The Unsung Heroines!

Friday, September 19, 2025

1 Tim 6:2c-12; Lk 8:1-3

Today’s Gospel highlights the active contributions of women in Jesus’ ministry of evangelization. 

While we appreciate the fact of Jesus’ inclusive mission and women’s loyal love toward the Lord, we must also reflect on how such an intentional inclusion of women for God’s mission by Jesus would have been looked upon in those days.

Given the cultural practices of the time, the inclusion of women in Jesus’ ministry must have been practically complicated, socially risky, and culturally very unusual. However, Luke, unlike any other Gospel writer, makes a special mention of those women who were loyal to Jesus till the end. 

Three women are named specifically.

Mary Magdalene, who is not to be identified with the sinful woman of Luke 7, appears multiple times in the Gospels. Various Gospel accounts confirm that she was healed of the seven demons, and she stayed true to her love of Jesus till the end. Other Gospel accounts also identify her at the scene of the crucifixion, discovering the empty tomb, and as the first person to witness the Risen Lord. 

Joanna, the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household, must have been quite resourceful and influential. The elite woman from the top tier of society exchanged her life of privilege to walk to the rural parts of Galilee, all for the love of Jesus. Luke’s Gospel also mentions her as an early witness of the empty tomb. 

Interestingly, Susanna’s name does not appear anywhere else in the Gospels, though we know that she generously funded the Lord’s mission, helping him move from city to city and village to village along with a retinue of his apostles, disciples, and followers. 

While we know the names of these women, we must also look into what they did to show their loyal love toward Jesus. 

1. As Jesus walked, they followed: Jesus was an itinerant preacher, but these women broke social barriers to accompany Jesus faithfully even as he constantly moved across towns and villages. Their daring devotion is an inspiration for us to follow Jesus in faith and courage. 

2. As Jesus preached, they testified: These women acted as faithful witnesses of Jesus’ preaching and healing mission. Their loyal accompaniment with Jesus certainly inspired the faith of others in the Lord. They received the blessing and remained a blessing to all. 

3. As Jesus ministered, they supported: These women were not simply with the Lord, but they upheld the mission in resourceful ways. Through their generous contributions, they made Jesus’ mission possible. Their frontline contribution that sustained the Gospel movement reminds me of the quote from Amy Carmichael: ‘You can give without loving; you cannot love without giving.’ They loved Jesus to the extent that they considered their material wealth as nothing compared to the blessings they experienced in Jesus’ presence. 

4. As Jesus suffered, they stood by him: We know that Jesus was being followed by a multitude that included his apostles, disciples, admirers, and followers. However, at the moment of his suffering, all of them deserted him. But it was these women who stayed near the cross, silently witnessing the Lord’s final moments of agonizing death in loving tears. In the Lord’s vulnerable moments, these women stood by him faithfully. By partaking of Jesus’ pain and misery, these women made sure that Jesus was not alone in his moments of agony. 

5. As Jesus died, they cried: When the women bade farewell to Jesus in tears, they were also determined to anoint his body. Thus, they prepared to serve him not only when he was alive but also in his grave. It was thanks to their unflinching devotion that they were turned into the first witnesses of Christ’s resurrection. Their tears of love never gave up. They were with Jesus from beginning to end. 

Though we witness such faithful love from the women disciples of Jesus, oftentimes they become the most forgotten personalities and unsung heroines. 

The most loyal disciples of the Lord deserve our recognition, while their example calls for imitation. 

Let us pray that we may learn to give Jesus our loyal love just as the women disciples did.

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar