The Women Power

Today, let us widen our reflection of the Gospel by looking the the powerful examples and contribution of notable women of our time.

1. Malala Yousafzai

A 17 year old Pakistani girl who fought for equal education of girls and women in the patriarchal Pakistan. She was shot in the head 3 times by a Taliban member in 2012, the bullet penetrated her skull. She survived and lived to see the day that Pakistani women get to get education. She is a Novel Peace Prize Laureate. Today she is 22 years old.

“I don’t want to be remembered as the girl who was shot. I want to be remembered as the girl who stood up.”

2. Madeleine Albright

She was the first female secretary of state of the United States. She spoke against the genocide in Rwanda.

“It took me quite a long time to develop a voice, and now that I have it, I am not going to be silent”

3. Mother Mary Angelica of the Annunciation, PCPA,

Also known as Mother Angelica, she was a Catholic American Poor Clare nun best known for her television personality. Just by sitting on the television talking about the Catholic Faith all day, Defending the Catholic Church from anti-catholic sentiments and Catholic ultra-liberals.

4. Greta Thunberg,

A Swedish 16 year old. She was first known for her simple act of protest against Swedish government’s inaction to Climate Change by sitting every day in front of the parliament house. Today she is going around the world advocating one message: Climate Action. Do something for the planet. She herself is a candidate for novel peace prize.

She said: “But I have learned you are never too small to make a difference.”

THE WOMEN IN THE GOSPEL

What is common to these women is the spoke truth to power. The women in our Gospel today supported those who spoke truth of the Good News. In our first reading, while it does not speak anything direct about women, it speaks of what a follower of Christ must, of women no less. That is to pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, patience and gentleness. These values have no gender, no cultural preference. It is universal. They are invitations for all.

For religious women, we share in the ministry of Jesus as the women in our Gospel today. But we are called into different situations and called for a new expressions of the Gospel. Always remember that you have a voice; and that you have The Gospel, the very life of Christ, upon which the values and principles and the principles of the Kingdom are enshrined. Talk about it! Proclaim it!

• To speak truth to power. Women’s perspective is powerful. Use it! But always remember, Sentire cum ecclesia -To think with the Church and express the womanhood of the Church in word and deed.

• To live with values and principles. In circumstances that women is seen as weaker gender, speak your mind, speak the truth, study hard and live by your principles; live the Gospel powerfully.