They Served Him

Friday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time C-2

Entrance Antiphon Cf. Sir 36:18 Give peace, O Lord, to those who wait for you, that your prophets be found true. Hear the prayers of your servant, and of your people Israel.

Collect Look upon us, O God, Creator and ruler of all things, and, that we may feel the working of your mercy, grant that we may serve you with all our heart. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever.

Scripture today: 1 Corinthians 15:12-20; Psalm 16; Luke 8:1-3

After this, Jesus travelled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod's household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means. (Luke 8:1-3)

They Served Him We read in Acts 18:3 that when St Paul came to Corinth he stayed with the Jew Aquila, because they were both tentmakers by trade. In 1 Corinthians 9: 12, Paul states in his letter to the Corinthians that, though by the decree of Christ himself (9:14) he had the right to be supported by those he served in his ministry, he did not exercise this right. He supported himself by his tentmaker trade. Clearly, though, he did not always do this, because we read in his Second Letter to the Corinthians (11:8) that he “robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.” Again, in his Letter to the Philippians he praises them, for they were the only church that had ever given to his work. And they had given "once and again"(4:15-16). So whatever of Paul’s general policy, he did at times receive support. Now, while Paul was a tentmaker by trade, our Lord was a carpenter-builder. While many would need tents, one would think that all needed houses and working implements. His may have been a trade handed down over several generations of Joseph’s ancestors, being finally passed to Jesus himself. It probably involved both wood and rock work and a great deal of practical skill. But Christ abandoned it all once his public ministry began. He did not do what Paul did — once into his ministry, he did not support himself by his trade. He was entirely given over to his heavenly Father and to his mission to the lost sheep of the House of Israel, and depended just on whatever came to hand. Moreover, though the disciples had their trades (the principal ones among them were fishermen) he directed them to depend on the support of those they served in their ministry, “for the labourer deserves his keep” (Matthew 10: 10). In fact, this is re-iterated by St Paul himself in his directions to Timothy (1 Timothy 5: 18). So then, how did our Lord live during his ministry? Let this question serve as an introduction to the women mentioned by name in our Gospel today. They accompanied the apostolic band, with Jesus in its midst and at its head, as it went from town and village proclaiming the Kingdom of God. They supported our Lord and the Twelve from their means. So much was this the case that each of the Synoptic Gospels mentions the fact. Humanly speaking, they enabled our Lord to do what he was doing.

Our passage is from Luke (Luke 8:1-3). We read in St Mark, which is generally thought to be the Gospel as preached by Peter, that when Christ was dying on the Cross, there were “women looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and Jose, and Salome, who, when he was in Galilee, followed him and ministered to him” (15:40). So while Luke tells us that there were “Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod's household; Susanna; and many others” helping in this way, Mark adds to the list “Mary the mother of James the younger and Jose, and Salome” (Mark). Matthew also mentions these women as having ministered to him in Galilee — and he adds “the mother of the sons of Zebedee” (27:55). There were “others.” They vigorously assisted in the great operation, and our Lord and the disciples must have realized their importance for the work. They must have felt encouraged, for they kept it up. We remember the Gospel text that at one point our Lord and the disciples had no time even to eat. Their work was intense and all-consuming. Now, what did the women gain by their involvement? They gained a direct association with Jesus Christ. They were with him, living in his presence and participating actively in his redemptive work. Their love for him grew and they were privileged to receive his gaze of loving appreciation. They were not called to do what the apostles were doing, but their work may be said to be, in its own way, just as necessary. There is an image given by one saint that illustrates the necessity of each and every person in the plan of God. He refers to the donkey that goes round and round all day, pulling the large weight. That weight keeps the water running for the village. The village could not get on without that humdrum work. However humdrum be our calling in life, in it we have the opportunity to serve Jesus Christ directly and live in his love. There is a full place for all. Martha, Mary and Lazarus, for example, were not among the evangelizing troop, but were dear friends of Jesus Christ.

The one thing necessary for us, then, is the love and service of Jesus Christ. We are called to love him with all our mind, heart, soul and strength, and to love our neighbour as he has loved us. Each of us has our own particular calling in life, and the essence of this calling is the service of Christ and the promotion of his kingdom — which consists precisely in union with him. We are all part of the band, but fulfilling our roles in different ways. Let us be pure in our intention, every day doing all for the greater glory of God alone.

(E.J.Tyler)

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A Second Reflection (Luke 8:1-3)

Accompanying the Master Consider the mention Luke makes of those with Christ and the Twelve: "certain women, who had been cured of evil spirits and ailments... and several others who provided for them out of their own resources." This reminds us that we all have a place in assisting the Master who continues in the Church and at her head to make his way everywhere proclaiming the Gospel. Every member, whatever be his or her background, whatever be his or her history of gifts from the Lord, has the honour and the privilege of playing a daily part in the great work of the Master. But to enter into this we have to be living a life of faith, for the simple reason that our Lord is no longer visible among us. We also have to be generous, being prepared to go beyond and well beyond what many would regard as the limit of our ordinary duties. St Luke said the women assisted and provided for them out of their own resources — that was beyond their ordinary duty, but they did so gladly because they loved the Master.

So too with each of us.

(E.J.Tyler)

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