Women who were missionary disciples of Jesus

Today's short gospel (Luke 8:1-3) strikes a chord with missionaries in parishes with large numbers of communities Ied by catechists as I experienced in the Andes of Peru. The gospel shows us that when Jesus travelled through the countryside of Galilee he did not go alone. Obviously the twelve chosen apostles accompanied him but we often forget that a group of women were also among his missionary disciples. Some had been cured by Jesus like Mary Magdalene. Others used their own resources to provide for the material needs of the group. There is an interesting connection with the first reading where Paul strongly reprimands those Corinthians who are denying the resurrection of the dead. He repeats his fundamental belief that Jesus has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of all who have fallen asleep. John in his gospel tells us that the first person to whom the Risen Lord appeared was Mary Magdalene. She was the first one entrusted with the task of announcing the Good News to the rest of the disciples. Pope Francis is doing a lot to allow women to take a more active part in church leadership but there is still a long way to go to balance the male dominated governance. Let us also pray for woman and girls in Afghanistan who have been erased from participating in society. United Nations describes Afghanistan under Taliban as the world's most oppressive country for women's rights. We are all sisters and brothers because we have the same loving Father.''May the love with which you have loved me be in them and I in them.'' (John 17:26)