Jesus and Gender

Devotional Reflection, Friday, April 5, 2024

Friday in Easter Week

The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.

Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading:

24:1But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. 2They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3but when they went in, they did not find the body. . . . . 8Then they remembered his words, 9and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. 10Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. 11But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.

You will find the full text of today’s Gospel reading at the end of this reflection.

Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 959)

AM Psalm 136; PM Psalm 118

Exod. 13:1-2,11-16; 1 Cor. 15:51-58; Luke 24:1-12

David’s Reflections

"Woman has always been the best friend religion ever had;  but religion has by no means been the best friend woman every had.”* Wintermintz certainly got that right. However, we can give thanks that such was not true of Jesus. Today’s Gospel records the names of three women and the presence of several others at Luke’s empty tomb scene.  These women become the earliest witnesses to the resurrection, but the apostles deflected and did not believe their witness.

According to Luke 8:1-3 and Mark 15:40-41, a group of women traveled with Jesus and the apostles and supported Jesus’ ministry financially.  Rabbis normally were not peripatetic;  they taught in settled rabbinic schools, so even though Jesus’ form of teaching ministry bore some resemblance to that of the rabbis, he functioned more like an Old Testament prophet.  To have women traveling with his band would have been at the least, unconventional.

Every instance in the Gospels of Jesus’ interaction with women breathes a spirit of acceptance, a sense of Jesus’ meeting women on an equal plain and responding to them with a freedom and respect uncommon in his cultural setting.

Someone who opposed the ordination of women to the priesthood once asked me about my own position.  I thought immediately of my daughter, then 21 years of age.  My response went something like this, “I want my daughter to be free to do whatever the Spirit calls her to do within the church.”   Would be to God that our expectations and hopes for the children and youth of our churches would not be limited or affected by their gender.  We can pray for them each day that God’s vocation for each of them will become clear as they mature and grow within the safe boundaries of our faith communities.

        Some may be called to a ministry that requires ordination.  Some may feel called to a vocation as laity that is not traditional for their gender.  I would hope that our communities would be a source of unbounded encouragement and discernment, a place where they will hear wise counsel and feel permission to follow the inner voice of God that urges them forward.

        The apostle discredited the women's witness as idle talk.  But, those women had come to resurrection faith apart from an appearance of Jesus, something the Apostles were not able to do. May our response to the women and girls in our communities mirror that of Jesus in the Gospels and not that of some of Jesus’ followers. I would extend that to include those who are gender expansive and the transgendered. If Jesus’ example in his day says anything, gender becomes irrelevant within the faith communities that embody Jesus’ spirit.

*Wintermintz, cited by Robert Jewett, Man as Male and Female (Grand Rapids:  Eerdmans, 197 ), p. 87.

Collect of the Day, Easter Day

O God, who for our redemption gave your only-begotten Son to the death of the cross, and by his glorious resurrection delivered us from the power of our enemy: Grant us so to die daily to sin, that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his resurrection; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.  (BCP, 222.)

Friday in Easter Week

Almighty Father, who gave your only Son to die for our sins and to rise for our justification: Give us grace so to put away the leaven of malice and wickedness, that we may always serve you in pureness of living and truth; through Jesus

Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP, 224)

A Collect for Fridays

Lord Jesus Christ, by your death you took away the sting of death: Grant to us your servants so to follow in faith where you have led the way, that we may at length fall asleep peacefully in you and wake up in your likeness; for your tender mercies' sake. Amen.  (BCP, 123)

A Collect for Quiet Confidence

O God of peace, who has taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, in quietness and confidence shall be our strength: By the might of your Spirit lift us, we pray, to your presence, where we may be still and know that you are God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  (BCP, 832)

A Collect for the Presence of Christ

Lord Jesus, stay with us, for evening is at hand and the day is past; be our companion in the way, kindle our hearts, and awaken hope, that we may know you as you are revealed in Scripture and the breaking of bread. Grant this for the sake of your love. Amen. (BCP, 124)

A Collect for Mission

Merciful God, creator of all the peoples of the earth and lover of souls: Have compassion on all who do not know you as you are revealed in your Son Jesus Christ; let your Gospel be preached with grace and power to those who have not heard it; turn the hearts of those who resist it; and bring home to your fold those who have gone astray; that there may be one flock under one shepherd, Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen. (BCP, 280)

Daily Office Gospel, Luke 24:1-12

24:1But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. 2They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3but when they went in, they did not find the body. 4While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. 5The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. 6Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.’ 8Then they remembered his words, 9and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. 10Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. 11But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.

Daily Offices in The Book of Common Prayer

Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, The Book of Common Prayer

Noonday Prayer, page 103, Book of Common Prayer

Order of Worship for Evening (Vespers), p 109, Book of Common Prayer

Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer

Compline (Night Prayer), page 127, Book of Common Prayer

Daily Devotionals, page 136, Book of Common Prayer