WOMEN OF THE NEW TESTAMENT

Opening Prayer
Lord, Jesus you came to serve and to give your life for others. Keep me free from the desire for status, honor and power. Teach me how to be your disciple in the world, to care for the needs of others, and to serve your kingdom.

WOMEN OF PROMINENCE

• Mother of the sons of Zebedee
• Lois and Eunice
• Herodias and her daughter
• Pilate’s wife
• Sapphira
• Priscilla

MOTHER OF THE SONS OF ZEBEDEE

MOTHER OF SONS OF ZEBEDEE

• Mother of James and John
• Disciple of Jesus from Galilee
• Request for sons (Mt 20:20-28)
• Present near the cross (Matthew 27:55-56)
• Unnamed (? Salome)

WOMEN AT THE CROSS AND THE TOMB

A FISHERMAN ON THE SEA OF GALILEE

The Call of James and John
He walked along from there and saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him.
(Matthew 4:21-22)

JAMES AND JOHN

• Fisherman in Galilee and Brothers
• Called by Jesus after Peter and Andrew
• Peter, James and John were closest of Jesus’ Apostles
• Present at Transfiguration and Garden of Gethsemane
• Also present at healing of Peter’s mother-in-law and raising of Jairus’s daughter.

JAMES, THE GREATER

JAMES, THE GREATER

• First apostle to be martyred, “killed by the sword” (Acts 12:2)
• James in Spain: Santiago de Compostela (Patron Saint of Spain)
• Portrays the pilgrimage of the Christian life

JOHN, THE APOSTLE

JOHN, THE APOSTLE

• Only apostle not to be martyred, lived to advanced age
• “Disciple whom Jesus loved” in Gospel of John
• Stood at foot of the cross with Mary, mother of Jesus
• Witness of empty tomb & resurrection
• Portrayed as the ideal disciple
• Important in Church of Jerusalem

PETER AND JOHN RUSHING TO EMPTY TOMB

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“Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.”
(Matthew 20:21)

Jesus said in reply, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?” They said to him, “We can.”
(Matthew 20:22)

MOTHER OF SONS OF ZEBEDEE

• Overbearing mother or loving mother?
• Misunderstanding & understanding. Growth in faith.
• Jesus uses her request to focus on service.
• Where is Zebedee?

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THREE PREDICTIONS OF PASSION BEFORE REQUEST

• Matthew 16:21-23 (Mark 8:31-33)
• Matthew 17:22-23 (Mark 9:30-32)
• Matthew 20:17-19 (Mark 10: 32-34)

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EUNICE, MOTHER OF TIMOTHY

LOIS, GRANDMOTHER OF TIMOTHY

“But you, remain faithful to what you have learned and believed, because you know from whom you learned it, and that from infancy you have known the sacred scriptures, which are capable of giving you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”
(2 Timothy 3:14-15)

TIMOTHY ACCOMPANIED PAUL

Paul gives practical advice to Timothy about how best to do his ministry and warning about false doctrines.

Paul gives instructions to Timothy to protect the faith and not get involved with false disputes, and to continue to follow Paul’s example of fidelity to the truth in Jesus Christ.

Acts 16:1-3
“He reached Derbe and Lystra where there was a disciple named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was Greek. The brothers ...spoke highly of him and Paul wanted him to come along with him. On account of the Jews of that region, Paul had him circumcised, for they all knew his father was Greek.

As they traveled from city to city, they handed on to the people for observance the decisions reached by the apostles and presbyters in Jerusalem. Day after day the churches grew stronger in faith and increased in number.”

TIMOTHY, A DISCIPLE OF PAUL (ACTS 16:1-3)

• Son of a Jewish woman who was a believer
• His father was Greek
• Paul spoke highly of him
• Accompanied Paul on two of his journeys; sent on special missions
• Paul had him circumcised
• Administrator of the Ephesus community

IMPORTANCE OF LOIS AND EUNICE

• Recognized by name
• Faith in Jesus
• Passing on the faith to Timothy since infancy
• Converted by Paul
• No mention of husband as disciple.

HERODIAS AND HER DAUGHTER

“Herod was the one who had John arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. John had said to Herod, ‘It is not lawful to have your brother’s wife.’ Herodias harbored a grudge against him and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so.”
(Mark 6:17-19)

“She had an opportunity one day when Herod on his birthday, gave a banquet..Herodias own daughter came in and performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, ‘Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you’”
(Mark6:21-22)

SALOME ASKS FOR THE HEAD OF JOHN THE BAPTIST ON A PLATTER

STORY OF DEATH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST

• Flashback in Gospel of Mark & Matthew
• John in prison because he spoke against Herod’s marriage
• Daughter of Herodias (Salome) dances for Herod
• He is pleased and offers her anything she wants
• The head of John the Baptist on a platter! Done immediately.

