24th Week of OT 2020 - Friday - Jesus' unconventional followers and benefactors

 

We often speak of the ways that Jesus shattered the social convention and religious expectation of his day. The pious Jews of Jesus’ day greatly anticipated and deeply longed-for the arrival of the Messiah. But the Messiah turned out to look and talk and act a lot different than what they expected. He was born in a barn to unknown parents without anyone knowing. He grew up, not in a palace, but in a home of a carpenter. He dressed not in fine linens and jewels, but in the ordinary garb of the working class. His retinue, too, were not the powerful and the well-connected, but as St. Luke tells us this morning, they were comprised of a group of fishermen, tax collectors, and women—poor, socially marginal, and unschooled in their religion.

St. Luke mentions Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna, and many other women as among those who accompanied Jesus. The presence of women—single and married—accompanying an itinerant teacher and his male disciples would have been extraordinary and even scandalous in first-century Palestine. This would be especially true in the case of Joanna because of her public role as wife of Herod’s chief steward. Despite the social pressures and conventions, they followed Him anyway.

These were women who recognized Jesus as the Messiah. Many, if not all of them, had been miraculously healed or delivered by Jesus—like Mary Magdalene—out of whom the Lord had cast out seven demons. Their response to Jesus is certainly contrasted to hard-heartedness of the Scribes and Pharisees—who while witnessing signs of Jesus’ divinity—conspired against him to put him to death.

Notice, too, these remarkable women financially supported the Lord’s work out of their resources, for his ministry. They recognized not only Jesus’ divinity, but his humanity. He still needed to eat. He and his disciples still had temporal needs--just like the Church today still has temporal needs--we need to pay the electric bill.

And it is often through women—like the good women who make up the majority of many parish congregations--who recognize the needs of the Church and contribute from their resources in many and often hidden ways. Thank God for these women!

When I think of this strange and unconventional retinue of the Lord those two thousand years ago, I can’t but help think of how the Lord wishes to use us, in the midst of this changing neighborhood, with its many challenges and hardships, to continue his saving work. 

For, the work of the Church only continues when men and women, rich and poor, the well-connected, the simple,  and the gifted and uneducated utilize their resources, their time, talent, and treasure—to further the mission of the Gospel. May neither social convention, nor fear of failure or ridicule, keep us from doing the Lord’s good work .May each of us consider-well how each of us can generously respond and contribute to the work of the Gospel for the glory of God and salvation of souls. 

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In great gratitude for the benefactors of this parish, and for those who generously provide for the needs of the Church. 

For an end to indifference to God and human dignity in our government and educational institutions, businesses, and personal attitudes.

During this month of September, dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows, we pray for all those who grieve, and that we may grieve sufficiently for our sins.

That the love of Christ, the divine physician, may bring healing to the sick and comfort to all the suffering.

For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, and all the poor souls in purgatory, for deceased priests and religious, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom. We pray.

O God, who know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.