Reflection Paper #6

Pauline letters make sure that the role of women in Jesus' time is not forgotten. In particular, Mary Magdelene is remembered. She is present in all of the synoptic gospels. She traveled with Jesus through Galilee. It is not exactly sure what Mary's relationship was with Jesus. In recent movies/books, (Da Vinci Code) it was suggested that they had a loving relationship. There is one woman who anoints Jesus in the gospels. Some scholars believe it was Mary Magdelene.


The Gospels sublty hint at the importance of women in the gospels. Many letters or writings have been changed to hide their importance. However, many women traveled with Jesus and even ministered to others. In class we learned that whenever a woman and the verb "to minister" is used, the translation is changed to "to serve." Now, to serve sounds more like waiting on someone, whereas minister sounds like religious work or healing is being employed. I think men have the upper hand with that translation.

Even though Jesus apostles were men, women traveled with Jesus, women gave their homes for his work, and some worked with Paul in his missionary work. Though women were important in Jesus' following, they were denied authority and downplayed throughout history.

In the times following Jesus death, women were allowed to study in the some of same philosophy schools that men were allowed. That meant that they were given the correct education and were allowed to have intellect, rather than emotion that 18th century men declared ruled woman's mind.

Paul declared that baptism made one born anew, or born again, like the gospel writing we read in our last form criticism. This meant slave, free, men women, jew, or gentile were destroyed and all that was left was who you were in the eyes of God. While women and men were created equal in this aspect, there was no social change that changed the status of men.

Today in the Church, women aren't allowed to be priests or deacons. How have we come so far away from the egalitarian kingdom Jesus once preached about? I have a feeling marriage will be allowed for male priests before women can bless or give homilies.