Friday in the 24th Week of Ordinary Time, September 22, 2023

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.

“Jesus journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God.”  The Lord Jesus relentlessly moved from one town or city to another, entering even inconspicuous villages.  Normally he would begin teaching about the Kingdom of God in the local synagogue on the Sabbath.  He might linger at a given place for a few more days, especially if numbers of the sick were brought to him for healing, and if the people pressed him to speak so that he would teach them outside the town where there was room for everyone.  St. Matthew gives the basic contents of his teaching: “Do penance, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4, 17).  From examples drawn from the Gospel of St. Matthew we know that he elaborated on what the Kingdom of heaven was like, and on how to live so as to gain it.  He also preached on the love of God the Father for his children.  Except on certain notable occasions, he did not teach about himself yet.  He did not stay in one place for very long, and most of the time he and his Apostles would have slept out-of-doors.  

However, from the Gospel Reading for today’s Mass, we learn that “Accompanying him were . . . some women . . . who provided for [him] out of their resources.”  That is, they followed the Lord and his Apostles in their own company, listened to him when he taught, and provided money for the food which the Lord and the Apostles ate most days.  Their number and make-up probably changed over time, with some women joining for a time and then returning home and some women continuously present.  The Blessed Virgin Mary would have gone along with them, undistinguished in any way except in her zeal to serve and in her piety.  Some of the other women may not have known who she was, as she never called attention to herself.  An eager Handmaid, she did not speak much, preferring to pay attention to all persons and things around her so that she might serve effectively.  Most of these women, though, “had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities.”  Like St. Peter’s mother-in-law when cured of her affliction, they rose up and served.  

“Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out.”  St. Mark also speaks of this woman as having seven demons expelled from her.  Both Evangelists make this almost casual allusion to what most have been a very dramatic event, but none of them record it.  St. John tells us that she stood with the Virgin Mary and St. John under the Cross at Golgotha, but does not mention this incident.  And all the Evangelists tell us that Mary Magdalene saw the Lord at the time of his Resurrection.  “Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza.”  In Luke 24, 10, we learn that she was one of those who came to the tomb of Jesus with Mary Magdalene to care for the Lord’s Body.  “Susanna”.  The Greek Orthodox Church hands on the tradition that she was one of eight women who bore spices and ointments to the tomb of Christ.  “And many others”.  Among these, we know that the wife of Zebedee and the mother of the Apostles James and John followed him, probably on a fairly regular basis.  There was also a “sister” (a female relative) of the Virgin Mary, also named Mary.

These women “provided for them out of their resources”.  None were rich except in faith, but several of them possessed some means, such as Joanna.  All helped to the extent that they could.  This is also the job of all the faithful: if we listen attentively to the Lord, follow him wherever he leads us, and provide for him and his Church out of our resources, whether through donations or by volunteering, then we shall also see the Risen Lord.