It's hard to trace a narrative line thru the gospels. Accounts of particular incidents vary and the female characters are in and out. And yet it is they who mark out all the crucial events. Mary leads the way. When the angel tells her that, virgin though she is, she is going to conceive the Son of the most High, she doesn't know what to say. This is a major test of faith. But the angel encourages her, saying : 'With God nothing is impossible,' And she comes through, answering : 'Be it to me as you have said.' She entrusts everything into God's hands. And sings the Magnificat with her cousin Elizabeth, miraculously pregnant in her turn. (Luke 1 26-55)
Following the nativity, comes the Presentation. Now Mary must, not only present her son to God, but offer him as a living sacrifice, to God's will. And when Simeon the priest tells her, he will be 'opposed' he tells her : 'a sword with pierce your soul too,' Through her own suffering. Mary will be co-redemptrice with her Son. (Luke ch 2)
Years later, when Jesus' ministry begins, among the many men who are healed, a young girl is raised from the dead. 'Only have faith and she will be saved.' Jesus tells the father. And he has faith, and she is raised. It's a clear message. And as the women emerge from the background, there are more lessons. The healing of the daughter of the Canaanite woman is one. Tho not a jew, her prayer will be answered because as Jesus tells her : ' You have great faith.' And when the haemorrhaging woman touches the hem of his robe, Jesus tells her: 'Your faith has saved you.'
Clearly faith is the ultimate virtue. But how to reach such grace ? Through prayer and silent meditation, brooding like Jesus' mother, in our hearts. She it is who triggers the almost eucharistic changing of water into wine at the wedding in Cana, counselling the servant... 'Do whatever he tells you' And another Mary chooses 'The better part', silent and close to Jesus feet, while Martha is running about like the proverbial headless chicken. Then there is the Samaritan woman at the well. St Teresa of Avila had a painting of this scene in her room at the convent, Christ sitting on the well edge and the woman, bucket ready to draw water. Jesus asks her for a drink and she is surprised because she is not a jew. But Jesus replies : ' If you only knew what God is offering and who it is that is saying it to you, you would have been the one to ask and he would have given you living water..... welling up for eternal life. '
Then comes the raising of Lazarus, dead for four days; another test of faith, foretelling Jesus' resurrection. It's Martha, Lazarus' sister who comes weeping to Jesus. And he tells her : ' I am the resurrection. Anyone who believes in me, though he dies, he will live and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this ? And she answers : 'Yes Lord. I believe that you are the Christ, Son of God.' And when they roll away the stone, Lazarus walks out of the tomb.
It is the women who will keep vigil at the foot of the cross. The anointing of Jesus' feet, days before had foretold the anointing of his crucified body. And it was the women who met with Christ in the garden, risen from the dead on Easter morning,who came to tell the disciples : 'The Lord has risen.'
Faith is the cardinal virtue, rising to God in prayer. Let us brood on this in our hearts.
Val Feb 2024
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