A Woman's Place

The headlines on March 8, 2015, were screaming, “International Women’s Day!” Quotes from famous females were rampant on the internet. The hashtag #notthereyet was being tweeted and retweeted, as those who seek to empower women declare there is so much more to be done in the area of women’s rights. What a concept: a day to focus on the achievements of women.

One of many things I love, love, love about the Catholic Church is the honor women are given. Although the Church often gets a lot of bad press about her treatment of the “fairer sex,” if one were to peruse the liturgical calendar, they would quickly see the number of women honored throughout the year—every year—in the Catholic Church. The truth is that women were raised to a whole new level of respect in the very moment the angel declared to Mary, “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.” (Luke 1:28) At that crucial moment in time, the future of the entire human race rested on the shoulders of one very young woman.

The first “famous woman in history” quote I would submit is, “Let it be done to me according to thy word,” spoken by Mary of Nazareth.

The Gospels are a resource full of accounts regarding the equality of women. In Bible times, it was uncommon for a woman to be publicly brought into a conversation with men. Yet we see Jesus doing this often.

If we look at the story of the woman at the well in John 4, it would appear as if Jesus were asking this Samaritan woman to be his servant: “Give me a drink.” However, consider the statement immediately following it: “(His disciples had gone to the city to buy food.)” Consider the implications of the situation. First, Jesus was a respected teacher. His followers most likely tended to His needs. They had gone ahead to purchase food, but perhaps had not considered giving Him a drink of water. Second, for a Jewish man to speak to a Samaritan woman (or any woman) was again, a breach of social protocol. It simply wasn’t done. Samaritan’s were considered unclean to the Jews. A Samaritan woman would be seen as doubly cursed—being both a Samaritan and a woman. Not only this, but a woman with a sketchy past (and present.) Yet Jesus spoke to her.

The second great quote is from this woman, “Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done! He cannot be the Messiah, can he?”

Jesus also encountered two women who were sisters of his friend Lazarus. Martha and Mary, citizens of Bethany, were opposites in personality. Martha was the type “A” woman, wanting to see to every detail of entertaining her guests. Mary, on the other hand, was a bit more easygoing and unhurried in her demeanor. She just wanted to sit at Jesus’ feet and listen to Him teach.

John 11 tells us more about the relationship of Jesus with these siblings: “Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.” Lazarus was ill, and at the point of death. By the time Jesus arrived in Bethany, Lazarus had died. Though distressed at her brother’s death, Martha had faith. (This is a clue that she had been listening to Jesus, too, in the midst of her hustle and bustle.)

The third great quote is actually two quotes from Martha: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.” And, in response to Jesus, “ ‘Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.’ ”

We honor these three women on several occasions throughout the liturgical year. Mary is honored on at least one day in every month of the year. The woman at the well is honored every time John 4 is read at Mass (usually twice per year). Martha is honored on July 29. In fact, if one were to peruse the liturgical calendar, they would quickly see the number of women honored throughout the year—every year—in the Catholic Church.

So, on International Women’s Day, I applaud the Catholic Church for her very forward thinking on the issues of women’s equality. I offer my own hashtag: #catholicsalreadythere.