Women in the Lead

Gospel: Luke 1: 39-54

In this painting of the Visitation we find in pictorial form the entire Gospel.  In the forefront of the painting are women - the ones who believe and accept the message of God and bring it to others in word and deed.  In the background are men - those who doubt, question, and struggle with the message of God.  This Gospel scene represents a profound reflection on our journey through the Gospels.

We can be like the men who constantly question and doubt Jesus throughout the Gospels.  We can continually be about our own self-interests, concerned with power and status and repeatedly being rebuked by the Lord for such.  We can even go so far as to betray, deny, and abandon the Lord because we failed to listen to all the Lord had to say about his ultimate destiny on earth.

Or, we could be like the women throughout the Gospels who accept and carry out God's message through Jesus.  We can be like Mary and Elizabeth here who share this Good News and rejoice together.  We can be like Peter's mother-in-law who serves others after being healed.  We can be the Samaritan woman at the well who shares about Jesus with her town.  We can be like Mary Magdalene and the other women who stood by the cross, went to the tomb at great risk to themselves, and who proclaim the Easter joy to others.  Today's feast invites us to reflect on these paths through the Gospel.