First reading 1 Corinthians 15:12-20
If Christ has not been raised, your belief is useless
Now if Christ raised from the dead is what has been preached, how can some of you be saying that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, Christ himself cannot have been raised, and if Christ has not been raised then our preaching is useless and your believing it is useless; indeed, we are shown up as witnesses who have committed perjury before God, because we swore in evidence before God that he had raised Christ to life. For if the dead are not raised, Christ has not been raised, and if Christ has not been raised, you are still in your sins. And what is more serious, all who have died in Christ have perished. If our hope in Christ has been for this life only, we are the most unfortunate of all people.
But Christ has in fact been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of all who have fallen asleep.
Responsorial Psalm 16(17):1,6-8,15
I shall be filled, when I awake, with the sight of your glory, O Lord.
Lord, hear a cause that is just,
pay heed to my cry.
Turn your ear to my prayer:
no deceit is on my lips.
I shall be filled, when I awake, with the sight of your glory, O Lord.
I am here and I call, you will hear me, O God.
Turn your ear to me; hear my words.
Display your great love, you whose right hand saves
your friends from those who rebel against them.
I shall be filled, when I awake, with the sight of your glory, O Lord.
Guard me as the apple of your eye.
Hide me in the shadow of your wings
As for me, in my justice I shall see your face
and be filled, when I awake, with the sight of your glory.
I shall be filled, when I awake, with the sight of your glory, O Lord.
Gospel Luke 8:1-3
The women who accompanied Jesus
Jesus made his way through towns and villages preaching, and proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom of God. With him went the Twelve, as well as certain women who had been cured of evil spirits and ailments: Mary surnamed the Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, Joanna the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, Susanna, and several others who provided for them out of their own resources.
Women disciples
In today’s gospel, Jesus goes to different towns and villages to preach and proclaim the Good News. The Twelve and a group of women disciples accompany him on His journey. These women collaborate with Jesus in His mission by providing for Him out of their own resources. Today, as Jesus’ disciples, we are called to give of ourselves- our time, abilities, creativity, etc., to be partners with Jesus in His work of spreading the gospel.
In Jesus’s society, women are placed in an inferior status due to the patriarchal system. Yet, Jesus includes women as His disciples, not as secondary presences but as trusted friends and collaborators. They follow Jesus faithfully to the end without betraying, denying, or abandoning Him. Let these women, Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna, and many other women disciples of Jesus throughout the centuries, be a model of discipleship for us today. We also pray for a truly synodal church that values women’s dignity, rights, roles, and contributions.
Reflective question:
What is Jesus saying to me now, and what is my response to Him?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year B” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD.
