It’s in the Bible
In today’s Gospel reading of Mary and Martha from Luke 10:38-42 we find Jesus visiting Mary, and Martha, both sisters of his good friend Lazarus. Martha hurries about cooking and cleaning for Jesus. Mary, her sister, sat at the feet of Jesus and listened to him speak. Martha complained to Jesus about Mary and her lack of help. Jesus says to Martha, “Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.” There are few points of context that many of us miss in this reading. Assuming the posture of sitting at the feet of a rabbi was to be a disciple and listen to the teacher. Only disciples did this and they were all supposed to be “men”. Well, not Mary she crossed that line, sat at the feet of Jesus and listened, while her sister assumed the traditional role of the servant woman in the kitchen. Then when her sister confronted Jesus he said he stood up for Mary and said she should stay there with him.
This should be shown to the Pope and the commission researching the role of women in the church. This is proof that Jesus did approve of the role of women as disciples. Jesus flipped the entire social status upside down. I pray that the Holy Spirit and Jesus guides this commission to the truth; that this sexism in the Church Hierarchy should not continue. That the teachings of Jesus will be re instituted with women in their rightful places as disciples, evangelist, and apostles of Jesus in roles that can help restore our Church and guide the other half, the women, closer to God instead of driving us away from the church. Jesus said it himself, “Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.” It needs to be given back to her.
