The Holy Prophet Hosea (8th c. BC); the Venerable-Martyr Andrew of Crete (767).
Colossians 1:1,2,7-11; Luke 8:1-3.
Read Luke 8:1-3
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
Not everyone in the gospels who heard about Jesus decided to follow him. Many people in “the crowds” admired Jesus’s teaching and came to him for healing, but the gospels generally indicate that their level of commitment wasn’t too high. Sometimes individuals come to Jesus and ask to join him (or ask questions, like “what should I do to attain eternal life,” that effectively mean the same thing) and more than once, they either go away without becoming disciples, or the gospels are silent about their ultimate decision. So why are these women with Jesus? They aren’t among the twelve, the inner circle, and they don’t appear to have received a specific invitation from Jesus (at least not one the gospels record). So why do they accompany Jesus as he travels through the cities and villages of Galilee?
One possible answer is that Jesus cured them “of evil spirits and infirmities.” In other words, they were in the midst of a life-or-death crisis when they encountered Jesus, and he saved them. Mary Magdalene is a vivid example, possessed by seven demons. But others, like Joanna, are less obvious: she left behind a life in the palace of Herod to follow Jesus through the countryside. Something remarkable must have happened to her to lead her on this path.
People in 12-step programs sometimes talk about “hitting rock bottom” as a prerequisite to getting sober. Jesus hints at this when he describes the great love shown by the sinful woman who anoints his feet at the house of Simon the Pharisee. This is the kind of love we want, but how do we get there? Perhaps part of what is required is a realistic view of how badly off we are without Jesus – a sense that, without him, we are in the clutch of something truly demonic. This, the gospel suggests, is what brought those women close to him. It’s a scary thing to ask God for that clarity, but perhaps the rewards are worth it.
Bible references