There were also some women in their company!

Luke 7:36-8:3

36-39 One of the Pharisees asked him over for a meal. He went to the Pharisee’s house and sat down at the dinner table. Just then a woman of the village, the town harlot, having learned that Jesus was a guest in the home of the Pharisee, came with a bottle of very expensive perfume and stood at his feet, weeping, raining tears on his feet. Letting down her hair, she dried his feet, kissed them, and anointed them with the perfume. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man was the prophet I thought he was, he would have known what kind of woman this is who is falling all over him.” 40 Jesus said to him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Oh? Tell me.”

41-42 “Two men were in debt to a banker. One owed five hundred silver pieces, the other fifty. Neither of them could pay up, and so the banker cancelled both debts. Which of the two would be more grateful?”

43-48 Simon answered, “I suppose the one who was forgiven the most.” “That’s right,” said Jesus. Then turning to the woman, but speaking to Simon, he said, “Do you see this woman? I came to your home; you provided no water for my feet, but she rained tears on my feet and dried them with her hair. You gave me no greeting, but from the time I arrived she hasn’t quit kissing my feet. You provided nothing for freshening up, but she has soothed my feet with perfume. Impressive, isn’t it? She was forgiven many, many sins, and so she is very, very grateful. If the forgiveness is minimal, the gratitude is minimal.” 48 Then he spoke to her: “I forgive your sins.” 49 That set the dinner guests talking behind his back: “Who does he think he is, forgiving sins!” 50 He ignored them and said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

8 1-3 He continued according to plan, travelled to town after town, village after village, preaching God’s kingdom, spreading the Message. The Twelve were with him. There were also some women in their company who had been healed of various evil afflictions and illnesses: Mary, the one called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out; Joanna, wife of Chuza, Herod’s manager; and Susanna—along with many others who used their considerable means to provide for the company.

Food for Thought!

"The Twelve were with him. There were also some women in their company." These words open our reflection for this Sunday. They are a very strong statement to us all who are in the company of Jesus called the Church. The Gospel says that the twelve were with Jesus, but also there were some women in their company. It means that Jesus was and is not served by only men but also by women. It means that when we talk of the disciples of Jesus, we do well to include not only the twelve, but also the little group of women who served him out of their resources. Yes, women worked and walked with Jesus.

In the first part of the Gospel, we find another woman. The gospel says that she was a harlot, a famous prostitute of her town. This woman came and touched Jesus: "she came with a bottle of very expensive perfume and stood at his feet, weeping, raining tears on his feet. Letting down her hair, she dried his feet, kissed them, and anointed them with the perfume."

In don't know what comes to your mind when you read this incident in the life of Jesus. Why was such a thing like this one included in the Bible? The same Bible tells us, "Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God's promises to be fulfilled." (Rom. 15:4). Again, "Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way." (2Tim 3:16).

What is it that today's Gospel teaches us? The first teaching is that, as we said above, Jesus worked and walked with both and women. Any practice or mentality that contradicts this is wrong.

Another teaching is that, as with the twelve disciples, so with these women; we cannot fail to see how mixed a company they were. There was Mary Magdalene, that is Mary from the town of Magdala, out of whom he had cast seven devils. Clearly she had a past that was a dark and terrible thing. There was Joanna. She was the wife of Chuza, Herod's Finance Minister, who looked after the king's financial interests. It is an amazing thing to find Mary Magdalene, with a dark past, and Joanna, the lady of the court, in the same company. It is one of the supreme achievements of Jesus that he can enable the most diverse people to live together without in the least losing their own personalities or qualities. Indeed, Jesus is our peace.

Another teaching. The Gospel says that the woman was forgiven many, many sins, and so she is very, very grateful. This is the verdict that Jesus made of the woman! GRATEFULNESS! I wonder how grateful you are. Do you awaken every morning with a song of praise on your lips? Do you feel full of appreciation for life as you live it every day? Or, do you have to think long and hard before finding something to be grateful for?

Someone once said, “A grateful mind is a great mind which eventually attracts to itself great things.” An old adage states that “where your attention goes, your energy flows.” This means we tend to attract that to which we give our attention. The more good you can see and praise, the more you direct creative energy to positive results. Even in situations that at first appear difficult or unpleasant, see all the good you can and bless the good you can see! Focus on the good and watch it multiply.