“He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl. The girl in turn gave it to her mother.”
(Mark 6:28)

ROLE OF JOHN’S DISCIPLE

• “When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb” Mark 6:29
• “...and they went and told Jesus” Matthew 14:13
• Some foreshadowing of Jesus death

REFLECTIONS

• John & Jesus holy & righteous, but worldly powers put them to death
• Martyrs will experience same injustice
• Consider sins of all: oaths promised by Herod, hatred of Herod & Herodias, cooperation with evil by Salome

PILATE’S WIFE (MATTHEW 27:15-23)

While he was still seated on the bench, his wife sent him a message, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man. I suffered much in a dream because of him”.
(Mathew 27:19)

JESUS TRIAL BEFORE PILATE

• Pilate was Roman governor and knew Jesus was “handed over” out of envy (Matthew 27:18).
• Jesus innocence indicated by two things:
• Appeal made by Pilate’s wife (27:19)
• Pilate offering release of prisoner - Jesus or Barabbas? (27:15-17)

SIGNIFICANCE OF DREAMS IN GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

• Dreams are the means of divine communication
• Dreams portrayed in Matthew’s Infancy Narratives:
• 1:20 Angel appears to Joseph in a dream and told to take Mary as his wife
• 2:12 Magi warned in dream not to return to Herod
• 2:13 Joseph told by an angel in a dream to flee to Egypt with Mary and Jesus

JESUS: INNOCENT OR GUILTY?

• Chief priests and elders persuaded crowd to condemn Jesus
• Pilate’s wife, a gentile woman, pleaded for Jesus release
• Disciples of Jesus had fled
• Jesus is condemned by Pilate out of expedience knowing Jesus was innocent

PILATE’S WIFE

• Recognizes Jesus as “righteous man”
• Intercessor for Jesus like mother of Zebedee’s sons
• Her spirit is strong and willing to take a risk
• Perhaps she represents the divine voice urging Pilate to do right and act with integrity.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 5:1-11

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JERUSALEM COMMUNITY

• Acts 2:42-47
• Acts 4:32-37
• System of distribution of goods
• Sharing of material possessions

LIFE IN EARLY CHURCH (ACTS 2:42-47)

• Teaching of the apostles
• Breaking of the bread
• Prayers
• Sell their property and possessions and divide among all according to one’s need (voluntary)

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This description is reflective of a theological community, not a political one.

FAITH COMMUNITY

• Giving was voluntary and sprung from an inner conviction of the worth of others and the desire to live in the power and grace of Christ’s resurrection.
• Faith in the risen Christ is a transforming reality, a divine gift that changes hearts and minds and draws people together with a shared vision of life’s meaning and purpose.

BARNABAS (ACTS 4:36-37)

• Joseph, a Levite, a Cypriot by birth
• Nicknamed Barnabas by apostles (“son of encouragement”)
• Generous: sold property and “put it at the feet of the apostles”
• Ideal Christian
• Introduced Paul to the Jerusalem Church and accompanied Paul on his first journey.

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SAPPHIRA AND ANANIAS (ACTS 5:1-11)

But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart so that you lied to the Holy Spirit and retained part of the the price of the land?
Acts 5:3

“While it remained unsold, did it not remain yours? And when it was sold, was it not still under your control? Why did you contrive this deed? You have lied not to human beings, but to God. When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathes his last...”
(Acts 5:4-5)

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After an interval of three hours, his wife came in, unaware of what happened. Peter said to her,”tell me, did you sell the land for this amount?” She answered, “Yes, for that amount. Then Peter said to her,”Why did you agree to test the Spirit if the Lord?”...At once she fell down at his feet and breathed her last.
(Acts 5:7-10)

PRICILLA AND AQUILA

PRICILLA (ACTS 18:1-3)

• Jewish woman from Rome
• Married to Aquila
• Came to Corinth after being expelled from Rome
• Worked with Aquila & Paul making tents
• Went to Ephesus with Paul
• Eventually returned to Rome

PRICILLA AND AQUILA

• Probably Christians when they came to Corinth
• Further instruction with Paul
• Established home churches in Ephesus (Acts 18:19)
• “Risked their necks” for Paul’s life (Romans 16:4)

“CHURCH IN EARLY CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY”

• Initially in the synagogues
• Then home churches for reading scripture and celebrating Eucharist
• Buildings for Christian worship in the 3rd century
• Pricilla and Aquila opened their home for worship

ARRIVED IN EPHESUS, SPOKE AND TAUGHT ABOUT JESUS

“He began to speak boldly in the synagogue; but when Pricilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the Way more accurately”
(Acts 18:26).

God created mankind in his image; in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
Genesis 1:27

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one i Christ Jesus.”
Galatians 3:28

Closing Prayer
Lord, Jesus, give me the courage, enthusiasm, and joy of your first followers. Through your Spirit, strengthen your church to grow in number and fervor, so that all may know the power of your resurrection is at work in us. Amen

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The Call of James and John
He walked along from there and saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him.
(Matthew 4:21-22)

ST JAMES

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