Martha, Mary, and Magdalene! We have the same ability to speak, write, and change our world as the more contemporary women in our series!
We are each able to live the admonitions in Romans 12 designated for the feast of Mary Magdalene. We can “Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.” (Romans 12:9-13)
The Epistle for the feast of Mary and Martha can also give us direction. “For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all…if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:14-18)
Whether we are 'ordained' or not, we are part of the priesthood of all believers (1 Peter 2:5) and our ministry is our individual priesthood, as I was recently reminded.
The collect for the remembrance of the 1974 ordinations might sum up our own prayers and desires to be more fully committed to our personal call to serve God: “O God, you poured your Spirit from on high to bless and summon these women, who heard the strength of your call: Equip, guide, and inspire us with wisdom, boldness, and faith to trust you in all circumstances, hear you preach new life to your church, and stretch out our hands to serve you, as you created us and redeemed us in the name of Jesus Christ, who lives with you and the Holy Spirit, one God everlasting. Amen.”
Are you intimidated by the lives of women in the New Testament, or by the other women we have met?
Where do you feel urged to ‘stretch out hands to serve’?
https://www.episcopalchurch.org/lectionary-calendar/2019-07
