Listening to Women

Tuesday, July 10, 2007 -- Week of Proper 9

"Morning Reflections" is a brief thought about the scripture readings from the Daily Office of Morning and Evening Prayer according to the practice found in the Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church.

Morning Prayer begins on p. 80 of the Book of Common Prayer.
Evening Prayer begins on p. 117
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Today's Readings for the Daily Office (p. 974)
Psalms 5, 6 (morning) 10, 11 (evening)
1 Samuel 15:24-35
Acts 9:32-43
Luke 23:56b - 24:11


"These words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them."

There is something powerful about the fact that the resurrection is first revealed and proclaimed by women. Although the accounts from the gospels differ from one another in details, there is a consistent memory that it was the women on Easter morning who first experienced Jesus as alive. Mary Magdelene's presence is a consistent feature of the story, leading to her traditional title in Eastern Orthodoxy as "the first apostle."

"Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen," the women are told by the two men in dazzling clothes. Over and over in this last chapter of Luke's gospel those who recognize the resurrection will be told to "remember," and they will realize how much they had misunderstood. The effect is as if to say, "All of those divine hints at wonderful possibilities -- they are true! It's all better than you think. Don't be afraid."

But no one believed "the first apostles." After all, they were women. Irony abounds here. One of the most distinctive characteristics about Jesus was that so many women were among his traveling companions. In the story about Martha and Mary, Jesus honors Mary's calling to act as a man, to sit at the rabbi's feet and to learn as a student. Including women students was unheard of among rabbis of Jesus' day. Jesus spoke to women in public, a violation of Middle Eastern custom and values. He welcomed and blessed women who showed up uninvited at his table. The presence of women and their acceptance as companions is one of the features that made Jesus stand out as different, or scandalous, among religious teachers in his day.

On Easter, it is the women who first realize that he is alive. I think that it is important for us to acknowledge and honor the fact that God chose first to reveal the resurrection to women. It was our chance to raise their social standing and balance the imbalance of centuries of custom. It is important to realize that the men did not pay attention to and trust the women. "These words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them." The church missed its first chance to celebrate the resurrection.

Later in the day, as we will read tomorrow, Jesus will appear to two male disciples. They will not recognize him, but they will tell him that "some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see them."

Jesus will respond to these men: "Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared!" (They will know Jesus finally in the breaking of the bread. Another distinctive characteristic of his fellowship.)

How different might our history have been had we listened to the women and allowed them their full voice and place in the church from the beginning. The church still is so foolish and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared. It seems that God must continually surprise us by revealing the divine presence and activity in the unexpected way, the unexpected place, the unexpected person.

Lowell
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The Rev. Lowell Grisham
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Fayetteville, AR

The Mission of St. Paul's Episcopal Church is to explore and celebrate
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