By: Sr. Cathy Buchanan,OP

This summer, I completed my "Courage to Preach" postgraduate class at the Boston College Clough School of Theology and Ministry. During this class, I had an "AHA" moment when we were talking about diverse communities in Scripture. We were asked to look at Matthew 15:38, where Jesus "feeds the four thousand men, ‘besides’ women and children." The word “besides” was revelatory to me because I always thought this verse said, "not including" women and children, which, of course, always left me with a negative connotation that women were "not included" in Jesus' ministry.  But this word "besides" was explained to mean that the number of women and children probably outnumbered the men (and possibly couldn't be counted)! WOW! This new understanding was eye-opening for me, and I wondered where else in Scripture there are verses about "besides" women.

As I examined other Scripture passages that spoke about "the women,” I noticed women being mentioned that I had not seen before. I saw in Matthew 27: 55-56 at Jesus' crucifixion that "there were also ‘many women’ there looking on from a distance who had followed Jesus from Galilee ministering to him." This would have been a long and arduous journey to Jerusalem for these women. Also, in Mark 15: 40-41 there were "many other women who came up with him to Jerusalem,” making this not so easy a journey. In Luke 8:2, I read about how “some women who had been cured and many others who provided for them out of their resources," indicating that women accompanied Jesus during his itinerant preaching and healing ministries.

I'm beginning to see that many women were dedicated followers during Jesus' earthly ministry. It seems that many of these women were independent and had their own wealth. I suspect that these women left everything behind and traveled in harsh conditions to faithfully follow and minister to Jesus. There is little doubt in my mind that Jesus welcomed these women and valued their ministry.  

I believe that Jesus did not shy away from the company of women. In Scripture, Jesus is noted as having several close female friends, such as Martha and Mary from Bethany, Joanna, wife of Chuza, and of course, Mary Magdalene. Jesus continually showed kindness and respect to many other women he encountered during his ministry, such as Salome, Susanna, the woman at the well, the woman caught in adultery, and the woman who touched his cloak, just to name a few.

These Scripture revelations are reassuring about the faithful women followers who travelled with Jesus during his ministry.  Jesus did not just roam around the land of Israel with his twelve disciples; he was also accompanied by women. Did the women followers outnumber the men? Quite possibly.

One thing I'm certain of is that over the past 2,000 years, many more women have continued to faithfully follow Jesus and to serve him unconditionally. I know that Jesus always continues to welcome women into his church and values their ministry. To all religious sisters, I say “thank you” for your love and unconditional dedication to serving Jesus faithfully through the people of God and God's church.  

If you are a Catholic woman, age 18-45, maybe you are being called to follow Jesus as a religious sister. Why not travel to our Columbus community and join other women who are discerning a call to religious life at our September Come and See Discernment Retreat.  Click here for more information about this retreat, or click here to contact one of our Vocation Ministers about discerning a call to follow Jesus as a religious sister.