Luke 8:1-3

Luke 8:1-3

Jesus journeyed from one town and village to another,

preaching and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God.

Accompanying him were the Twelve

and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities,

Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,

Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza,

Susanna, and many others

who provided for them out of their resources.

Opening Prayer: Lord God, you call all people to accompany your Son and form part of the Church. Help me to know what my role is in the company of your Son. Enable me to place the gifts and talents you have given me at the service of the Gospel.

Encountering the Word of God

1. Mary of Magdala: Luke tells us that Jesus was accompanied not only by the Twelve as he journeyed through Galilee proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, but also by a group of women who had been healed by him and who “provided for them out of their resources” (Luke 8:3). Luke gives particular prominence to Mary Magdalene, from whom Jesus had cast out seven demons. Her name indicates that she came from Magdala, a prosperous town on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. The town was an important center of the fishing industry, with a large port and a thriving market. Whatever her economic circumstances may have been, Luke emphasizes something more important: Mary had received a profound gift of healing from Jesus, and she responded by becoming his disciple and using her resources to support his mission. Her gratitude became generosity. Mary’s discipleship would eventually take her to the foot of the Cross and to the tomb. She would become one of the first witnesses to the Resurrection and the first person sent by the risen Christ to announce the good news to the Apostles (John 20:11–18).

2. Joanna and Susanna: Luke also names Joanna and Susanna among the women who accompanied Jesus. Joanna was the wife of Chuza, a steward or household official of Herod Antipas. Her presence among Jesus’ followers is striking because it demonstrates that his disciples came from very different circumstances and social backgrounds. Joanna had also experienced the healing power of Jesus, and she responded by becoming his disciple and using her resources to support his ministry. She appears again at the empty tomb, where she and the other women announced the Resurrection to the Apostles (Luke 24:10). Susanna is mentioned only here in the New Testament, but Luke includes her name among those who accompanied Jesus and served his mission. Her brief appearance reminds us that not every disciple’s contribution is recorded in detail. Some served in ways known only to God. The Church’s tradition remembers Joanna and Susanna among the women who remained faithful to Jesus and served his mission. Their example challenges us to ask not how prominent our service is, but whether we are faithfully using what God has entrusted to us for the sake of his Kingdom. 

3. The Dignity and Mission of Women: The presence of these women among Jesus' disciples reveals something important about the dignity of women in the plan of salvation. Jesus did not treat women as passive spectators of his ministry. He welcomed them as disciples, allowed them to accompany him, received their service, taught them, and entrusted them with the proclamation of his Resurrection. Saint Pope John Paul II reflected on this distinctive relationship between Christ and women in his Letter to Women (June 29, 1995) and, more extensively, in the earlier Apostolic Letter Mulieris Dignitatem (August 15, 1988). He emphasized that Christ’s way of treating women demonstrates their dignity and their particular vocation within the Church and the world. In Christ, the woman discovers not merely a social role but the fullness of her personal dignity and a call to participate in God’s plan of salvation. The women in today’s Gospel demonstrate that participation in Christ's mission takes many forms. Some proclaim the Gospel publicly; others provide material support; others accompany Christ faithfully through suffering. None of these forms of discipleship is insignificant. Their example also reminds us that the Church’s mission is not the work of the clergy or Apostles alone. Every baptized person receives gifts that can be placed at the service of the Gospel. The question is not whether we have a role, but whether we are willing to receive the role God gives us and faithfully fulfill it. The women who accompanied Jesus teach us that gratitude should become service. They had received from Christ, and therefore they gave of themselves for Christ. Their discipleship culminated in the mystery of the Cross and the Resurrection, where women were among the first witnesses to the victory of Christ over death.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you welcomed women among your disciples and entrusted them with a share in your mission. Teach me to recognize the gifts you have given me and to offer them generously for your Kingdom. Like Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Susanna, may gratitude for what you have done for me become faithful service to you and to your Church.

Living the Word of God: What gifts, resources, relationships, or opportunities has God entrusted to me for the service of his Kingdom? Do I tend to measure the value of my service by how visible or important it appears to others? Whom can I serve today through my time, resources, encouragement, or practical assistance?